Psalms 71:17

Translation
King James Version
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
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KJV (with Strong's)
O God H430, thou hast taught H3925 H8765 me from my youth H5271: and hitherto have I declared H5046 H8686 thy wondrous works H6381 H8737.
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Complete Jewish Bible
God, you have taught me since I was young, and I still proclaim your wonderful works.
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Berean Standard Bible
O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.
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American Standard Version
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; And hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
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World English Bible Messianic
God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth euen vntill nowe: therefore will I tell of thy wonderous workes,
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Young's Literal Translation
God, Thou hast taught me from my youth, And hitherto I declare Thy wonders.
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See also
Psalms 71:5Psalms 119:9Psalms 119:1021 Samuel 17:361 Samuel 17:372 Samuel 4:9Psalms 66:16
In the KJVVerse 14,994 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalms 71:17 presents the profound testimony of an aged psalmist, reflecting on a lifetime marked by God's consistent divine instruction and an unwavering commitment to proclaim His magnificent and miraculous deeds. This verse serves as a foundational declaration within a larger prayer for deliverance, affirming God's steadfast faithfulness from the psalmist's earliest days and expressing a resolute determination to continue testifying to His wondrous works. It encapsulates a deeply personal and continuous relationship with the Almighty, characterized by both the reception of divine wisdom and the active, public sharing of that wisdom with the world.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalm 71 is a poignant prayer of an elderly individual, likely a king or a prominent figure, facing significant distress, feelings of abandonment, and opposition from enemies who mock his trust in God. The psalmist appeals to God for continued deliverance and protection, grounding his plea in God's past faithfulness and a lifelong covenant relationship. Verse 17 is a pivotal statement within this appeal, serving as a powerful retrospective declaration. It looks back with profound gratitude, using a lifetime of God's instruction and miraculous interventions as the very basis for present and future trust. This personal history of divine involvement, stretching "from my youth" to "hitherto," undergirds the psalmist's confidence that God will not abandon him in his old age, as expressed in his earnest plea, "Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth." The psalmist's commitment to declare God's works also sets the stage for his subsequent vows to praise God continually and teach others about His righteousness, as seen in his resolve to "My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day."
  • Historical & Cultural Context: In ancient Israel, old age was generally viewed as a blessing and a sign of God's favor, often associated with wisdom and honor, exemplified by the proverb, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Elders were deeply respected as sources of counsel and tradition, bearing the crucial responsibility of passing on the knowledge of God's mighty acts to younger generations, as commanded in Deuteronomy 6:7: "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children." The concept of "teaching from youth" implies a communal and familial context where children were instructed in the Torah and the history of God's redemptive acts from an early age. The public "declaration of wondrous works" was a common form of worship and testimony, often performed in the temple or during festivals, serving to remind the community of God's power and faithfulness. This public proclamation was not merely personal but served a pedagogical and evangelistic purpose, reinforcing the covenant relationship between God and His people. The psalmist's emphasis on a lifelong journey with God underscores the deeply personal yet publicly accountable nature of faith in this cultural setting.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully articulates several core themes central to the book of Psalms and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights Lifelong Divine Instruction, emphasizing that God's guidance and wisdom are not sporadic but a continuous, foundational presence throughout the psalmist's entire life. This speaks to the consistent nature of God's relationship with His people, shaping their understanding and path from an early age, as also seen in the wisdom literature's counsel to "Train up a child in the way he should go." Secondly, the verse underscores Faithful Testimony, revealing the psalmist's active response to God's teaching. The commitment to "declare thy wondrous works" is a powerful testament to a life lived in service and worship, proclaiming God's amazing deeds, miracles, and interventions. This declaration is not just a past activity but an ongoing one, a public witness to God's character and power, echoing the psalmist's resolve in Psalms 9:1: "I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works." Thirdly, the verse is steeped in a spirit of Gratitude and Remembrance, acknowledging God's consistent presence and powerful acts. It underscores the vital importance of remembering and recounting God's faithfulness, which serves to strengthen faith in present challenges and future uncertainties, a theme also prominent in Psalms 77:11: "I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old."

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Taught (Hebrew, lâmad', H3925): The Hebrew verb לָמַד (lâmad) signifies more than mere intellectual instruction. It encompasses a deep, formative process of learning through experience, discipline, and training, akin to "goading" one into a path. It implies a pedagogical relationship where God is the active, consistent teacher, and the psalmist is the lifelong student. This teaching involves not just conveying information but shaping character, imparting wisdom, and guiding one's path through life's trials and triumphs, making one "skilful" and "expert" in God's ways.
  • Declared (Hebrew, nâgad', H5046): The verb נָגַד (nâgad) means "to tell, to make known, to report, to announce," implying a public and active proclamation. It literally means "to front," or "stand boldly out opposite," thus to manifest or announce by word of mouth to one present. The psalmist is not merely reflecting inwardly but is actively sharing God's deeds with others. This is a deliberate, vocal act of testimony, fulfilling a duty to bear witness to God's character and actions, to "show forth" His truth.
  • Wondrous works (Hebrew, pâlâʼ', H6381): The underlying root (H6381) for "wondrous works" (נִפְלָאוֹת, niphla'ot) is פָּלָא (pâlâʼ), which means "to be great, difficult, wonderful," or "to separate, distinguish." It refers to extraordinary, amazing, or miraculous deeds that evoke awe and demonstrate God's unique power, majesty, and intervention in the world. These are acts that transcend human capability and often relate to God's redemptive history, such as the Exodus or other acts of salvation and creation. They are deeds that are "too wonderful" or "too high" for human comprehension, revealing God's transcendence and immanence through His "marvelous works."

Verse Breakdown

  • "O God, thou hast taught me from my youth": This opening clause establishes a profound, personal, and enduring relationship between the psalmist and God. The psalmist acknowledges God as his lifelong instructor, implying a continuous process of divine guidance, wisdom, and spiritual formation that began in his earliest, most impressionable years. This speaks to God's proactive, faithful involvement in the psalmist's life, shaping his understanding, character, and spiritual journey from its very inception. It is a testament to God's faithfulness as a divine mentor and the psalmist's receptiveness as a lifelong student.
  • "and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.": This second clause reveals the psalmist's faithful and active response to God's lifelong teaching. "Hitherto" (Hebrew: עד־הנה, 'ad-hennah) emphasizes that this declaration has been continuous and extends up to the present moment of the psalmist's old age. It signifies a commitment to actively proclaim, bear witness to, and make known God's extraordinary, awe-inspiring, and miraculous deeds. This declaration is not merely a private reflection but a public testimony, fulfilling a duty to share God's power and faithfulness with others, a direct and faithful outcome of having been taught by God.

Literary Devices

The verse primarily employs Testimony, as the psalmist offers a deeply personal and retrospective account of God's faithfulness throughout his life. This testimony is structured with a clear Cause and Effect relationship: because God has "taught" him, the psalmist has "declared" God's works. There is also an implicit Parallelism between God's action ("taught me") and the psalmist's reciprocal response ("declared thy wondrous works"), suggesting a harmonious and obedient relationship between divine grace and human faithfulness. The phrases "from my youth" and "hitherto" create a powerful sense of Continuity and Lifelong Devotion, emphasizing the unbroken span of God's presence and the psalmist's unwavering faithfulness across his entire life. This continuous timeframe also serves as a form of Emphasis, underscoring the completeness and totality of God's instruction and the psalmist's proclamation. The "wondrous works" function as a Metonymy for God's power, character, and redemptive activity, as these deeds are the tangible manifestations of who God is and what He does.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

This verse powerfully articulates the covenantal relationship between God and humanity, where divine initiative (God teaching) elicits a human response (declaring His works). It underscores God's role as the ultimate educator, patiently guiding His people throughout their lives, not just through formal instruction but through lived experience and providential care. The psalmist's declaration of God's "wondrous works" is a profound theological act, acknowledging God's sovereignty, power, and redemptive activity in history and in personal life. It highlights the importance of remembering and rehearsing God's past faithfulness as a foundation for present trust and future hope, especially in times of distress. This lifelong pattern of receiving and proclaiming forms the essence of a vibrant faith, demonstrating that true discipleship involves both internal transformation and external witness, a cycle of grace received and grace extended.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalms 71:17 provides a timeless blueprint for a life lived in faithful response to God's grace. It challenges believers to embrace a posture of lifelong learning, recognizing that God's instruction is not confined to childhood or formal education, but is a continuous process that shapes us through every season, trial, and triumph. Just as the psalmist was taught from youth, we are called to remain humble students of God's Word and His ways, allowing His truth to guide our understanding and actions daily. Furthermore, this verse serves as a powerful reminder of our sacred responsibility to bear witness to God's "wondrous works." Our personal testimonies—the stories of God's intervention, provision, and transformation in our lives—are not meant to be kept private. They are powerful tools for evangelism, encouragement, and edification, demonstrating God's living presence in a world that desperately needs to see His hand at work. By intentionally remembering and recounting God's faithfulness, we not only strengthen our own faith but also inspire others to trust in the God who teaches, delivers, and performs wonders.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what specific ways has God "taught" you from your youth or throughout your life, and how have those lessons shaped who you are today?
  • What are some of God's "wondrous works" you have personally experienced or witnessed, and how can you more intentionally "declare" them to others in your sphere of influence?
  • How does remembering God's past faithfulness strengthen your trust in Him for present challenges and future uncertainties, particularly when facing trials?
  • What role do you play, or what role could you play, in passing on the knowledge of God's works and His truth to younger generations or those new in faith?

FAQ

What does "hitherto" mean in the context of Psalms 71:17?

Answer: In Psalms 71:17, "hitherto" (Hebrew: עד־הנה, 'ad-hennah) means "up to this point" or "until now." It emphasizes the continuous nature of the psalmist's declaration of God's wondrous works, stretching from his youth all the way to his current old age. It signifies that the commitment to proclaim God's deeds has been unbroken throughout his entire life, underscoring the psalmist's consistent faithfulness in response to God's consistent teaching. This lifelong commitment forms a powerful testimony to God's enduring presence and power, as the psalmist has seen God's faithfulness manifest across decades, much like the prophet Samuel's declaration at Ebenezer, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."

Why is the psalmist emphasizing his youth in this verse?

Answer: The psalmist emphasizes being "taught from my youth" to highlight the comprehensive and foundational nature of God's instruction. It signifies that God's guidance was not a late-life conversion or a sporadic intervention, but a consistent, formative presence from his earliest, most impressionable years. This deep, lifelong relationship with God provides the bedrock for his present plea for help and his unwavering commitment to declare God's works. It underscores the idea that a life steeped in divine teaching from its very beginning naturally leads to a life of faithful witness and proclamation, reinforcing the wisdom of early spiritual formation as seen in Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalms 71:17 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent "teacher" (Rabbi) sent from God, whose very life and words embody the divine instruction the psalmist received. Just as God taught the psalmist, Jesus, as the incarnate Word, fully reveals the Father, teaching with unparalleled authority and wisdom, as the crowds observed, "He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Moreover, the "wondrous works" the psalmist declared pale in comparison to the miracles, healings, and ultimately, the resurrection performed by Jesus. These are the supreme "wondrous works" that demonstrate God's power, love, and redemptive purpose for humanity, beginning with His first sign, "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory." The psalmist's lifelong declaration foreshadows the New Testament call for believers to proclaim the good news of Christ. We are now commissioned to declare not just God's general wondrous works, but specifically the saving work of Jesus Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection—which is the greatest wonder of all, as Paul reminds us, "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." Our "hitherto" is a continuous testimony to the finished work of Christ and His ongoing presence through the Holy Spirit, empowering us to be His witnesses "unto the uttermost part of the earth." Thus, the psalmist's experience becomes a profound type of the Christian's call to be taught by Christ and to declare His glorious deeds throughout their lives.

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Commentary on Psalms 71 verses 14–24

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points(1.) (2.) Details

David is here in a holy transport of joy and praise, arising from his faith and hope in God; we have both together Psa 71:14, where there is a sudden and remarkable change of his voice; his fears are all silenced, his hopes raised, and his prayers turned into thanksgivings. "Let my enemies say what they will, to drive me to despair, I will hope continually, hope in all conditions, in the most cloudy and dark day; I will live upon hope and will hope to the end." Since we hope in one that will never fail us, let not our hope in him fail us, and then we shall praise him yet more and more. "The more they reproach me the more closely will I cleave to thee; I will praise thee more and better than ever I have done yet." The longer we live the more expert we should grow in praising God and the more we should abound in it. I will add over and above all thy praise, all the praise I have hitherto offered, for it is all too little. When we have said all we can, to the glory of God's grace, there is still more to be said; it is a subject that can never be exhausted, and therefore we should never grow weary of it. Now observe, in these verses,

I. How his heart is established in faith and hope; and it is a good thing that the heart be so established. Observe,

1.What he hopes in, Psa 71:16. (1.) In the power of God: "I will go in the strength of the Lord God, not sit down in despair, but stir up myself to and exert myself in my work and warfare, will go forth and go on, not in any strength of my own, but in God's strength - disclaiming my own sufficiency and depending on him only as all-sufficient - in the strength of his providence and in the strength of his grace." We must always go about God's work in his strength, having our eyes up unto him to work in us both to will and to do. (2.) In the promise of God: "I will make mention of thy righteousness, that is, thy faithfulness to every word which thou hast spoken, the equity of thy disposals, and thy kindness to thy people that trust in thee. This I will make mention of as my plea in prayer for thy mercy." We may very fitly apply it to the righteousness of Christ, which is called the righteousness of God by faith, and which is witnessed by the law and the prophets; we must depend upon God's strength for assistance and upon Christ's righteousness for acceptance. In the Lord have I righteousness and strength, Isa 45:24.

2.What he hopes for.

(1.)He hopes that God will not leave him in his old age, but will be the same to him to the end that he had been all along, Psa 71:17, Psa 71:18. Observe here, [1.] What God had done for him when he was young: Thou hast taught me from my youth. The good education and good instructions which his parents gave him when he was young he owns himself obliged to give God thanks for as a great favour. It is a blessed thing to be taught of God from our youth, from our childhood to know the holy scriptures, and it is what we have reason to bless God for. [2.] What he had done for God when he was middle-aged: He had declared all God's wondrous works. Those that have not good when they are young must be doing good when they are grown up, and must continue to communicate what they have received. We must own that all the works of God's goodness to us are wondrous works, admiring he should do so much for us who are so undeserving, and we must make it our business to declare them, to the glory of God and the good of others. [3.] What he desired of God now that he was old: Now that I am old and gray-headed, dying to this world and hastening to another, O God! forsake me not. This is what he earnestly desires and confidently hopes for. Those that have been taught of God from their youth, and have made it the business of their lives to honour him, may be sure that he will not leave them when they are old and gray-headed, will not leave them helpless and comfortless, but will make the evil days of old age their best days, and such as they shall have occasion to say they have pleasure in. [4.] What he designed to do for God in his old age: "I will not only show thy strength, by my own experience of it, to this generation, but I will leave my observations upon record for the benefit of posterity, and so who it to every one that is to come." As long as we live we should be endeavouring to glorify God and edify one another; and those that have had the largest and longest experience of the goodness of God to them should improve their experiences for the good of their friends. It is a debt which the old disciples of Christ owe to the succeeding generations to leave behind them a solemn testimony to the power, pleasure, and advantage of religion, and the truth of God's promises.

(2.)He hopes that God would revive him and raise him up out of his present low and disconsolate condition (Psa 71:20): Thou who hast made me to see and feel great and sore troubles, above most men, shalt quicken me again. Note, [1.] The best of God's saints and servants are sometimes exercised with great and sore troubles in this world. [2.] God's hand is to be eyed in all the troubles of the saints, and that will help to extenuate them and make them seem light. He does not say, "Thou hast burdened me with those troubles," but "shown them to me," as the tender father shows the child the rod to keep him in awe. [3.] Though God's people be brought ever so low he can revive them and raise them up. Are they dead? he can quicken them again. See Co2 1:9. Are they buried, as dead men out of mind? he can bring them up again from the depths of the earth, can cheer the most drooping spirit and raise the most sinking interest. [4.] If we have a due regard to the hand of God in our troubles, we may promise ourselves, in due time, a deliverance out of them. Our present troubles, though great and sore, shall be no hindrance to our joyful resurrection from the depths of the earth, witness our great Master, to whom this may have some reference; his Father showed him great and sore troubles, but quickened him and brought him up from the grave.

(3.)He hopes that God would not only deliver him out of his troubles, but would advance his honour and joy more than ever (Psa 71:21): "Thou shalt not only restore me to my greatness again, but shalt increase it, and give me a better interest, after this shock, than before; thou shalt not only comfort me, but comfort me on every side, so that I shall see nothing black or threatening on any side." Note, Sometimes God makes his people's troubles contribute to the increase of their greatness, and their sun shines the brighter for having been under a cloud. If he make them contribute to the increase of their goodness, that will prove in the end the increase of their greatness, their glory; and if he comfort them on every side, according to the time and degree wherein he has afflicted them on every side, they will have no reason to complain. When our Lord Jesus was quickened again, and brought back from the depths of the earth, his greatness was increased, and he entered on the joy set before him.

(4.)He hopes that all his enemies would be put to confusion, Psa 71:24. He speaks of it with the greatest assurance as a thing done, and triumphs in it accordingly: They are confounded, they are brought to shame, that seek my hurt. His honour would be their disgrace and his comfort their vexation.

II. Let us now see how his heart is enlarged in joy and praises, how he rejoices in hope, and sings in hope for we are saved by hope.

1.He will speak of God's righteousness and his salvation, as great things, things which he was well acquainted with, and much affected with, which he desired God might have the glory of and others might have the comfortable knowledge of (Psa 71:15): My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation; and again (Psa 71:24), My tongue shall talk of thy righteousness, and this all the day. God's righteousness, which David seems here to be in a particular manner affected with, includes a great deal: the rectitude of his nature, the equity of his providential disposals, the righteous laws he has given us to be ruled by, the righteous promises he has given us to depend upon, and the everlasting righteousness which his Son has brought in for our justification. God's righteousness and his salvation are here joined together; let no man think to put them asunder, nor expect salvation without righteousness, Psa 50:23. If these two are made the objects of our desire, let them be made the subjects of our discourse all the day, for they are subjects that can never be exhausted.

2.He will speak of them with wonder and admiration, as one astonished at the dimensions of divine love and grace, the height and depth, the length and breadth, of it: "I know not the numbers thereof, Psa 71:15. Though I cannot give a particular account of thy favours to me, they are so many, so great (if I would count them, they are more in number than the sand, Psa 40:5), yet, knowing them to be numberless, I will be still speaking of them, for in them I shall find new matter," Psa 71:19. The righteousness that is in God is very high; that which is done by him for his people is very great: put both together, and we shall say, O God! who is like unto thee? This is praising God, acknowledging his perfections and performances to be, (1.) Above our conception; they are very high and great, so high that we cannot apprehend them, so great that we cannot comprehend them. (2.) Without any parallel; no being like him, no works like his: O God! who is like unto thee? None in heaven, none on earth, no angel, no king. God is a non-such; we do not rightly praise him if we do not own him to be so.

3.He will speak of them with all the expressions of joy and exultation, Psa 71:22, Psa 71:23. Observe,

(1.)How he would eye God in praising him. [1.] As a faithful God: I will praise thee, even thy truth. God is made known by his word; if we praise that, and the truth of that, we praise him. By faith we set to our seal that God is true; and so we praise his truth. [2.] As a God in covenant with him: "O my God! whom I have consented to and avouched for mine." As in our prayers, so in our praises, we must look up to God as our God, and give him the glory of our interest in him and relation to him. [3.] As the Holy One of Israel, Israel's God in a peculiar manner, glorious in his holiness among that people and faithful to his covenant with them. It is God's honour that he is a Holy One; it is his people's honour that he is the Holy One of Israel.

(2.)How he will express his joy and exultation. [1.] With his hand, in sacred music - with the psaltery, with the harp; at these David excelled, and the best of his skill shall be employed in setting forth God's praises to such advantage as might affect others. [2.] With his lips, in sacred songs: "Unto thee will I sing, to thy honour, and with a desire to be accepted of thee. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee, knowing they cannot be better employed." [3.] In both with his heart: "My soul shall rejoice which thou hast redeemed." Note, First, Holy joy is the very heart and life of thankful praise. Secondly, We do not make melody to the Lord, in singing his praises, if we do not do it with our hearts. My lips shall rejoice, but that is nothing; lip-labour, though ever so well laboured, if that be all, is but lost labour in serving God; the soul must be at work, and with all that is within us we must bless his holy name, else all about us is worth little. Thirdly, Redeemed souls ought to be joyful thankful souls. The work of redemption ought, above all God's works, to be celebrated by us in our praises. The Lamb that was slain, and has redeemed us to God, must therefore be counted worthy of all blessing and praise.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 14–24. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 71
"O God, You have taught me from my youth" [Psalm 71:17]. What have you taught me? That of Your righteousness alone I ought to be mindful. For reviewing my past life, I see what was owing to me, and what I have received instead of that which was owing to me. There was owing punishment, there has been paid grace: there was owing hell, there has been given life eternal. "O God, You have taught me from my youth." From the very beginning of my faith, wherewith You have renewed me, You taught me that nothing had preceded in me, whence I might say that there was owing to me what You have given. For who is turned to God save from iniquity? Who is redeemed save from captivity? But who can say that unjust was his captivity, when he forsook his Captain and fell off to the deserter? God is for our Captain, the devil a deserter: the Captain gave a commandment, the deserter suggested guile: where were your ears between precept and deceit? Was the devil better than God? Better he that revolted than He that made you? You believed what the devil promised, and found what God threatened. Now then out of captivity being delivered, still however in hope, not yet in substance, walking by faith, not yet by sight, "O God," he says, "You have taught me from my youth." From the time that I have been turned to You, renewed by You who had been made by You, re-created who had been created, re-formed who had been formed: from the time that I have been converted, I have learned that no merits of mine have preceded, but that Your grace has come to me gratis, in order that I might be mindful of Your righteousness alone.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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