Psalms 71:5

KJV

For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD: [thou art] my trust from my youth.

KJV (with Strong's)

For thou art my hope {H8615}, O Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}: thou art my trust {H4009} from my youth {H5271}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For you are my hope, Adonai ELOHIM, in whom I have trusted since I was young.

Berean Standard Bible

For You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.

American Standard Version

For thou art my hope, O Lord Jehovah: Thou artmy trust from my youth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 71:5 articulates the psalmist's profound and unwavering declaration of lifelong dependence on God, affirming Him as the singular source of hope and trust from the earliest days of life. This verse serves as a foundational statement of faith within a psalm where an aged individual seeks divine deliverance and protection amidst adversity, highlighting the enduring nature of God's faithfulness and the security found in a sustained relationship with Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 71 is a deeply personal lament and prayer of an elderly individual, possibly a king or a prominent figure like David, who is facing significant opposition and feels vulnerable due to advanced age. The psalm opens with an urgent plea for deliverance and refuge in God ([Psalms 71:1-4](/psalms/71-1 "Psalms 71:1-4 - Plea for Deliverance")). Verse 5, "For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD: [thou art] my trust from my youth," serves as the bedrock of the psalmist's appeal, providing the theological justification for the request. It transitions from an immediate cry for help to a confident assertion of God's historical faithfulness, which then undergirds further petitions for vindication and continued support into old age ([Psalms 71:9](/psalms/71-9 "Psalms 71:9 - Do Not Cast Me Off in Old Age")). The psalmist's past experience of God's reliability is presented as the basis for future expectation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific author and historical setting of Psalm 71 remain debated, it is widely understood to be the prayer of an aged person, likely a leader, facing a crisis. In ancient Israel, old age was generally respected, but it also brought vulnerability, especially for those in positions of leadership who might face challenges to their authority or physical decline. The concept of "hope" and "trust" in this context was not merely a subjective feeling but an active reliance on a covenant-keeping God in a world often hostile and unpredictable. Unlike reliance on human alliances, military might, or personal strength, which were common strategies for security in the ancient Near East, the psalmist explicitly places all confidence in "Lord GOD," emphasizing a unique and exclusive dependence on the divine. This reflects a worldview where God is the ultimate sovereign and protector of His people.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 71 and the Psalter. Firstly, it underscores **lifelong dependence on God**, emphasizing that faith is not a momentary decision but a continuous journey rooted in a relationship cultivated "from youth." This echoes the call to remember God's works from early on, as seen in [Deuteronomy 6:7](/deuteronomy/6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:7 - Teach Your Children Diligently"). Secondly, it highlights **God as the exclusive source of true hope and security**. In a world where people often place their confidence in fleeting things, the psalmist declares God alone as "my hope" and "my trust," aligning with the wisdom found in [Proverbs 3:5-6](/proverbs/3-5 "Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart"). Thirdly, the verse implicitly testifies to **God's unwavering faithfulness**. The psalmist's ability to trust God since youth implies a consistent experience of God's reliability, reinforcing the theme of God's steadfast love and mercy that endures through all generations, as celebrated in [Psalms 100:5](/psalms/100-5 "Psalms 100:5 - God's Enduring Mercy").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hope (Hebrew, _tiqvah'_):** This word, derived from a root meaning "to stretch, to collect," often refers to a cord or a line, suggesting something tangible to hold onto or something that connects one to a desired outcome. In a theological sense, _tiqvah_ signifies a confident expectation, a strong, positive anticipation of God's future action and deliverance, not merely a wishful thought. It implies an anchor for the soul, a firm conviction rooted in God's character and promises.
* **Trust (Hebrew, _mibtach'_):** From the root _batach_, meaning "to lean on, to be confident," _mibtach_ denotes reliance, security, or confidence. It implies a complete resting upon someone or something, a firm assurance that one will not be disappointed. When applied to God, it speaks of a profound and unwavering dependence, a conviction that God is utterly dependable and will provide safety and vindication.
* **Lord GOD (Hebrew, _Adonai Yahweh'_):** This powerful compound divine title is significant. _Adonai_ (אֲדֹנָי), meaning "my Lord" or "my Master," emphasizes God's sovereignty, authority, and ownership. _Yahweh_ (יְהוִה), typically rendered "LORD" (in small capitals) in English translations, is God's personal covenant name, revealing His relational, self-existent, and faithful nature. The combination "Adonai Yahweh" underscores God's supreme power and His intimate, covenantal relationship with His people, making Him both the sovereign ruler and the personal, reliable God of the psalmist.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD:"** The verse begins with "For" (כִּי, _ki_), indicating that what follows is the reason or ground for the psalmist's previous pleas for deliverance. The declaration "thou art my hope" establishes God as the exclusive object and source of the psalmist's confident expectation. This is not a hope placed in circumstances, human strength, or worldly solutions, but squarely in the person of "O Lord GOD" (Adonai Yahweh), emphasizing His supreme authority and covenantal faithfulness as the foundation of this hope.
* **"[thou art] my trust from my youth."** This clause reinforces and expands upon the previous one. The repetition of "thou art" (implied in Hebrew, explicit in KJV) emphasizes God's consistent role. The phrase "from my youth" is crucial, indicating a lifelong, unbroken relationship of reliance. This isn't a new or desperate faith, but one deeply rooted in personal history and experience, testifying to God's consistent reliability and presence throughout the psalmist's entire life journey, from childhood into old age.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. **Parallelism** is evident in the two clauses, where "my hope" in the first clause is paralleled by "my trust" in the second, and the implied "thou art" links both to "O Lord GOD." This synonymous parallelism intensifies the declaration, reinforcing the singular and comprehensive nature of the psalmist's dependence on God. The phrase "from my youth" functions as a powerful **hyperbole** or **merism**, encompassing the entire span of the psalmist's life, from its earliest beginnings to the present moment of old age, thereby emphasizing the unbroken continuity of God's faithfulness and the psalmist's trust. The psalmist's declaration is also a profound **personal confession**, using first-person possessive pronouns ("my hope," "my trust") to make the statement deeply intimate and experiential, inviting the reader to identify with this personal reliance on God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 71:5 serves as a powerful theological anchor, affirming God as the ultimate and exclusive object of human hope and trust across the span of a lifetime. It highlights the biblical truth that true security and confident expectation are found not in human endeavors or earthly provisions, but solely in the steadfast character and covenantal faithfulness of the Lord God. This lifelong dependence underscores the concept of a living, dynamic relationship with God that deepens and proves itself reliable through every season of life, providing a firm foundation even in the face of aging and adversity. The psalmist's testimony becomes a universal model for all believers, demonstrating that a life lived in continuous reliance on God is a life built on an unshakable foundation.

* [Psalms 25:1-3](/psalms/25-1 "Psalms 25:1-3 - To You, O LORD, I Lift Up My Soul")
* [Jeremiah 17:7-8](/jeremiah/17-7 "Jeremiah 17:7-8 - Blessed Is the One Who Trusts in the LORD")
* [Hebrews 6:19-20](/hebrews/6-19 "Hebrews 6:19-20 - Hope as an Anchor for the Soul")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 71:5 offers a profound invitation to examine the depth and duration of our own faith. The psalmist's declaration of lifelong hope and trust in God challenges us to cultivate a faith that is not merely reactive to crises but deeply rooted and continuously nurtured from our earliest days. This verse reminds us that God desires a sustained, intimate relationship with us, one where He is consistently our primary source of security and expectation, regardless of our age or circumstances. In a world characterized by shifting sands and fleeting promises, the psalmist's unwavering confidence in "Lord GOD" calls us to anchor our souls in the one who is eternally faithful. It encourages us to reflect on God's past faithfulness in our lives, allowing those experiences to build our trust for the present and future, knowing that He who has been our hope from youth will not abandon us in our later years.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways has God proven Himself to be your hope and trust throughout your life, particularly "from your youth" or from the beginning of your faith journey?**
* **What are the primary sources of your hope and trust today, and how does Psalms 71:5 challenge you to re-evaluate those priorities?**
* **How can you intentionally cultivate a deeper, more consistent reliance on God in your daily life, mirroring the psalmist's lifelong dependence?**
* **What specific adversities or vulnerabilities do you face now, and how can the truth of God as your unwavering hope and trust provide strength and peace in those situations?**

### FAQ
**How does the psalmist's "youth" relate to the overall message of the psalm, given that the psalmist is old?**

Answer: The reference to "my youth" in Psalms 71:5 is crucial because it establishes the *continuity* and *duration* of the psalmist's trust in God. While the psalmist is indeed old and vulnerable in the broader context of Psalm 71, stating that God has been their hope and trust "from youth" underscores that their current faith is not a desperate, last-minute plea, but the culmination of a lifelong relationship. It serves as a powerful testimony to God's consistent faithfulness across all seasons of life. This deep, historical reliance on God provides the foundation and justification for the psalmist's plea for deliverance in old age, affirming that the God who has always been reliable will continue to be so. It highlights that God's support is not just for a moment, but endures through an entire lifetime, from the earliest memories to the present challenges.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 71:5, with its declaration of God as the psalmist's lifelong hope and trust, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament saints looked forward to God's future deliverance, believers in Christ now possess the very embodiment of that hope. Jesus is not merely an object of hope, but the living reality of it: He is our "hope of glory" ([Colossians 1:27](/colossians/1-27 "Colossians 1:27 - Christ in You, the Hope of Glory")). The steadfastness and reliability of God, which the psalmist experienced from youth, are perfectly revealed in Christ's unwavering faithfulness, His perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection. Through Christ's resurrection, God has given us a "living hope" ([1_peter/1-3](/1-peter/1-3 "1 Peter 1:3 - Living Hope Through Resurrection")), an expectation that is not based on human strength or fleeting circumstances, but on the power of God Himself. Our trust, like the psalmist's, is anchored in a Person, Jesus Christ, who is "the same yesterday and today and forever" ([Hebrews 13:8](/hebrews/13-8 "Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the Same")). He is the secure "anchor for the soul" ([Hebrews 6:19](/hebrews/6-19 "Hebrews 6:19 - Hope as an Anchor for the Soul")), providing stability and assurance in every season of life, from the spiritual "youth" of conversion to the "old age" of spiritual maturity and the approach of eternity. In Him, our hope does not put us to shame ([Romans 5:5](/romans/5-5 "Romans 5:5 - Hope Does Not Put Us to Shame")), for He is the faithful One who will complete what He has begun in us.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 17:7

Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Psalms 39:7

¶ And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope [is] in thee.

Psalms 71:17

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

Psalms 119:81

¶ CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: [but] I hope in thy word.

Jeremiah 17:17

Be not a terror unto me: thou [art] my hope in the day of evil.

Psalms 119:166

¶ LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

1 Samuel 17:45

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.