Psalms 18:16 — Word Study
WLCיִשְׁלַ֣ח מִ֭מָּרוֹם יִקָּחֵ֑נִי יַֽ֝מְשֵׁ֗נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃
BSAwatersmayim [the deep ocean, a source of turmoil]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יִשְׁלַ֣ח | he stretched out | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| מִ֭מָּרוֹם | from a high place | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יִקָּחֵ֑נִי | he took hold of me | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| יַֽ֝מְשֵׁ֗נִי | he drew me | Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| מִמַּ֥יִם | from waters | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| רַבִּֽים׃ | many |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. |
| KJV | He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. |
| ASV | He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters. |
| YLT | He sendeth from above — He taketh me, He draweth me out of many waters. |
| WEB | He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters. |
| BBE | He sent from on high, he took me, pulling me out of great waters. |
Where they part company is in the choice of verbs and descriptions — see How Translations Differ.
The structure features a main clause followed by two actions, emphasizing the sequence of divine intervention.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbוְ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 18:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Lord's Deliverancegenerated
Psalm 18:16 presents a vivid portrayal of God's intervention in times of distress. The psalmist describes how God reached down from a high place to rescue him from overwhelming circumstances, illustrating the theme of divine help found throughout the psalm. This passage connects with the broader narrative of God's faithfulness and protection as seen in other psalms and biblical accounts.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 57:3 | He reaches down from heaven and saves me; He rebukes those who trample me. Selah God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth. |
| 2 | Psalm 144:7 | Reach down from on high; set me free and rescue me from the deep waters, from the grasp of foreigners, |
| 3 | Psalm 18:43 | You have delivered me from the strife of the people; You have made me the head of nations; a people I had not known shall serve me. |
| 4 | Psalm 40:1–3 | I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. |
| 5 | Exodus 2:10 | When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יִשְׁלַ֣ח, yish.Lachgenerated
The verb שָׁלַח (shalach) means 'to send' and is used here in the context of reaching out. It implies an action of extending oneself, particularly in a way that suggests help or rescue. The parsing indicates it is a Qal imperfect form, which denotes an ongoing or repeated action, emphasizing God's active role in the psalmist's deliverance.
This word has a wide range of applications, from sending something away to reaching out with a hand. In this context, it portrays God as a powerful figure who actively intervenes to save those in distress, highlighting His sovereignty and care.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase reached down.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is יִשְׁלַ֣ח, he stretched out, which governs the entire structure. The verse consists of two main clauses: the action of reaching down and the subsequent actions of taking hold and drawing out.
The syntax emphasizes God's proactive role in the psalmist's rescue, with the verbs indicating a sequence of actions that illustrate the depth of God's involvement in delivering the psalmist from danger.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the verb יִשְׁלַ֣ח with καὶ (and), which reflects a straightforward rendering of the action without additional nuance. This choice indicates a direct correspondence to the Hebrew without elaboration.
The simplicity of the Greek translation suggests a focus on the act of sending or reaching out, aligning with the overarching theme of divine assistance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 18:16 describes how God reached down from a high place to rescue the psalmist from deep waters. This imagery conveys God's power and willingness to save those in distress, illustrating His protective nature.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This phrase emphasizes God's sovereignty and ability to intervene in human affairs, illustrating His readiness to help those in need.
The deep waters symbolize overwhelming troubles or dangers, suggesting a state of distress from which the psalmist needed rescue.
This verse reflects the broader biblical theme of God's deliverance and protection, seen in various psalms and narratives where God rescues His people.
Reaching down illustrates God's active involvement and compassion, showing that He does not remain distant but engages directly with human suffering.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's help and intervention?
- How can I recognize and appreciate the ways God has reached out to me in times of trouble?
- What does it mean to me personally that God is willing to draw me out of deep waters?
- How can I share the message of God's deliverance with others who may feel overwhelmed?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers, like Augustine, referenced this psalm to illustrate God's saving power, interpreting it in the context of divine rescue and the church's mission.
He has sent down from on high, and has fetched Me [Psalms 18:16]: by calling out of the Gentiles for an inheritance "a glorious Church, not having spot,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 18 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 18:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe sent from above,.... Either his hand, as in Psalms 144:7; he exerted and displayed his mighty power in raising Christ from the dead; or he sent help from his sanctuary; as in Psalms 20:2; and
Read John Gill on Psalms 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe sent angels, or assistance otherwise.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 18:16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.Ver. 16. He sent from above, he took me] He rescued me as by a hand reached me from heaven. Deus εκμηχανης, or, he sent his angels to secure me. He drew me out of many waters] As he had once done Moses, Exodus 2:10, who there hence also had his name. Musaeus, for the same cause, calleth him υδχογενης, water spring.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 18 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) He drew me.—By an exquisite transition from the real to the figurative the poet conceives of these parted waters as the “floods of affliction” (Psalms 18:5), from which Jehovah has rescued him by means of the very storm which was sent, in answer to his prayer, to overwhelm his enemies. Render at once more literally and forcibly, “He laid hold of me and drew me out of great waters.” The conception undoubtedly is that the “gates of death” are under these floods, and those being now parted, the sufferer can be reached and rescued. Psalms 18:17-19 show trifling variations between the two copies of the psalm.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 16. He drew me out of many waters.] Here the allusion is still carried on. The waters thus poured out were sweeping the people away; but God, by a miraculous interference, sent and drew David out. Sometimes waters are used to denote multitudes of people; and here the word may have that reference; multitudes were gathered together against David, but God delivered him from them all. This seems to be countenanced by the following verse.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16–19. The deliverance which was the object of Jehovah’s manifestation of His power.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 18 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe sent from above - He interposed to save me. All these manifestations of the divine interposition were from above, or from heaven; all came from God. He took me - He took hold on me; he rescued me.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 18 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.
He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.
He reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me from the surging water.
Tyndale line
He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters.
He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.
He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
He hath sent downe from aboue and taken mee: hee hath drawen mee out of many waters.
Strictly literal
He reached forth from above, he took me, he drew me out of great waters:
He sendeth from above — He taketh me, He draweth me out of many waters.
He sends from above—He takes me, || He draws me out of many waters.
(18:17) He stretched out from above [his hand], he took me; he drew me out from mighty waters.
He reached down from above; he took hold of me! He pulled me out of the surging water.
Simplified
He reached down his hand from above and grabbed hold of me. He pulled me out of the deep water.
He sent from on high, he took me, pulling me out of great waters.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads יִשְׁלַ֣ח מִ֭מָּרוֹם יִקָּחֵ֑נִי יַֽ֝מְשֵׁ֗נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃, and this is closely matched by the Septuagint. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations, with partial restorations, but generally align with the Masoretic Text in meaning.
יִשְׁלַ֣ח מִ֭מָּרוֹם יִקָּחֵ֑נִי יַֽ֝מְשֵׁ֗נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[ויראו] [אפיקי] [מים] [ויגלו] מוסדי תבל ישלח [יהוה] [מנשמת] [רוח] [אפ׳ך]
1 word on the leather — 2 partly restored, 8 supplied entire by an editor.
ויגלו מוסדות [תבל] [מגערת׳ך] [יהוה] מנשמת רוח [אפ׳ך]
2 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 18:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (shalach) is a primitive root meaning 'to send' with a wide range of applications. It can refer to sending away, stretching out (especially a hand), or letting go. The entries indicate various forms, including sending off, casting out, and setting free. Notably, it can also imply divorce or being sent away in a marital context.
שָׁלַח 814 vb. send
Qal
send: human subj.
send: subj. י׳ (God)
stretch out, esp. acc. hand
rarely send away: human subj.
let loose
Niph. letters were sent
Pi.
send off, away, human subj.
send away, subj. י׳
give over
cast out
send out, forth
let go, set free
shoot forth branches
let down
shoot
Phrases
Pu. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
Hiph. and I (י׳) will send
base
H7971 שָׁלַח send .. send: human subj.
. send: subj. י׳ (God)
. stretch out, esp. acc. hand
. rarely send away: human subj.
. let loose
. letters were sent
. . send off, away, human subj.
. . send away, subj. י׳
. give over
. cast out
. send out, forth
. let go, set free
. shoot forth branches
. let down
. shoot
. Phrases
. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
. and I (י׳) will send
7971 shalach shaw-lakh'
a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great
variety of applications):--X any wise, appoint, bring (on the
way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give
(up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose),
push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send
(away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread,
stretch forth (out).
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: depart.
: depart/send
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled
1e) (Hiphil) to send
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: let go.
: let_go/free
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
מָרוֹם (marowm) means 'height' and encompasses both concrete and abstract uses, referring to elevated places, elevation, and even pride. It can describe physical heights or be used figuratively for dignity and nobility. The word is poetically used in the Old Testament, with its root linked to the concept of altitude.
מָרוֹם n.m. height (poet.)
height, elevation (concr.), elevated place
alone = height of heaven
adv. fig., = proudly
fig. of nobles
base
H4791 מָרוֹם height (poet.)
4791 marowm maw-rome'
from 7311; altitude, i.e. concretely (an elevated place),
abstractly (elevation, figuratively (elation), or adverbially
(aloft):--(far) above, dignity, haughty, height, (most, on)
high (one, place), loftily, upward.
see HEBREW for 07311
מָרוֹם (ma.rom) — height.
1) height
1a) height, elevation, elevated place
1a1) in a high place (adv)
1b) height
1c) proudly (adv)
1d) of nobles (fig.)
HR/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
plas: Normally for maqom, Old Testament, and topos, New Testament, but in the King James Version "place" represents a great number of Hebrew and Greek words, often used with no difference in force (e.g. 2Ch 35:10,15). the Revised Version (British and American) has made few changes, but occasionally has attempted to specialize the meaning (Ge 40:13; Job 37:8; Ac 8:32; Jas 3:11, etc.).
The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.
לָקַח 965 vb. take
Qal
take, take in hand
take and carry along with oneself
take from, or out of
take, carry away
take away from, so as to deprive of
esp. take away life
take to or for a person
take up, upon = put upon
= fetch
take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
take = capture, seize
take = carry off
in phr. take vengeance
Niph.
be captured, of ark
be taken away, removed
be taken, brought unto
Pu.
be taken from, out of
= be stolen from
be taken captive
be taken away, removed
Hoph.
be taken, brought unto
be taken out of
be taken away from
Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
base
H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand
. take and carry along with oneself
. . take from, or out of
. take, carry away
. take away from, so as to deprive of
. esp. take away life
. take to or for a person
. take up, upon = put upon
. = fetch
. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
. take = capture, seize
. take = carry off
. in phr. take vengeance
. . be captured, of ark
. be taken away, removed
. be taken, brought unto
. . be taken from, out of
. = be stolen from
. be taken captive
. be taken away, removed
. . be taken, brought unto
. be taken out of
. be taken away from
. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
3947 laqach law-kakh'
a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of
applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,
get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,
seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.
: take
1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to take, take in the hand
1a2) to take and carry along
1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away
1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept
1a5) to take up or upon, put upon
1a6) to fetch
1a7) to take, lead, conduct
1a8) to take, capture, seize
1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be captured
1b2) to be taken away, be removed
1b3) to be taken, brought unto
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be taken from or out of
1c2) to be stolen from
1c3) to be taken captive
1c4) to be taken away, be removed
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto
1d2) to be taken out of
1d3) to be taken away
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to take hold of oneself
HVqi3ms/Sp1bs — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqi3ms/Sp1bs
מָשָׁה (mashah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to draw.' It is a primitive root that can refer to pulling out something literally or figuratively. The entries indicate its use in both the Qal and Hiphil stems, with a specific example of drawing someone out of water.
[מָשָׁה] vb. draw
Qal out of the water I drew him
Hiph. fig.
base
H4871 [מָשָׁה] draw
4871 mashah maw-shaw'
a primitive root; to pull out (literally or
figuratively):--draw(out).
מָשָׁה (ma.shah) — to draw.
1) to draw
1a) (Qal) to draw
1b) (Hiphil) to draw
HVhi3ms/Sp1bs — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVhi3ms/Sp1bs
מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.
[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
base
H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
4325 mayim mah'-yim
dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+
piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
מַי (ma.yim) — water.
1) water, waters
1a) water
1b) water of the feet, urine
1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)
מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).
This name means water, refreshment
N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
wo'-terz (mayim, plural of may, "water"; in the New Testament hudor, "water"; kindunois potamon (2Co 11:26), the King James Version "perils of waters," is in the Revised Version (British and American) "perils of rivers"): In the New Testament there is frequent reference to the water of baptism. Pilate washes his hands with water to signify his guiltlessness. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman of the living water. The Lamb shall guide the redeemed unto fountains of waters of life.
The uses of mayim are well classified in BDB, especially the figurative references, as follows: a symbol of distress, "when thou passest through the waters" (Isa 43:2); of force, "like the breach of waters" (2Sa 5:20); of that which is overwhelming, "a…
רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.
רַב 429 adj. much, many, great
(oft. opp. מְעַט)
much: of substances
esp. of collectives, numerous
pl. many
רַב as subst. coll. pers.
cstr. = abounding in
מִן comp. = more numerous than
רַב = abundant, enough
as adv. much, exceedingly
less oft. great
base
רַב 49 n.m. chief
base
H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances
. esp. of collectives, numerous
. pl. many
. רַב as subst. coll. pers.
. cstr. = abounding in
. + מִן comp. = more numerous than
. רַב = abundant, enough
. as adv. much, exceedingly
. less oft. great
H7227b רַב chief
7227 rab rab
by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,
number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),
captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,
one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,
things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)
much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,
populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
see HEBREW for 07231
רַב (rav) — many.
adj
1) much, many, great
1a) much
1b) many
1c) abounding in
1d) more numerous than
1e) abundant, enough
1f) great
1g) strong
1h) greater than
adv
1i) much, exceedingly
רַב (rav) — chief.
captain, chief
Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)
רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.
Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)
§ captain, chief
HAampa — HAampa
MANY, adjective men'ny.
1. Numerous; comprising a great number of individuals.
Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Genesis 17:4.
Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Corinthians 1:26.
MANY are the afflictions of the righteous. Psalms 34:12.
It is often preceded by as or so, and followed by so, indicating an equal number.
As many books as you take, so many shall be charged to your account.
So many laws argue so many sins.
It is followed by as.
As many as were willing-hearted brought bracelets. Exodus 34:1.
It precedes an or a, before a noun in the singular number.
Full many a gem of purest ray serene.
2. In low language, preceded by too, it denotes powerful or much; as, they are too many for us.
MANY, noun men'ny. A multitude; a great number of individuals; the people.
O thou fond many
The vulgar and the many are fit only to be led or driven.