Psalms 34:17 — Word Study
WLCצָעֲק֣וּ וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכָּל־ צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃
BSA◂and the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| צָעֲק֣וּ | they cry out | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| וַיהוָ֣ה | and Yahweh | Conjunction, noun proper |
| שָׁמֵ֑עַ | he hears | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| וּמִכָּל־ | and from all | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם | troubles their | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| הִצִּילָֽם׃ | he delivers them | Verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. |
| KJV | The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. |
| ASV | The righteous cried, and Jehovah heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles. |
| YLT | They cried, and Jehovah heard, And from all their distresses delivered them. |
| WEB | The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. |
| BBE | The cry of the upright comes before the Lord, and he takes them out of all their troubles. |
The translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse, emphasizing the cry of the righteous and God's response.
The sentence is structured around a main clause with a clear progression of thought, showing the relationship between the cries of the righteous and God's deliverance.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectבְּ
verbפָּנֶה
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 34:17
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 — God's Deliverance of the Righteousgenerated
Psalm 34:17 emphasizes the connection between the cries of the righteous and God's attentive response. The psalmist reassures that when the upright call out, the LORD hears them and provides deliverance from their troubles. This theme resonates throughout the psalm, as seen in the surrounding verses, which speak to God's nearness to the brokenhearted and His commitment to saving those in distress.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 34:6–15 | This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles. |
| 2 | Psalm 91:15 | When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. |
| 3 | Psalm 145:18–20 | The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth. |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 32:20–21 | In response, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out to heaven in prayer, |
| 5 | Isaiah 65:24 | Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — צָעֲק֣וּ, tza.'a.Kugenerated
The verb צָעַק (tsa`aq) means to cry out or call for help, often in a context of distress. It is a Qal perfect form, indicating that the action is completed and reflects a collective experience of the righteous.
This word captures the essence of desperation and need, as it is frequently used in the Psalms when individuals seek divine assistance. The use of this verb underscores the active plea of the righteous in their times of trouble.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of a main clause with a finite verb צָעֲק֣וּ (they cry out) and three phrases that follow: a conjunction introducing the subject וַיהוָ֣ה (and the LORD), a verb שָׁמֵ֑עַ (he hears), and a second verb הִצִּילָֽם (he delivers them) that completes the thought.
The structure emphasizes the relationship between the cries of the righteous and God's responsive actions, showing a clear cause and effect where the cry leads to divine intervention.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates צָעֲק֣וּ as πρόσωπον (prosōpon), which means 'face' or 'presence'. This choice suggests an interpretation that emphasizes the intimate connection between the cry of the righteous and the presence of God.
This rendering indicates a broader understanding of the act of crying out, pointing to a relational aspect where the righteous seek the face of the LORD in their time of need.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 34:17 tells us that when the righteous cry out for help, the LORD hears them and rescues them from all their troubles. This verse reassures us of God's attentive care and deliverance in times of distress.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Crying out refers to a desperate plea for help, often in times of trouble or distress, indicating a reliance on God for deliverance.
God hears their cries and delivers them from their troubles, showing His faithfulness and care for those who seek Him.
The act of hearing implies attention and responsiveness, highlighting God's willingness to engage with the needs of His people.
The troubles can range from personal distress and affliction to external adversities, emphasizing the breadth of human suffering.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to cry out to God for help?
- How can I remind myself of God's faithfulness in hearing my prayers?
- What does it mean to me that God delivers the righteous from all their troubles?
- How can I support others who are in distress, reflecting the care God shows to the righteous?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers reflect on this verse to discuss God's responsiveness to the cries of the righteous and the nature of divine deliverance.
The cry of the just is a spiritual one, having its loudness in the secret recess of the heart, able to reach even to the ears of God.… They sought after nothing petty, nothing earthly, nothing lowly.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 34 →
"The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of all their troubles" [Psalms 34:17].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 34 →
What then do we say about the martyrs, since it is well known that they were not freed from the torments of the tyrants? They were certainly set free when they were conducted to the kingdom of heaven;Early Church Fathers on Psalms 34 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 34:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible[The righteous] cry,.... The word "righteous" is not in the original text, but is rightly supplied in our version, as it is in the Targum, and by Jarchi; and so Kimchi and Ben Melech observe, that
Read John Gill on Psalms 34 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 34 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHeb. They cry, to wit, the righteous, as is manifest both from the nature of the thing, and from , where they are so called, and with which this verse is to be continued, the 16th verse coming in by way of parenthesis, as is very usual in many places of Scripture.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 34 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 34:17 [The righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.Ver. 17. The righteous cry, &c.] This is often inculcated for our better assurance; because we are apt to doubt if delayed. See Psalms 34:6.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 34 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 17. The righteous cry] There is no word in the present Hebrew text for righteous; but all the versions preserve it. I suppose it was lost through its similitude to the word צעקו tsaaku, they cry צעקו צדיקים tsaaku tsaddikim, the righteous cry.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 34 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. They cried, and Jehovah heard; And rescued them out of all their distresses. We may understand a subject from the verb, they who cried cried, as in Psalms 34:5, i.e., when any cried: or with LXX and Vulg. supply the righteous. (Had the LXX this reading, or did they merely insert the word from Psalms 34:15?) It is however possible that Psalms 34:15-16 should be transposed, and then the righteous in Psalms 34:15 supplies the natural subject to Psalms 34:17. This transposition deserts the present order of the letters of the alphabet, but is justified by Lamentations 2, 3, 4, and Proverbs 31 according to the LXX, where Pç precedes Ayin.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 34 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe righteous cry, and the Lord heareth - That is, one of the advantages or benefits of being righteous is the privilege of crying unto God, or of calling on his name, with the assurance that he will hear and deliver us.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 34 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible15-22. These closing words are devoted to an earnest digest of the moral government of God in redeeming the humble and contrite, and punishing the wicked. Broken heart… contrite spirit—Comp. Psalms 51:17; 1 Samuel 16:7.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 34 →The verse in English, compared — 17 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
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.
The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.
The godly cry out and the Lord hears; he saves them from all their troubles.
Tyndale line
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The righteous cried, and Jehovah heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles.
The righteous cried, and the LORD heard, and delivered them out of all their troubles.
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The righteous crie, and the Lord heareth them, and deliuereth them out of all their troubles.
Strictly literal
[The righteous] cry, and Jehovah heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
They cried, and Jehovah heard, And from all their distresses delivered them.
They cried, and YHWH heard, || And delivered them from all their distresses.
(34:18) Those cry, and the Lord heareth, and from all their distresses he delivereth them.
The righteous cry out and Yahweh hears and he rescues them from all their troubles.
From the Latin
Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? rescue thou soul from their malice: my only one from the lions.
Simplified
But when his people call out for help, he hears them and rescues them from all their troubles.
The cry of the upright comes before the Lord, and he takes them out of all their troubles.
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 צָעֲק֣וּ וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכָּל־ צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃, while the Septuagint matches five of the six words, indicating a strong agreement in the core message of the verse, though the Septuagint's word order and articles reflect its own structure.
צָעֲק֣וּ וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכָּל־ צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃
5 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.
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 34:17
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.
צָעַק (tsa`aq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cry or call out, often in distress or need. It encompasses various forms, including crying for help, making an outcry, and calling an assembly. The verb can appear in different stems, indicating nuances such as grief or being summoned. Notably, the entries do not present any significant disagreements.
צָעַק vb. cry, cry out, call
Qal
cry, cry out, for help
abs. cry, cry out, in distress, need
make outcry, clamour
Niph. be summoned (i.e. to arms)
Pi. cry aloud, in grief
Hiph. call together
base
H6817 צָעַק cry, cry out, call .. cry, cry out, for help
. abs. cry, cry out, in distress, need
. make outcry, clamour
. be summoned (i.e. to arms)
. cry aloud, in grief
. call together
6817 tsa`aq tsaw-ak'
a primitive root; to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an
assembly):--X at all, call together, cry (out), gather
(selves) (together).
צָעַק (tsa.aq) — to cry.
1) to cry, cry out, call, cry for help
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cry, cry out (for help)
1a2) to cry, cry out (in distress or need)
1a3) to make outcry, clamour
1b) (Niphal) to be summoned
1c) (Piel) to cry aloud (in grief)
1d) (Hiphil) to call together
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npt
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear
Qal 1052
subj. pers. hum.
י׳ (God) subj.
Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound
be heard of
be regarded, obeyed
= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.
Pi. he caused the people to hear
Hiph. 63
of man
י׳ subj.
base
H8085 שָׁמַע hear
8085 shama` shaw-mah'
a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with
implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to
tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X
carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,
declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make
to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)
obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,
regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,
understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.
: hear
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
1a5) to understand (language)
1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)
1a7) to listen, give heed
1a7a) to consent, agree
1a7b) to grant request
1a8) to listen to, yield to
1a9) to obey, be obedient
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
1b2) to be heard of
1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed
1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)
1d3) to make proclamation, summon
1d4) to cause to be heard
n m
2) sound
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.
: obey
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
HC/R/Ncmsc — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHC/R/Ncmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
The Hebrew word צָרָה (*tsarah*) is built from the root meaning tightness or trouble. It covers a range of meanings including dearth, distress, and adversary, as well as specifically referring to a rival wife. The entries note its use in contexts of adversity and anguish, with a specific reference to 1 Samuel 1:6.
בַּצָּרָה n.f. dearth, destitution
base
צָרָה 72 n.f. id. [r.dz.ac] straits, distress
base
[צָרָה] n.f. vexer, rival-wife;—sf. 1 S 1:6.
ref
H6869a בַּצָּרָה dearth, destitution H6869b צָרָה id. [6862b] H6869c צָרָה vexer, rival-wife
6869 tsarah tsaw-raw'
feminine of 6862; tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble);
transitively, a female rival:--adversary, adversity,
affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble.
see HEBREW for 06862
בַּצָּרָה (bats.tsa.rah) — dearth.
death, destitution
צָרָה (tsa.rah) — distress.
straits, distress, trouble
צָרָה (tsa.rah) — vexer.
vexer, rival wife
HNcfpc/Sp3mp — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word נָצַל (natsal) is built from a primitive root meaning to snatch away, with various usages across different stems. It covers a range of meanings including to rescue, deliver, plunder, and strip. The word appears in contexts of delivering oneself or being delivered, as well as rescuing from enemies or sin.
[נָצַל] 212 vb. not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
Niph.
reflex. tear oneself away, deliver oneself
passive, be torn out or away
Pi.
strip off, spoil
deliver
Hiph.
take away, snatch away
rescue, recover
deliver from
deliver from sin and guilt
Hoph. as a brand plucked out of the burning
Hithp. and they stripped themselves of their ornaments.
base
H5337 נָצַל not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
5337 natsal naw-tsal'
a primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad
sense:- X at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, X without
fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save,
spoil, strip, X surely, take (out).
נָצַל (na.tsal) — to rescue.
1) to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder
1a)(Niphal)
1a1) to tear oneself away, deliver oneself
1a2) to be torn out or away, be delivered
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to strip off, spoil
1b2) to deliver
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to take away, snatch away
1c2) to rescue, recover
1c3) to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death)
1c4) to deliver from sin and guilt
1d) (Hophal) to be plucked out
1e) (Hithpael) to strip oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsal (נְצַל "to rescue" H5338)
HVhp3ms/Sp3mp — Verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVhp3ms/Sp3mp