Psalms 116:4

Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, deliver my soul!”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist speaks from a moment of immediate distress, having just described being entangled by the ropes of death and overwhelmed by Sheol's anguish, and directly addresses Yahweh for rescue.

The words — The Hebrew אֶקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהוָה ('ekra be-shem Yahweh) literally renders "I called on the name of Yahweh," while מַלְטָה נַפְשִׁי (malṯa napšî) commands "deliver my life."

The thread — This pattern of distress-driven invocation appears in Psalms 118:5, where calling to Yahweh yields deliverance, and in Psalms 22:20, which similarly pleads for the soul's rescue from violent threats.

Why it lands — The text records a direct shift from despair to urgent petition, requiring the reader to recognize that the response to entanglement is a spoken appeal to Yahweh's name for the preservation of the soul.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּבְשֵֽׁם־u./ve./shem-and/ on/ [the] name of יְהוָ֥הYah.wehYahweh אֶקְרָ֑א'ek.Ra'I called אָנָּ֥ה'a.NahI beg you יְ֝הוָ֗הYah.wehO Yahweh מַלְּטָ֥הma.le.Ta/hdeliver/ !נַפְשִֽׁי׃naf.Sh/ilife/ my

King James Version

Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Cross-references

Psalms 118:5 In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered and set me free.
Psalms 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs.
Psalms 143:6 I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah
Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”
Psalms 30:7 O LORD, You favored me; You made my mountain stand strong. When You hid Your face, I was dismayed.
Psalms 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
Psalms 142:4 Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.
Luke 18:13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
2 Chronicles 33:12 And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers.
Psalms 6:4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver my soul; save me because of Your loving devotion.