Bible Strands
Psalms 31:7
I will be glad and rejoice in Your loving devotion, for You have seen my affliction; You have known the anguish of my soul.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God while currently enduring distress, having just rejected idols and anticipating rescue. The declaration bridges the trust of verse 6 with the deliverance promised in verse 8.
The words — The Hebrew אָגִ֥ילָה ('a.Gi.lah) translates as "I will rejoice" and וְ/אֶשְׂמְחָ֗ה (ve./'es.me.Chah) as "and I will be glad," both in the future tense. These verbs respond to God's past actions of seeing (רָ֭אִיתָ) and knowing (יָ֝דַ֗עְתָּ) the psalmist's affliction (עָנְיִ֑/י) and soul's anguish.
The thread — The plea for God to observe suffering aligns with Psalms 119:153, while the motif of divine presence amid distress parallels Isaiah 63:9. The expectation of joy at God's intervention corresponds to Isaiah 49:13.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to ground future joy in God's present awareness of current suffering rather than in altered circumstances. It demands trust that divine observation of distress precedes deliverance.
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
King James Version
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
Cross-references
- Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.
- Isaiah 63:9 In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
- Psalms 119:153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten Your law.
- 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
- Isaiah 63:16 Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
- John 10:27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
- Galatians 4:9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
- Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
- Job 23:10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
- Psalms 71:20 Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up.