Psalms 56:13

For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, declaring deliverance immediately after vowing to render thank offerings. This statement follows a period of intense distress where the speaker sought refuge in divine faithfulness.

The words — The Hebrew verb הִצַּ֪לְתָּ (hiṣṣaltā) translates literally to "you have delivered," while לְהִתְהַלֵּךְ (lehithelekh) means "to walk" or "to go about." These terms frame the transition from rescue to sustained movement.

The thread — The parallel phrasing appears in Psalms 116:8, which records the same deliverance from death and stumbling. Job 33:30 links soul rescue to being enlightened with the light of life, and Revelation 21:23 applies that light imagery to God's direct illumination of the New Jerusalem.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to see rescue as the means for continued obedience rather than a final destination. It demands the fulfillment of vows and a deliberate walk before God.

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

כִּ֤יkifor הִצַּ֪לְתָּhi.Tzal.tayou have delivered נַפְשִׁ֡יnaf.Sh/ilife/ my מִמָּוֶת֮mi./ma.Vetfrom/ death הֲלֹ֥אha./Lo'¿/ not רַגְלַ֗יrag.La/ifeet/ my מִ֫דֶּ֥חִיmi./De.chifrom/ stumbling לְ֭הִֽתְהַלֵּךְLe./hit.ha.lekhto/ go about לִפְנֵ֣יli/f.Nei<to>/ before אֱלֹהִ֑ים'E.lo.HimGod בְּ֝א֗וֹרbe./'orin/ [the] light of הַֽחַיִּֽים׃Ha./chai.Yim<the>/ life

King James Version

For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Cross-references

Psalms 116:8 For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
Job 33:30 to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
Revelation 21:23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Psalms 145:14 The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
Psalms 49:15 But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah
Psalms 17:5 My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.
Isaiah 2:5 Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
Psalms 86:12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.