Bible Strands
Psalms 69:1
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David composes this plea for the choirmaster to sing to the tune of “Lilies,” describing a moment where rising waters threaten immediate drowning. He addresses God directly as the only source of deliverance.
The words — The Hebrew הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי (ho.shi.'E./ni) issues the imperative “save me,” while מַ֣יִם (Ma.yim) “waters” have בָ֖אוּ (Va.'u), “come,” up to his נָֽפֶשׁ (Na.fesh), “neck.”
The thread — This drowning imagery recurs in Psalms 69:14’s plea to be rescued from mire and deep waters, aligns with Isaiah 43:2’s promise that rivers will not overwhelm the faithful, and parallels Lamentations 3:54’s account of waters flowing over the head.
Why it lands — The text establishes prayer as a direct response to overwhelming physical or circumstantial threat, requiring the reader to acknowledge human helplessness and direct the plea solely to 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
King James Version
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
Cross-references
- Psalms 69:14 Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.
- 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.
- Lamentations 3:54 The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die.
- Psalms 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.
- Psalms 69:2 I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.
- Jonah 2:3 For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me.
- Revelation 12:15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent.
- Revelation 17:15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
- Psalms 18:4 The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.
- Psalms 32:6 Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.