Psalms 71:20 Meaning: God Brings Up from the Depths
You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.
Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
Thou, who hast showed us many and sore troubles, Wilt quicken us again, And wilt bring us up again from the depths of the earth.
Because Thou hast showed me many and sad distresses, Thou turnest back--Thou revivest me, And from the depths of the earth, Thou turnest back--Thou bringest me up.
Thou, who hast shewn us many and sore troubles, wilt revive us again, and wilt bring us up again from the depths of the earth;
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 71:20 meaning: God who shows us many troubles will also revive us and bring us up from the depths, pointing to hope in affliction and resurrection.
Context
Psalm 71 is a prayer from someone who has known God since childhood. The writer is old now, and enemies circle. He feels the weight of his years and the bitterness of his troubles. In verse 20, he does something remarkable. He turns from recounting his suffering to declaring what God will do. The shift in pronouns, from “me” to “us” and back, shows that his hope is not private. The same God who let him see the bottom of his pain will also raise him up. This confidence forms the hinge of the whole psalm, opening the door to a flood of praise.
Key Words
The words “shown” and “depths” carry weight in this verse. The Hebrew for “shown” is from ra’ah, to see, but here in a form that means “you have made me see.” God did not hide the trouble or let it sneak in. He showed it to His servant. There is comfort in that: the same hand that reveals the hard things will also do the restoring.
The word “revive” (chayah) means more than a little help. It means to make alive, to give life where there was none. The psalmist felt dead, and only God could bring him back.
And “depths of the earth” (tehomot) points to the abyss, the deep, the place of no return. From there, God promises to bring him up. The hope of this verse is not a slight improvement. It is a rescue from the bottom.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian readers have understood this verse on several levels. The most direct reading, supported by the context of the psalm, is that God will revive someone who has been crushed by suffering. Jewish commentators like the medieval rabbis saw it as God restoring Israel after national disaster. The early church saw here a picture of Christ’s own sufferings and resurrection, since the same Hebrew verbs appear in passages about God raising the dead. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, noted that the verse has been “applied to the passion of our Lord, and his resurrection.” Across traditions, Christians find in this verse the assurance that God’s power is greater than any depth we could sink to.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers take “depths of the earth” as a literal description of the grave, making this verse only about resurrection after death. In fact, the phrase in this psalm pictures the experience of being overwhelmed while still alive. The psalmist felt buried under trouble, and God promised to lift him out of that living death. That does not cancel the resurrection hope many later found here, but the verse’s first meaning is about God reviving us in this life, not just the next.
Living This Out
This week, you may have troubles that feel like the depths. Maybe you carry a burden you cannot name or a situation that drained the life out of you. This verse invites you to do two things. First, tell God the honest truth: You have shown me this trouble. Second, hold onto the promise: You will revive me. You might not feel like it yet, but hope can begin with a single honest prayer. The God who showed you the sorrow is the same God who will bring you up. Watch for small signs of life, and let this verse be your anchor.
Main takeaway: God who shows us many troubles is the same God who revives us and brings us up from the depths.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God knows when you are sad or scared. He promises to help you feel better and be happy again. You can trust God to bring you back up when you feel down.
For ages 9, 12
Sometimes life feels really hard, like you are in a deep pit and can’t get out. This verse says that God sees your trouble, and He is the one who can lift you up again. It might take time, but He will revive you and give you new strength and hope. You can be honest with Him about how you feel, and then wait for Him to help you stand again.
Questions People Ask
What does “depths of the earth” mean in Psalm 71:20?
It refers to the deepest possible place, often associated with the grave or Sheol. The psalmist uses it to describe feeling completely overwhelmed, as if buried alive by trouble. God promises to bring him up from that place.
Does Psalm 71:20 refer to resurrection from the dead?
The verse primarily describes God reviving someone from life-threatening distress. Many Christians have seen it as a foreshadowing of Christ’s resurrection, since the same power that raises from the depths also raises the dead.
Why does the verse change between “me” and “us”?
The Hebrew text has a written form saying “us” and a reading tradition saying “me”. This likely shows that the psalmist connects his personal experience with the whole community. His troubles and his hope are not just his own.
Who wrote Psalm 71?
The psalm has no title, but many commentators attribute it to David, possibly during Absalom’s rebellion. It closely resembles Psalm 31.
What is the main message of Psalm 71:20?
That the same God who allows many and bitter troubles is also the one who will revive us and bring us up from the lowest point. Our hope is in His power to restore.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study