Psalm 116:3

Translations

Modern

The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow.

Traditional

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

Literal

The cords of death surrounded me, and the straits of Sheol found me; distress and sorrow did I find.

Latin

Circumdederunt me dolores mortis; et pericula inferni invenerunt me. Tribulationem et dolorem inveni,

Original

Hebrew

English

The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow.

Notes

Psalms 116:3

It is not clear if the psalmist’s crisis was a literal near-death experience or if he was using the term figuratively.

Psalms 116:1–4

The psalmist praises the Lord for answering his prayers and rescuing him from death.

Psalms 116:1–19

This song of thanksgiving rejoices in God’s character and in rescue from death (Psalm 116:1–11). It gives an assurance of God’s protection in life and reminds the godly that the Lord watches over them even at death. The psalmist commits to living as God’s servant and resolves to honor him publicly (Psalm 116:12–19).

Psalms 113:1–118:29

These psalms are called the Egyptian Hallel. Hallel means “praise.” Jewish people use these psalms during Passover, which began when God brought Israel out of Egypt in the exodus. The people recite Psalms 113–114 before the Passover meal, and Psalms 115–118 are recited afterward.

Psalms 111:1–117:2

The word Hallelujah! is repeated throughout this group of psalms.

Theme notes and profiles

Praise Psalms Spirit Empowerment

Related verses

Psalm 38:6
I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning.
Psalm 18:4–6
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.
Psalm 32:3–4
When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.
Psalm 88:6–7
You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths.
Luke 22:44
And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Jonah 2:2–3
…saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice.
Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.
Mark 14:33–36
He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed.
Isaiah 53:3–4
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Confession Hallel Hallelujah Music Psalms, Book of

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Gates of Hell God: Providence of Hades: The Realm (State) of the Dead Hell in the RV the Word |Sheol| Itself Occurs in the Following Scriptures Testimony: Religious, Exemplified

Psalm 116:3

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Related verses?

Glossary?

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