Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

PSALMS 108:12KJV
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Psalms 108:12 (KJV)

What does Psalms 108:12 mean?

Psalms 108:12 is a request for God to rescue the speaker and his people from danger. The speaker says that human help is unable to provide the help they need. The verse is a communal plea: “us” brings the people’s need before God.

Coming after a question about who will lead the people against Edom, the plea gives the danger a military setting. The word “for” introduces the reason for the request: the speaker sees human help as inadequate.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 108:12

  • “trouble” — צַר (tsar): The word can refer to distress or to an enemy. In this setting, it points toward the threat faced from an opposing force.
  • “vain” — שָׁוְא (shav): The word can mean empty or of no use. Here it describes human help as ineffective against the danger.
  • “man” — אָדָם (adam): The word refers to human beings. The contrast is between help from people and the help requested from God.

Why Psalms 108:12 matters

  • The plea speaks for a group, not just one person. “Give us help” places the speaker among those facing the trouble.
  • The next verse connects God’s help with the people’s own action. “Through God we shall do valiantly” presents their effort as depending on him.

Where else these words appear

“help” Hebrew H5833 · used in 25 verses

  • Judges 5:23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
  • Psalms 40:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
  • Psalms 94:17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

“Give” Hebrew H3051 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
  • Deuteronomy 1:13 Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.
  • 1 Chronicles 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

“help” Hebrew H8668 · used in 32 verses

  • Judges 15:18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
  • 1 Chronicles 19:12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.
  • Psalms 119:41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

“vain” Hebrew H7723 · used in 48 verses

  • Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
  • Psalms 89:47 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
  • Jeremiah 46:11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.