Psalms 116:5 (KJV)

What does Psalms 116:5 mean?

Psalms 116:5 describes the God the speaker called upon in distress. The speaker presents the LORD as kind and compassionate, but also as one who acts rightly. Together, these qualities help explain why the speaker turned to God for help.

The verse moves from calling God “the LORD” to calling him “our God.” The speaker’s personal appeal in verse 4 becomes a statement about the God known to the speaker’s people.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 116:5

• “Gracious” — חַנּוּן (ḥannun): This word describes someone who shows favor or kindness. Here it gives a personal quality to the speaker’s description of God, rather than merely describing an action.
• “righteous” — צַדִּיק (tsaddiq): This word often describes someone who is just or acts rightly. Alongside “Gracious,” it shows that the speaker sees kindness and right action as belonging together.
• “merciful” — רָחַם (raḥam): This word carries the sense of showing compassion. The form used here describes God as compassionate, giving warmth to the speaker’s account of help in distress.

Why Psalms 116:5 matters

• The speaker’s appeal rests on more than a request for escape. After the plea in verse 4, the words “Gracious,” “righteous,” and “merciful” give the reader a picture of the one being addressed.
• The verse also places the speaker’s experience among others who know God. The phrase “our God” widens the language beyond the speaker’s individual trouble.