Psalms 71:15 (KJV)

What does Psalms 71:15 mean?

Psalms 71:15 describes the psalmist’s commitment to continually speak about God’s righteousness and saving acts, saying he will do so all day because God’s works are too many to count. The verse expresses awe at the countless ways God has shown goodness and deliverance.

The speaker is an older person reflecting on a lifetime of God’s help, likely King David or someone in a similar position, talking directly to God. The verse highlights both the desire to praise God openly and the realization that God’s righteous deeds and acts of salvation are beyond human ability to fully measure or recount.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 71:15

• "mouth" (פֶּה, peh): This word points to the act of speaking or declaring, emphasizing the psalmist’s intention to use his speech to honor God.
• "forth" (סָפַר, saphar): Often means "to recount" or "to declare," suggesting the psalmist is actively telling or listing God’s deeds, not just thinking about them.
• "righteousness" (צְדָקָה, tsedaqah): Refers to God’s just and faithful character, not just moral rightness but also God’s reliability in keeping promises.
• "salvation" (תְּשׁוּעָה, teshua): Means deliverance or rescue, pointing to God’s actions in saving the psalmist from trouble.
• "numbers" (סְפָרוֹת, sepharot): Implies counting or tallying up, stressing that God’s acts are so numerous they can’t be totaled.

Why Psalms 71:15 matters

• The verse clarifies that God’s goodness and saving acts are not just occasional but constant and too numerous to fully recount, encouraging a sense of wonder rather than a checklist approach to faith.
• By using words for speaking and counting, the verse connects the act of praise with the realization of human limits—no matter how much the psalmist tries, he cannot exhaust the list of God’s righteous deeds.
• In the context of the psalm, this verse shows the speaker’s lifelong relationship with God, marked by ongoing gratitude and recognition of God’s faithfulness over many years.