What Does Psalm 70:1 Mean in the King James?

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.

Psalm 70:1 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The English repeats “make haste,” but the Hebrew places one call to hurry after both requests, rescue me and come to my aid, gathering them into one urgency.

THE MEANING

When danger presses, this verse gives the reader words for both needs: to be pulled clear of what threatens and to receive help where the need is felt. The call to hurry gathers both pleas into one urgency. God is addressed as the one who rescues and comes to aid.

THE ROOT

לְהַצִּילֵנִי

lehatsileni

GROWS FROM

נצל

Snatch away; rescue.

The plea asks to be pulled clear, not merely to have the danger acknowledged. English “deliver” carries this force of being taken out of what threatens.

ALSO GROWS

hitsil: Rescue, deliver.

הִצִּיל

This causative form shows the requested action: bring someone out of danger.

nitsal: Escape, be rescued.

נִצַּל

This form shows the other side of the same root: the person is brought clear.

לְעֶזְרָתִי

le'ezrati

GROWS FROM

עזר

Help; aid or support.

The verse pairs rescue from danger with aid at the point of need. The second plea makes help present and personal: “to my aid.”

ALSO GROWS

azar: Help, assist.

עָזַר

The verb names the act of coming to someone’s aid.

ezer: Help, aid; helper.

עֵזֶר

The noun shows that this root can name both the support given and the one who gives it.

THE PATTERN

A cry for rescue can name both being brought out of danger and receiving help where the need is felt.

But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Psalm 22:19 · KJVThe speaker names the danger plainly and asks for help to come near without delay.

Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Psalm 38:22 · KJVUrgency and the need for aid meet in one direct appeal.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 · KJVHelp is available precisely where and when the need is felt.

THE THREAD

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

Psalm 40:13 · KJV

This verse places the same rescue root ⁨נצל⁩ (natsal, snatch away or rescue) beside ⁨עזר⁩ (azar, help or aid), then closes with ⁨חוּשָׁה⁩ (chushah, make haste). Psalm 70:1 gathers the same two needs under that single final call to hurry.

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