Psalms 116:3 Meaning and Explanation
“The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist faced mortal danger and inescapable distress.
The Context of Psalms 116:3
Describing the crisis from which the psalmist was delivered.
What Does Psalms 116:3 Mean?
The language paints vivid entrapment: sorrows and pains surround and grasp the psalmist like invisible bonds. This is not mild difficulty but existential crisis—the experience of approaching death and its attendant anguish closing in from all sides.
The repetition of trouble and sorrow emphasizes the totality of the crisis. The psalmist felt overwhelmed, caught in circumstances beyond personal control, with no visible escape.
Psalms 116:3 in the Original Language
Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), 'hell' — the realm of death, here used metaphorically for the grip of mortal peril.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 116:3
What does Psalms 116:3 mean?
The psalmist faced mortal danger and inescapable distress.
What is the context of Psalms 116:3?
Describing the crisis from which the psalmist was delivered.