Psalms 31:7 Meaning and Explanation
“I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist will celebrate God's compassion because God has seen his suffering and understood his deepest self.
The Context of Psalms 31:7
Expressing the joy that comes from knowing God has seen and understood the speaker's suffering.
What Does Psalms 31:7 Mean?
Gladness and rejoicing are the speaker's chosen response to God's mercy. Mercy here is God's compassionate response to human suffering—not based on merit but on His nature. The psalmist's confidence that he can rejoice stems from the conviction that God has truly seen and understood his situation. This is not denial of trouble but celebration rooted in the reality of God's attention and care.
To 'know the soul' means to understand the person at the deepest level—not just outward circumstances but inner condition. The psalmist finds great comfort in the knowledge that God perceives not only his external trouble but also his internal anguish. God is not a distant force but a presence intimately aware of the sufferer's condition, which makes the appeal for mercy both more natural and more hopeful.
Psalms 31:7 in the Original Language
yada (יָדַע), 'known' — to know intimately, understand deeply, or be acquainted with; often implies relational knowledge, not mere intellectual information.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 31:7
What does Psalms 31:7 mean?
The psalmist will celebrate God's compassion because God has seen his suffering and understood his deepest self.
What is the context of Psalms 31:7?
Expressing the joy that comes from knowing God has seen and understood the speaker's suffering.