Psalms 94:18 Meaning and Explanation
“When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When the psalmist stumbled and was about to fall, God's compassion caught and supported him.
The Context of Psalms 94:18
A moment of divine rescue: God's mercy caught the psalmist when he faltered.
What Does Psalms 94:18 Mean?
A slipping foot is a vivid image for moral danger, loss of footing, or imminent collapse. At the moment of greatest vulnerability, God's mercy intervened. This is not a reward for merit but pure grace—God held him up when he could not stand alone.
The intimacy of this image—God's hand or support catching the psalmist—makes the rescue personal and tender. Mercy (hesed, covenant loyalty) is God's fundamental character, and it acts to preserve and restore. This is evidence of God's active love.
Psalms 94:18 in the Original Language
held me up (סָמַךְ, samach) — to support, sustain, uphold; to lay hands on in support.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 94:18
What does Psalms 94:18 mean?
When the psalmist stumbled and was about to fall, God's compassion caught and supported him.
What is the context of Psalms 94:18?
A moment of divine rescue: God's mercy caught the psalmist when he faltered.