Psalms 116 · Verse 1

Psalms 116:1

I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Psalms 116:1, King James Version

Psalms 116:1 in other translations

BSBI love the LORD, for He has heard my voice— my appeal for mercy.
WEBI love the LORD, because he listens to my voice, and my cries for mercy.
ASVI love Jehovah, because he heareth My voice and my supplications.
YLTI have loved, because Jehovah heareth My voice, my supplication,
DARBYI love Jehovah, for he hath heard my voice and my supplications;
BBEI have given my love to the Lord, because he has given ear to the voice of my cry and my prayer.
WebsterI love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

What does Psalms 116:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 116:1-2

Psa 116:1-19. The writer celebrates the deliverance from extreme perils by which he was favored, and pledges grateful and pious public acknowledgments.

1-2. A truly grateful love will be evinced by acts of worship, which calling on God expresses (Psa 116:13; Psa 55:16; 86:7; compare Psa 17:6; 31:2).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The psalmist praises God for his deliverance from thraldom, which he compares to death and the grave, Psa 116:1-9. The exercises through which he had passed, Psa 116:10, Psa 116:11. His gratitude for these mercies, and resolution to live to God's glory, Psa 116:12-19. This Psalm is also without a title, and its author is unknown. It appears to have been written after the captivity, and to be a thanksgiving to God for that glorious event. The psalmist compares this captivity to death and the grave; and shows the happy return to the promised land, called here The land of the living. The people recollect the vows of God which were upon them, and purpose to fulfill them. They exhult at being enabled to worship God in the temple at Jerusalem. The Syriac, which abounds in conjectural prefaces, supposes this Psalm to have been written on the occasion of Saul coming to the mouth of the cave in which David lay hidden; but spiritually taken, it relates to the bringing of a new people, the Gentiles, to the Christian faith. In a few MSS. this Psalm is joined to the preceding. Many think it relates wholly to the passion, death, and triumph of Christ. Most of the fathers were of this opinion. Verse 1 I love the Lord because he hath heard - How vain and foolish is the talk, "To love God for his benefits to us is mercenary, and cannot be pure love!" Whether pure or impure, there is no other love that can flow from the heart of the creature to its Creator. We love him, said the holiest of Christ's disciples, because he first loved us; and the increase of our love and filial obedience is in proportion to the increased sense we have of our obligation to him. We love him for the benefits bestowed on us. Love begets love.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 116:1-9
We have many reasons for loving the Lord, but are most affected by his loving-kindness when relieved out of deep distress. When a poor sinner is awakened to a sense of his state, and fears that he must soon sink under the just wrath of God, then he finds trouble and sorrow. But let all such call upon the Lord to deliver their souls, and they will find him gracious and true to his promise. Neither ignorance nor guilt will hinder their salvation, when they put their trust in the Lord. Let us all speak of God as we have found him; and have we ever found him otherwise than just and good? It is of his mercies that we are not consumed. Let those who labour and are heavy laden come to him, that they may find rest to their souls; and if at all drawn from their rest, let them haste to return, remembering how bountifully the Lord has dealt with them. We should deem ourselves bound to walk as in his presence. It is a great mercy to be kept from being swallowed up with over-much sorrow. It is a great mercy for God to hold us by the right hand, so that we are not overcome and overthrown by a temptation. But when we enter the heavenly rest, deliverance from sin and sorrow will be complete; we shall behold the glory of the Lord, and walk in his presence with delight we cannot now conceive.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 116:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אָ֭הַבְתִּי'A.hav.tiI loveH157
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
יִשְׁמַ֥ע\׀yish.Ma'he has heardH8085
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
ק֝וֹלִ֗יko.Livoice myH6963
תַּחֲנוּנָֽי\׃ta.cha.nu.Naisupplications myH8469

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 116:1

  • 1 John 4:19

    We love him, because he first loved us.

  • Psalms 66:19-20

    But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

  • 1 John 5:2-3

    By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

  • John 16:24

    Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

  • Psalms 34:3-4

    O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

  • Psalms 69:33

    For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

  • Mark 12:33

    And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

  • Psalms 40:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

  • Psalms 119:132

    Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

  • Genesis 35:2

    Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

  • John 21:17

    He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

  • Psalms 18:1-6

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The psalmist professes his love and duty to God for his deliverance.
12 He studies to be thankful.

A.M. 3468. B.C. 536. (Title.)From several instances of the Chaldee dialect being used in this Psalm, it appears to have been written after the Babylonian captivity.
love.
18:1-6; 119:132; Mr 12:33; Joh 21:17; 1Jo 4:19; 5:2,3
because.
18:6; 31:22,23; 34:3,4; 40:1; 66:19,20; 69:33; Ge 35:2; 1Sa 1:26
Joh 16:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 116:1

    I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

  • Psalms 116:2

    Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

Read all of Psalms 116

Psalms 116:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		AMO á Jehová, pues ha oído mi voz y mis súplicas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		J’ai aimé l’ Éternel, car il a entendu ma voix, mes supplications;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich liebe Jehova; denn er hörte meine Stimme, mein Flehen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Alleluja. Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes; laudate eum, omnes populi.