The Meaning of Psalms 71:16 Explained

Psalms 71:16

KJV: I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

YLT: I come in the might of the Lord Jehovah, I mention Thy righteousness -- Thine only.

Darby: I will go in the might of the Lord Jehovah; I will recall thy righteousness, thine alone.

ASV: I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Jehovah: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I will go in  the strength  of the Lord  GOD:  I will make mention  of thy righteousness,  [even] of thine only. 

What does Psalms 71:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 71:13-24 - The Greatest Of All Workers
The singer glances both backward and forward. He goes back in thought to the time when he was cast on God at birth, and acknowledges that God has taught him from his youth and has enabled him to declare God's wondrous works. We may make the same retrospect, and as we muse on all that God has been to us, we may be assured that He will not forsake the work of His own hands, Psalms 138:8. His deliverances will give cause for endless praise, even when our eyes are closing and the heart waxes feeble in death.
But let us also think of those who are following us, and see to it that we leave behind some record of God's righteousness and salvation. Let us place a flaming torch in the hands of our children for them in turn to pass on. Let us show God's strength and power to those who are to come.
The best occupation for the aged is praise, Psalms 71:8; Psalms 71:14; Psalms 71:22-23. Thy mouth shall be filled"¦ shall tell"¦ shall talk. When our hearts are bubbling over with good matter, Psalms 45:1, we can leave our speech to take care of itself. Love will not lack for means of expression. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 71

1  David, in confidence of faith, and experience of God's favor, prays both for himself,
10  and against the enemies of his soul
14  He promises constancy
17  He prays for perseverance
19  He praises God, and promises to do it cheerfully

What do the individual words in Psalms 71:16 mean?

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD I will make mention of Your righteousness of Yours only
אָב֗וֹא בִּ֭גְבֻרוֹת אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה אַזְכִּ֖יר צִדְקָתְךָ֣ לְבַדֶּֽךָ

אָב֗וֹא  I  will  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בִּ֭גְבֻרוֹת  in  the  strength 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: גְּבוּרָה  
Sense: strength, might.
אֲדֹנָ֣י  of  the  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
יְהוִ֑ה  GOD 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
אַזְכִּ֖יר  I  will  make  mention 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
צִדְקָתְךָ֣  of  Your  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
לְבַדֶּֽךָ  of  Yours  only 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.