The Meaning of Psalms 71:6 Explained

Psalms 71:6

KJV: By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

YLT: By Thee I have been supported from the womb, From my mother's bowels Thou dost cut me out, In Thee is my praise continually.

Darby: On thee have I been stayed from the womb; from the bowels of my mother thou didst draw me forth: my praise shall be continually of thee.

ASV: By thee have I been holden up from the womb; Thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: My praise shall be continually of thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

By thee have I been holden up  from the womb:  thou art he that took  me out of my mother's  bowels:  my praise  [shall be] continually  of thee. 

What does Psalms 71:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 71:1-12 - "my Trust From My Youth&Rdquo
Some commentators ascribe this psalm to Jeremiah. His pensive, plaintive tone is certainly present in it. But whoever the author, he must have written in his old age, Psalms 71:9; Psalms 71:17-18. One keynote is great and greatly, Psalms 71:19-21; Psalms 71:23; another is all the day, Psalms 71:8; Psalms 71:15; Psalms 71:24.
Old men need have no failure in their buoyancy and gladness, if they will fix their thoughts where the psalmist fixed his. Other subjects will soon wear out, but they who make God's righteousness and salvation their theme will ever have material for meditation and praise. We have here an inexhaustible subject, and one which will keep us young. Let us ask for help, that we may disappoint the calculations of those who hate us, whether men or demons. It is a piteous spectacle when apparently prosperous careers" are overclouded, and age is overwhelmed in catastrophes which there is no time to surmount. But such is not God's way with His loyal servants. His rivers do not end in swamps and marshes, but broaden and deepen till they kiss the mighty ocean. [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 71:6 mean?

By You I have been upheld from birth out of womb of my mother You [are] He who took me of You My praise [shall be] continually
עָלֶ֤יךָ ׀ נִסְמַ֬כְתִּי מִבֶּ֗טֶן מִמְּעֵ֣י אִ֭מִּי אַתָּ֣ה גוֹזִ֑י בְּךָ֖ תְהִלָּתִ֣י תָמִֽיד

עָלֶ֤יךָ ׀  By  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
נִסְמַ֬כְתִּי  I  have  been  upheld 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: סָמַךְ  
Sense: to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon.
מִבֶּ֗טֶן  from  birth 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֶּטֶן  
Sense: belly, womb, body.
מִמְּעֵ֣י  out  of  womb 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֵעֶה  
Sense: internal organs, inward parts, bowels, intestines, belly.
אִ֭מִּי  of  my  mother 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֵם  
Sense: mother.
אַתָּ֣ה  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
גוֹזִ֑י  He  who  took  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: גָּזָה  
Sense: to cut, cut off, sever.
בְּךָ֖  of  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
תְהִלָּתִ֣י  My  praise  [shall  be] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: תְּהִלָּה  
Sense: praise, song or hymn of praise.
תָמִֽיד  continually 
Parse: Adverb
Root: תָּמִיד  
Sense: continuity, perpetuity, to stretch.