Psalms 71:21

Hebrew (Westminster Leningrad Codex)

English Translation

Increase my honor, And comfort me again.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Word by word

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גְּֽדֻלָּתִ֗י

gᵉdûwlâh

H1420

“greatness · my”

Noun, Common, Feminine, Singular, Construct + Suffix, Personal, 1st Person, Common, Singular

Appears 13× in the Hebrew Bible
First appears at 2 Samuel 7:21

Full BDB Definition

Origin: from H1419

TWOT: 315e

greatness - of man - of God's greatness (as an attribute)

About this verse

These counts appear in no published source. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged text and Lemma’s own curated glosses. What Lemma adds →

4: words
4: distinct lemmas
Wisdom: section

Notable vocabulary

The rarest word here is גְּֽדֻלָּתִ֗י greatness H1420 — appearing just 13 times in the whole Hebrew Bible.

Shared distinctive vocabulary

גְּֽדֻלָּתִ֗י greatness H1420 occurs in 11 verses of the Hebrew Bible. Also found in:

Grammatical profile

3 verbs
1 noun

Verb forms

תֶּ֤רֶב Hiphil · Imperfect
וְתִסֹּ֥ב Qal · Imperfect
תְּֽנַחֲמֵֽנִי Piel · Imperfect

Hebrew & Septuagint length

In English translation the verse runs 7 words from the Hebrew and 22 from the Septuagint (LXX English) — closely comparable.

A rough comparison of the two English renderings, which tokenize alike — not a word-level alignment.

Word counts can differ between the Hebrew and the Greek without any difference in meaning — e.g. the Hebrew direct-object marker אֵת has no separate Greek word, and Greek often adds the article ὁ.

Cross-references

Topical passages linked to Psalms 71:21 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — connected by theme and wording, ordered by reader-vote popularity; previews shown in the World English Bible.

2 Samuel 3:1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
Psalms 18:35 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.
Psalms 86:17 Show me a sign of your goodness, That those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, Because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.
Isaiah 12:1 In that day you will say, "I will give thanks to you, Yahweh; for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you comfort me.
Psalms 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, But he who trusts in Yahweh, loving kindness shall surround him.
2 Corinthians 1:4–5 who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Isaiah 49:6 yes, he says, It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.

Isaiah 49:13 Sing, heavens; and be joyful, earth; and break forth into singing, mountains: for Yahweh has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted.
Psalms 72:11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Hosts will perform this.
2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.
2 Corinthians 7:6 Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
2 Corinthians 7:13 Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
1 Thessalonians 3:9 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God;
Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!"

Cross-references courtesy of OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

Hebrew and Greek witnesses Masoretic Hebrew ↔ Greek Septuagint

The same verse in the two great witnesses to the Old Testament, shown verse-for-verse.

You’re reading Greek Psalm 70 (Hebrew Psalm 71). The Septuagint counts the superscription, so verse numbers can differ from the Hebrew — chapter-level alignment, not verse-by-verse. Numbering follows Rahlfs.

These are two independent witnesses, not word-aligned to each other, and the Septuagint is shown in lemma (dictionary) form.

Hebrew Psalms 71:21 Masoretic · Westminster Leningrad Codex

תֶּ֤רֶב גְּֽדֻלָּתִ֗י וְתִסֹּ֥ב תְּֽנַחֲמֵֽנִי

Increase my honor, And comfort me again.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Greek LXX Greek Psalm 70:21 Septuagint · lemma form

πλεονάζω ὁ μεγαλοσύνη σύ καί ἐπιστρέφω παρακαλέω ἐγώ καί ἐκ ὁ ἄβυσσος ὁ γῆ πάλιν ἀναἄγω ἐγώ

You did multiply your righteousness, and did turn and comfort me, and brought me again out of the depths of the earth.

LXX2012 (modern English Septuagint) · Public Domain

On this verse, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers discusses the Septuagint’s reading. Read the note in Commentary ↓

Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (CC BY 4.0). Greek: Septuagint (public domain); English from LXX2012 (modern English Septuagint) (Public Domain). How the Septuagint differs from the Hebrew →

Commentary

Notes on Psalms 71:21 from classic Christian and Jewish commentators (each source and its license shown beneath its notes). The classic Christian expositions comment on the surrounding passage and are grouped to its opening verse, so a note may address several verses; the Jewish commentaries on the Tanakh (Rashi and others) are per-verse, so they appear only where the commentator wrote on this verse.

Lemma curates 59 commentaries, every one of them public domain or Creative Commons licensed, each selected and text-cleaned for this edition rather than reprinted as found. About our sources →

Commentary source

Trapp's Complete Commentary

John Trapp

Psa 71:21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

Ver. 21. Thou shall increase my greatness] Meam, id est Tuam, quam mihi dedisti, saith the Arabic gloss here; my greatness, that is, thy greatness which thou hast given me.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Biblical Illustrator

Joseph S. Exell

Psa_71:21

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

Christian dignity

The world has its great men; so has the Bible. Alongside the monarch, the Bible puts the man who rules his own spirit well; the warrior, one who fights the fight of faith; the artist, one who by loving deeds paints his own portrait on the canvas of the soul of the suffering.

I. This greatness is Real. Consider what God calls the good man--a saint, a son, a joint heir with Christ.

II. This greatness is conscious. God has spoken; I have heard. He has given; I have received. He visited the land I lived in, and did not pass my door. In His mighty lifeboat He touched at the shore where I stood, gave me a hail, and welcomed me on board!

III. This greatness is Derived. Once I had it not. The remembrance of this shall ever keep me humble. Not unto us, etc. But though I once possessed them not, now I do.

IV. This greatness is Increasing, David was an old man, yet he could say soberly and acceptably, Thou shalt increase my greatness.

1. In my personal enjoyment. Religion is not a surface thing. Infirmities shall lessen, virtues shall increase, Thy love shall be more precious, Thy presence more valued. Thou wilt not forsake the work of Thine own hands.

2. In the experience of the saints. Davids name is great to-day! And in every well-worn Bible may be seen the signs of his sympathy and power.

3. In the admiration of angels. What sympathizing, appreciating, ministering spectators are these! (Homilist.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

J. A. Alexander on Psalms

Joseph Addison Alexander

Psa 71:21. Thou wilt increase my greatness, and wilt turn (and) comfort me. As the word translated greatness is elsewhere applied to the great things done by God for the protection and deliverance of his people (Psa 145:3, 2Sa 7:23) my greatness may have here the objective sense of great things done to or for me. See above, on Psa 71:19, and compare Psa 40:5.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Tyndale Open Resources

71:21 Being assured of God’s comfort also assures the poet of God’s presence, care, and goodness (23:4, 6; 86:17). God’s comfort enhances the psalmist’s sense of being alive (see 119:50).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 21. Thou shalt increase my greatness] Thou wilt restore me to my throne and kingdom; and it shall be done in such a way that all shall see it was the hand of God; and I shall have the more honour on the account.

Comfort me on every side.] I shall have friends in all quarters; and the tribes on all sides will support me.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) Comfort me on every side.—Literally, either thou wilt compass with comfort, or wilt turn with comfort. The LXX. adopts the latter.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne

21. O mayest thou increase my greatness,

And turn again and comfort me.

Except in the Book of Esther the word for greatness is used of God’s greatness or great deeds (Psa_145:3; Psa_145:6); and the LXX reads thy righteousness, or, according to some MSS. and the Vulg., thy greatness. This may be right; but if the text is correct, the Psalmist thinks of himself as sharing in the honour of the resuscitated nation. He can hardly refer to personal dignity only. For comfort cp. Isa_12:1; Isa_40:1. The past tenses of the P.B.V. in this and the preceding verse are due to the influence of the Vulg.

21–24. Repeated prayers and vows of thanksgiving.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

John Gill's Exposition

Thou shalt increase my greatness,.... His temporal greatness, as he did, by crushing the rebellion of his son; returning him to his palace and family; and giving him rest from his enemies all around: and his spiritual greatness, by favouring him with his presence; by shedding abroad his love in his heart; by enlarging his experience; increasing his faith, causing his love to abound, and him to grow in every grace, and in the knowledge of Christ;

and comfort me on every side; by his Spirit, word, and ordinances; by his truths and promises; with his rod and staff; and with mercy, grace, and lovingkindness. The phrase denotes the abundance of comfort, which should come as it were from every quarter, and encompass him about.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thou shalt increase my greatness - Thou wilt not merely restore me to my former condition, but wilt enlarge my happiness, and wilt do still greater things for me.

And comfort me on every side - literally, “Thou wilt turn thyself; thou wilt comfort me.” The word also means to surround; to encompass Gen 2:11, Gen 2:13; 1Ki 7:24; Psa 18:5; and the idea here may be that God would “go around him,” or encircle him, and would thus comfort him. This idea is expressed in our common version. It was the confident assurance of entire, or complete consolation.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations

I am assured that thou wilt not only restore to me that royal majesty which my son hath invaded, but also increase my honour and power.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The Treasury of David

Charles H. Spurgeon

Ver. 21. Thou shalt increase my greatness. As a king, David grew in influence and power. God did great things for him, and by him, and this is all the greatness believers want. May we have faith in God, such as these words evince.

And comfort me on every side. As we were surrounded with afflictions, so shall we be environed with consolations. From above, and from all around, light shall come to dispel our former gloom; the change shall be great, indeed, when the Lord returns to comfort us.

Ver. 21. Greatness increasing with comfort, and comfort increasing with greatness; very rarely united. George Rogers.

None.

Psalms 71:22*

Here is the final vow of praise.

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

Daniel D. Whedon

21. Thou shalt increase my greatness—As in the case of Job_42:10; Job_42:12. So gloriously shall God reverse my suffering lot.

On every side—Hebrew, Thou wilt surround, thou wilt comfort me.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Pulpit Commentary

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. The psalmist feels that the trial now laid upon him is the last that henceforth his greatness and majesty will increase instead of diminishing, and that God will turn and comfort him. (comp. 1Ch_29:28)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

unfoldingWord translationNotes

Door43 World Missions Community

May you increase ... turn again and comfort

"I want you to increase ... I want you to turn again and comfort." Some translations read, "You will increase ... you will turn again and comfort."

turn again and comfort me

This describes one action through two phrases. AT: "comfort me again" (See: Hendiadys)

to you I will sing praises with the harp, Holy One of Israel

"to you, who is the Holy One of Israel, I will sing praises while I play the harp"

translationWords

honor

turn

comfort

harp

trust

Holy One

Israel

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

Lesson kit

Teaching starters — assembled from the data on this page, not authored interpretation. Every prompt links to the verse data it draws on. Edit before teaching.

Psalms, in the Wisdom, opens this verse with 4 words (4 distinct Hebrew lemmas). Its most distinctive word is gᵉdûwlâh (“greatness”). A historical commentator’s framing appears above. Read the whole chapter for the surrounding context.

Discussion questions

How does “greatness” (gᵉdûwlâh) shape what this verse is saying?
How does 2 Samuel 7:21, which shares the word «greatness», read alongside this verse?
These translations render this verse differently; the difference is in the English rendering, not the original. What questions does that raise?
«תֶּ֤רֶב» is a Hiphil Imperfect verb. How does that grammatical form shape the action described?
Compare how Trapp's Complete Commentary and The Biblical Illustrator read this verse. Where do they agree or differ?

Things to notice

These translations choose different wording for 9 words in this verse.
4 distinct Hebrew lemmas span 4 words in this verse.