Psalms 136:23

Bible in Basic English (1941)

Who kept us in mind when we were in trouble: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

שֶׁ֭בְּשִׁפְלֵנוּ זָ֣כַר לָ֑נוּ כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ

Transliteration

that-in-šiplēnû zākar to-us because to-ʿôlām ḥasdô

Grammar Details

• שֶׁ֭בְּשִׁפְלֵנוּ: relative particle + preposition bet + noun, masculine singular with 1st person plural suffix - that in our low estate
• *zākar*: qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he remembered
• לָ֑נוּ: preposition lamed with 1st person plural suffix - to/for us
• *ʿôlām*: noun, masculine singular with prefixed preposition lamed - to/for eternity/forever
• *ḥasdô*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular possessive suffix - his steadfast love/mercy/kindness

Word Meanings

• *šiplēnû*: our low estate/our humiliation/our lowliness
• *zākar*: remembered/thought of/was mindful of
• *ʿôlām*: eternity/long duration/antiquity
• *ḥasdô*: his steadfast love/mercy/kindness/covenant faithfulness

Referenced Verses

• Gen 8:1 : 1 And God kept Noah in mind, and all the living things and the cattle which were with him in the ark: and God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters went down.
• Deut 32:36 : 36 For the Lord will be judge of his people, he will have pity for his servants; when he sees that their power is gone, there is no one, shut up or free.
• Ps 113:7 : 7 He takes the poor man out of the dust, lifting him up from his low position;
• Ps 102:17 : 17 When he has given ear to the prayer of the poor, and has not put his request on one side.
• Ps 106:43-45 : 43 Again and again he made them free; but their hearts were turned against his purpose, and they were overcome by their sins. 44 But when their cry came to his ears, he had pity on their trouble: 45 And kept in mind his agreement with them, and in his great mercy gave them forgiveness.
• Ps 116:6 : 6 The Lord keeps the simple; I was made low, and he was my saviour.
• Ps 142:6 : 6 Give ear to my cry, for I am made very low: take me out of the hands of my haters, for they are stronger than I.
• Isa 63:9 : 9 It was no sent one or angel, but he himself who was their saviour: in his love and in his pity he took up their cause, and he took them in his arms, caring for them all through the years.
• Ezek 16:3-9 : 3 And say, This is what the Lord has said to Jerusalem: Your start and your birth was from the land of the Canaanite; an Amorite was your father and your mother was a Hittite. 4 As for your birth, on the day of your birth your cord was not cut and you were not washed in water to make you clean; you were not salted or folded in linen bands. 5 No eye had pity on you to do any of these things to you or to be kind to you; but you were put out into the open country, because your life was hated at the time of your birth. 6 And when I went past you and saw you stretched out in your blood, I said to you, Though you are stretched out in your blood, have life; 7 And be increased in number like the buds of the field; and you were increased and became great, and you came to the time of love: your breasts were formed and your hair was long; but you were uncovered and without clothing. 8 Now when I went past you, looking at you, I saw that your time was the time of love; and I put my skirts over you, covering your unclothed body: and I gave you my oath and made an agreement with you, says the Lord, and you became mine. 9 Then I had you washed with water, washing away all your blood and rubbing you with oil. 10 And I had you clothed with needlework, and put leather shoes on your feet, folding fair linen about you and covering you with silk. 11 And I made you fair with ornaments and put jewels on your hands and a chain on your neck. 12 And I put a ring in your nose and ear-rings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 So you were made beautiful with gold and silver; and your clothing was of the best linen and silk and needlework; your food was the best meal and honey and oil: and you were very beautiful.
• Luke 1:48 : 48 For he has had pity on his servant, though she is poor and lowly placed: and from this hour will all generations give witness to the blessing which has come to me.
• Luke 1:52 : 52 He has put down kings from their seats, lifting up on high the men of low degree.
• 1 Sam 2:7-8 : 7 The Lord gives wealth and takes a man's goods from him: crushing men down and again lifting them up; 8 Lifting the poor out of the dust, and him who is in need out of the lowest place, to give them their place among rulers, and for their heritage the seat of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's and he has made them the base of the world.
• Ps 72:12-14 : 12 For he will be a saviour to the poor in answer to his cry; and to him who is in need, without a helper. 13 He will have pity on the poor, and be the saviour of those who are in need. 14 He will keep their souls free from evil designs and violent attacks; and their blood will be of value in his eyes.