O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm doesn't just say God's love and redemption are available, but that they are inherently with Him, like treasures He possesses and is ready to share. This emphasizes that God's capacity for love and deliverance is inexhaustible and always present, waiting for those who turn to Him.
O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist, having confessed his sins and pleaded for God's mercy in the depths of his distress, now turns to address the entire nation of Israel. He calls them to place their hope in the Lord, not based on their own merits, but on God's abundant and overflowing mercy and His power to redeem. This exhortation sets the stage for the declaration that God will indeed redeem His people from all their iniquities.
When you're at your lowest, where do you turn for hope? This verse gives a direct command, not a suggestion.
The Psalmist isn't just sharing a feeling; he's issuing a command: "Hope in the LORD!" This isn't a weak, passive wish, but an active, determined trust. Imagine Israel in the "depths" (as seen in the rest of Psalm 130), feeling abandoned and lost. In such moments, the call to hope in God is revolutionary.
This call is directed to "Israel," the entire nation, but it resonates deeply with every individual believer. It’s a reminder that even when circumstances scream despair, our default setting must be to anchor our hope in the Lord. It’s a deliberate choice to believe God's character and promises over our present reality.
What makes this hope so certain? It's not based on our performance, but on God's inexhaustible character.
The verse provides two powerful reasons for this command to hope: God's character.
Steadfast Love
First, "with the LORD there is steadfast love." This isn't just a fleeting emotion; it's a deep, unwavering devotion that commits God to His people. It’s a love that endures through all circumstances, even Israel's failings. It’s the very essence of His being, ensuring His faithfulness.
Plentiful Redemption
Second, "with him is plentiful redemption." This speaks of God's abundant capacity to save and deliver. It’s not just enough for a few, or for one crisis, but is abundant, overflowing, and sufficient for all needs, all people, and all times. This redemption isn't a one-time event, but a continuous, available resource rooted in His love.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
Yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
A corporate name for God’s chosen people, denoting those who are in covenant relationship with Him and subject to His promises.
yachal · Hebrew Verb
Confident expectation or trust based on God’s character and promises. It is an active posture of the heart that does not rely on human circumstances.
chesed · Hebrew Noun
God’s covenant-keeping, loyal, and sacrificial love. It refers to His unmerited kindness and faithfulness toward His people despite their unworthiness.
peduth · Hebrew Noun
The act of purchasing someone out of slavery or debt. In a theological sense, it refers to God paying the price to liberate His people from the power and penalty of sin.
Psalm 130, with its powerful cry from the depths, likely emerged from the intense suffering and disillusionment of the Babylonian exile. This verse, therefore, isn't just a theological statement; it's a desperate, hopeful anchor thrown into the chaos of national devastation, urging Israel to cling to God's unfailing love and His abundant power to redeem, even when all seems lost.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem, and level Solomon's Temple. This event marks a devastating low point, leading to widespread exile and profound national despair for the people of Israel.
c. 586 BC - 538 BC
Babylonian Exile
The majority of the population of Judah is deported to Babylon. During this period of captivity and displacement, the Israelites grapple with their faith, their identity, and God's faithfulness amidst national catastrophe.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire, led by Cyrus the Great, overthrows the Babylonian Empire. This shift in power creates a new political landscape that eventually allows for the return of the exiled peoples to their homelands.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return from Exile
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks a turning point, offering hope for restoration and a return to national and religious life.
This passage echoes the promise of abundant redemption and forgiveness found in Psalm 130:7, highlighting God's willingness to pardon and abundantly pardon.
Romans 5:8It powerfully illustrates God's 'steadfast love' by showing Christ's death for us while we were still sinners, underscoring the deep mercy available in God.
Titus 2:14This verse speaks of Christ giving himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify a people for himself, aligning with the 'plenteous redemption' from sin mentioned in Psalm 130:7.
Micah 7:18The prophet marvels at God's character, asking 'Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression?' This resonates with the abundant mercy and redemptive power described in Psalm 130:7.
pulpitPsalms 130:7: "Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption."
Verse 7. - Let Israel hope in the Lord; or, "O Israel, hope in the Lord;" i.e. continue to hope, even though in the "depths" of calamity (see ver. 1). For with the Lord there is mercy (see above, ver. 4, and the comment ad loc). And with him is plenteous redemption (comp. Psalm 111:9). Enough and to spare for all (see Isaiah 55:1).
clarkePsalms 130:7: "Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption."
Let Israel hope in the Lord - This, to hope for salvation, is their duty and their interest. But what reason is there for this hope? A twofold reason: - 1. With the Lord there is mercy - החסד hachesed, That mercy, the fund, the essence of mercy. 2. And with him is plenteous redemption - והרבה עמו פדות veharabbah immo peduth; and that abundant redemption, that to which there is…
The psalm doesn't just say God's love and redemption are available, but that they are inherently with Him, like treasures He possesses and is ready to share. This emphasizes that God's capacity for love and deliverance is inexhaustible and always present, waiting for those who turn to Him.
The Psalmist, having confessed his sins and pleaded for God's mercy in the depths of his distress, now turns to address the entire nation of Israel. He calls them to place their hope in the Lord, not based on their own merits, but on God's abundant and overflowing mercy and His power to redeem. This exhortation sets the stage for the declaration that God will indeed redeem His people from all their iniquities.
The Psalmist, having confessed his sins and pleaded for God's mercy in the depths of his distress, now turns to address the entire nation of Israel. He calls them to place their hope in the Lord, not based on their own merits, but on God's abundant and overflowing mercy and His power to redeem. This exhortation sets the stage for the declaration that God will indeed redeem His people from all their iniquities.
"O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption." — The psalm doesn't just say God's love and redemption are available, but that they are inherently with Him, like treasures He possesses and is ready to share. This emphasizes that God's capacity for…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026