Read
Psalm 102:20
to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,
18This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise the LORD,
19for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD saw the earth,
20to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,
21that men may declare the LORD’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,
22when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
Notice
The prisoner's groans reach YHWH in heaven, giving this verse its hope amid confinement and the threat of a death sentence.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What changes in your prayer when you picture God hearing a prisoner's groans?
Write on thisWhose confinement or death sentence could you bring before God in prayer today?
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Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Isaiah 61:1The Lord GOD’s Spirit is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim …Both passages name release for captives as God's purpose, with Isaiah describing the work entrusted to the LORD's anointed messenger.
Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to …Release for captives links these passages: the psalm names God's purpose, and Luke describes the Spirit-anointed speaker's work.
Psalm 79:11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.Both passages join the prisoner's groaning with concern for those sentenced to death, looking to God for rescue.
Exodus 2:24God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.God hears groaning in both passages; Exodus also names his remembrance of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Psalm 146:7who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners.Both psalms name the LORD as the one who frees prisoners.
Psalm 72:12For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper.Both passages connect a distressed person's cry with deliverance, naming prisoners in Psalm 102 and the helpless poor in Psalm 72.
Isaiah 42:22But this is a robbed and plundered people. All of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prisons. They have become captives, and no one delivers, and …Both passages describe captivity; Isaiah names prisoners without a deliverer, while the psalm speaks of the LORD acting to free them.
Exodus 3:7The LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their …Both passages describe the LORD hearing people in distress, with Exodus naming the cries of those suffering under taskmasters.
Psalm 9:18For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever.Both texts express hope for people in distress: prisoners facing death in Psalm 102, and the needy and poor in Psalm 9.
2 Chronicles 33:11–13Therefore the LORD brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and carried him to …Imprisonment links these texts: Manasseh is taken away in chains, while the psalm speaks of God hearing prisoners and freeing the condemned.
2 Kings 13:22–23Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.Both passages concern people under others' power; the Kings excerpt names Israel's oppression without describing release.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. fear for the future.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
A groan needs no polished words to reach God. In this psalm, YHWH looks down from heaven to hear prisoners and free those condemned to death.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 102:20. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).