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Psalm 116:15
Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints.
13I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the LORD’s name.
14I will pay my vows to the LORD, yes, in the presence of all his people.
15Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints.
16LORD, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant girl. You have freed me from my chains.
17I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on the LORD’s name.
Notice
“Precious” is a weighty word to find beside death, especially in a song where a servant thanks YHWH for being freed.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What changes in your reading of “Precious” when you notice the thanksgiving surrounding this verse?
Write on thisWhose death comes to mind as you read about YHWH’s regard for his saints?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 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
Psalm 72:14He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.Both use the word “precious” for the LORD’s regard toward human life, one naming his saints’ death and the other blood shed through violence.
1 Samuel 25:29Though men may rise up to pursue you and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD your God. He will sling …Both concern a life under threat of death and its worth before the LORD, though Samuel speaks of protection from pursuers.
Psalm 37:32–33The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.Both concern the death of faithful people, though Psalm 37 names murderous intent and Psalm 116 names the LORD’s regard.
Luke 16:22The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.Both speak of death with honor given to the person who dies: the LORD values his saints, and angels carry the beggar.
Revelation 14:3They sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four …Both describe people who belong to God, though Revelation speaks of their song before the throne rather than their death.
Numbers 23:10Who can count the dust of Jacob, or count the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous! Let my last end be like his!”Both single out the death of the faithful: the psalm names the LORD’s regard, while Numbers expresses a wish to share their end.
Revelation 1:18and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.Death links these passages; the psalm speaks of the LORD’s regard, while Revelation declares the Living One’s authority over death.
Isaiah 38:5“Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘The LORD, the God of David your father, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to …Both show the LORD’s attention to mortal lives: the psalm names his regard for his saints’ death, and Isaiah records his response to Hezekiah.
Psalm 31:15My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.Both connect human mortality with the LORD: one speaks of death in his sight, the other entrusts the speaker’s times to his hand.
2 Kings 20:6I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own sake, and …Both concern the LORD’s care where death threatens, though Kings promises added years while the psalm declares the worth of his saints’ death.
Psalm 16:3As for the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.Both honor the saints: Psalm 116 speaks of their death as precious to the LORD, and Psalm 16 expresses delight in them.
Job 5:26You will come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.Both speak of death, though Job’s line describes a full lifespan and the psalm speaks of the LORD’s regard.
Where this verse fits
Grief. death and what comes after. illness or diagnosis.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
You do not have to call death good to trust these words. The death of those who belong to YHWH matters in his sight.
Now put it in your words.
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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).