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Psalm 116:16
LORD, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant girl. You have freed me from my chains.
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.
18I will pay my vows to the LORD, yes, in the presence of all his people,
Notice
The repeated words “I am your servant” make the closing claim of freedom striking: the speaker celebrates release from chains while affirming his belonging to God.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
How does the repeated phrase “I am your servant” shape your understanding of freedom?
Write on thisWhat help from God could you name alongside the speaker’s thanks for release from chains?
Write on thisConnect
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 107:14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke away their chains.Both passages credit God with breaking chains, with Psalm 107 describing release from darkness and the shadow of death.
Psalm 86:16Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your servant.Both speakers name themselves as God's servant and the son of his servant, one seeking rescue and the other acknowledging release.
Luke 1:38Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.Both Mary and the psalm's speaker identify themselves as the Lord's servant, expressing their allegiance to him.
Leviticus 26:13I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. I have broken the bars of your yoke, and made you walk …Both describe the LORD breaking restraints, with Leviticus naming Israel's release from slavery in Egypt.
Psalm 18:1For the Chief Musician. By David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of …Both passages identify the speaker as the LORD's servant and express devotion in the setting of God's deliverance.
Psalm 143:12In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am your servant.Both address God as his servant; one acknowledges release, while the other asks him to destroy those who afflict him.
Acts 2:24whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.Both credit God with release from a binding force; Acts names Jesus' release from the agony of death through resurrection.
Romans 8:12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.The connection is limited to obligation: the psalmist names himself God's servant, while Paul says believers owe no debt to the flesh.
Proverbs 31:28Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:Both mention a mother through her children, though the psalm names her service to God and Proverbs records her family's praise.
2 Timothy 1:5having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, in you also.Both mention devotion across generations: the psalm names a servant mother, while Paul names faith in Timothy, his mother, and his grandmother.
Joshua 24:18The LORD drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD; for he is our God.”Both join an acknowledgment of the LORD's deliverance with a declaration of service to him.
Job 12:18He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.Both speak of God loosening bonds; the psalm concerns his servant, while Job speaks of kings.
Where this verse fits
Gratitude. answered prayer. praise and worship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
YHWH who frees the speaker from his chains is the one he serves. Freedom and service to God belong together in this confession.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 116:16. 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).