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Psalm 116 · a question people ask

"Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints" (116:15). What does that mean?

In the text

The psalm doesn't explain the line. Precious is yaqar, which Brown-Driver-Briggs gives as "precious, rare, splendid, weighty" (tap Precious), and saints is chasid, which it gives as "kind, pious" (tap saints). Another psalm has yaqar of what is valued: "How precious is your loving kindness, God!" (Psalm 36:7). Strong's derives yaqar from a verb, and that verb is used of a life or blood precious in someone's sight or eyes: "He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight" (Psalm 72:14), and Saul's words to David, "I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today" (1 Samuel 26:21). In 116:15 the word is yaqar itself, not the verb. Around the line, the psalmist says, "For you have delivered my soul from death" (116:8), and next, "LORD, truly I am your servant" (116:16). The psalm doesn't say more about what makes the death of the LORD's saints precious in his sight, and these notes don't choose a meaning for it.

The verses

“For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.”
Psalm 116:8 · World English Bible
“Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints. LORD, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant girl. You have freed me from my chains.”
Psalm 116:15-16 · World English Bible
“How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.”
Psalm 36:7 · World English Bible
“He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.”
Psalm 72:14 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 116

Psalm 116: I love the LORD

In Hebrew, Psalm 116 opens with I love, and the LORD's name comes after listens: the LORD is named as the one who listens. Asked what he will give the LORD, the psalmist first says he will take "the cup of salvation" (116:13). And Paul quotes 116:10's "I believed" in the sentence that speaks of "he who raised the Lord Jesus" (2 Corinthians 4:14).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions