Psalms 71:21Increase my honor, and comfort me again.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~970 BC. David, possibly in his 60s, asks God to restore his diminished reputation after family scandals and political upheaval.
The emotion here: vulnerable but bold in asking
The original word
gadal (גָּדַל) — to make great/increase, the same word used for God making Abraham's name great
Why it matters
Near the end of his life, David's honor was tarnished by Bathsheba scandal and Absalom's rebellion
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 71:21
This isn't pride — it's asking God to repair damage done to his ability to lead and influence
Common misconceptionMany think asking God to 'increase honor' is selfish, but David needed credibility restored to serve God's people effectively.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 71:21
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 71:21 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 71:21 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 80% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include restoration, comfort, dignity. Notable phrases: increase my honor; comfort me again. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Psalms 71:21 mean to you, today?
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