Psalm 102:20
 Psalm 102:20 
New International Version (©2011)
to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death."

New Living Translation (©2007)
to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.

English Standard Version (©2001)
to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
to hear a prisoner's groaning, to set free those condemned to die,

International Standard Version (©2012)
to listen to the groans of prisoners, to set free those condemned to death,

NET Bible (©2006)
in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
To hear the groaning of the prisoners and to release the children from death

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
He heard the groans of the prisoners and set free those who were condemned to death.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

American King James Version
To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

American Standard Version
To hear the sighing of the prisoner; To loose those that are appointed to death;

Douay-Rheims Bible
That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that he might release the children of the slain:

Darby Bible Translation
To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to loose those that are appointed to die;

English Revised Version
To hear the sighing of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

Webster's Bible Translation
To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

World English Bible
to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;

Young's Literal Translation
To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

102:12-22 We are dying creatures, but God is an everlasting God, the protector of his church; we may be confident that it will not be neglected. When we consider our own vileness, our darkness and deadness, and the manifold defects in our prayers, we have cause to fear that they will not be received in heaven; but we are here assured of the contrary, for we have an Advocate with the Father, and are under grace, not under the law. Redemption is the subject of praise in the Christian church; and that great work is described by the temporal deliverance and restoration of Israel. Look down upon us, Lord Jesus; and bring us into the glorious liberty of thy children, that we may bless and praise thy name.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - To hear the groaning of the prisoner (see Exodus 2:24, "God heard their groaning;" and comp. Exodus 3:7; Exodus 6:5). To loose those that are appointed to death; literally, the sons of death (comp. Psalm 79:11). Captive Israel regarded its life in Babylon as little better than death (see Ezekiel 37:11).


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

To hear the groanings of the prisoner,.... Not of a single person only, but of many, who lie in prisons in Popish countries, especially in the Inquisition; where they lie and groan, in darkness and misery, under dreadful tortures; their cries and groans the Lord hears; his heart yearns towards them; he looks with pity on them; and, because of the sighing of these poor and needy ones, he will arise in due time, and set them in safety from him that puffs at them: it is true also of such who are prisoners of sin, Satan, and the law; and, when sensible of it, groan under their bondage, and cry to the Lord for help, who hears them, and directs them, as prisoners of hope, to turn to Christ, their strong hold, Zechariah 9:11,

to loose those that are appointed to death; delivered to death, as the Targum; delivered over to the secular power, in order to be put to death; who are arraigned and condemned as malefactors, and put into the condemned hole, in order for execution; these the Lord will loose, and save them from the death they are appointed to by men; for this is not to be understood of persons appointed by the Lord to death, either corporeal or eternal, from which none can be loosed, so appointed: in the original text the phrase is "children of death" (d); the same as "children of wrath", Ephesians 2:3, that is, deserving of death, and under the sentence of it; as all men are in Adam, even the Lord's own people; and who are, in their own apprehension, as dead men, when awakened and convinced of their state by the Spirit of God; these Christ looses from the shackles and fetters of sin, from the bondage of the law, from the tyranny of Satan, and from fears of death, and puts them into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

(d) "filios mortis", Montanus, Vatablus, Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis.


Psalm 102:20 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Do Not Hide Your Face from Me
19For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; 20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; 21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; …

Psalm 68:6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Psalm 79:11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you; with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
Psalm 107:10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains,
Psalm 146:7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,