The Bible calls God "my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer" (2 Samuel 22:2). He invites us, "call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee" (Psalm 50:15), and Jesus taught His followers to pray, "deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13).
In the Bible, deliverance means rescue: from enemies, from trouble and fear, from sin and death, and from the power of darkness. The great picture is the Exodus, when God brought His people out of slavery. People look for deliverance Scriptures in a crisis, while fighting an addiction, when praying against fear or spiritual oppression, or for someone they love who seems trapped. These twelve King James verses show the LORD as deliverer, His rescue out of trouble, and the deliverance Jesus won on the cross. Christians practise deliverance prayer in different ways, and the FAQs set out the main approaches fairly. For freedom in Christ, see freedom; for addiction, see addiction.
The LORD my deliverer
1. 2 Samuel 22:2
"And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;"
David sang this song after the LORD delivered him from all his enemies and from Saul (2 Samuel 22:1); the same song appears as Psalm 18. Rock, fortress and deliverer: three pictures of safety from someone who had spent years running for his life. See protection.
2. Psalms 40:17
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."
An honest prayer: I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me. It is all right to ask God to hurry: make no tarrying, O my God. The same words close Psalm 70.
3. Psalms 50:15
"And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."
This is an open invitation. Call, and God answers, and the result is that thou shalt glorify me: rescued people become witnesses. Keep a record of the times God has delivered you. See testimony.
4. Psalms 91:14
"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name."
In the last verses of Psalm 91, God Himself speaks. Deliverance here is relational: because he hath set his love upon me. The rest of the psalm, often prayed for protection, is on our protection page.
Delivered out of trouble
5. Psalms 116:8
"For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling."
Three rescues in one verse: from death, from tears, and from falling. The psalmist had been close to death (Psalm 116:3) and wrote this afterwards in gratitude. God's deliverance reaches the body, the heart and the next step.
6. Psalms 107:6
"Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses."
Psalm 107 repeats this refrain four times (verses 6, 13, 19 and 28) for four groups of people: lost wanderers, prisoners, the sick, and sailors in a storm. Each time they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and each time He answered.
7. Psalms 22:4
"Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them."
Psalm 22 begins with the cry Jesus prayed on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1). In the middle of that darkness, the psalmist remembers: our fathers trusted, and thou didst deliver them. Remembering past deliverance gives hope when God feels far away. See God answering prayers.
8. 2 Corinthians 1:10
"Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;"
Paul had been under such pressure that "we despaired even of life" (2 Corinthians 1:8). Here deliverance comes in three tenses: God delivered, doth deliver, and will yet deliver. Past rescues give confidence for the next one.
Delivered from evil and darkness
9. Joel 2:32
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."
Peter quoted this at Pentecost (Acts 2:21) and Paul in Romans (Romans 10:13): whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered. No one is too far gone to call, and the promise is for anyone. See salvation.
10. Colossians 1:13
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"
For believers, the greatest deliverance has already happened. Translated means transferred, moved out of the power of darkness and into the kingdom of his dear Son. You pray from victory, not toward it. See victory.
11. Galatians 1:4
"Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:"
Paul opens Galatians by reminding readers how deliverance was won: Christ gave himself for our sins. The deepest rescue is from sin and from this present evil world, and it came through the cross. See salvation.
12. 2 Timothy 4:18
"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Paul wrote this near his execution (2 Timothy 4:6). He did not expect to escape death, yet he was sure of deliverance: the Lord would preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom. Even death cannot undo God's rescue. See heaven.
A short prayer
LORD, You are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. I call on You in this day of trouble: deliver me from fear, from every evil work, and from the things that hold me captive. Thank You that through Jesus You have already delivered me from the power of darkness. Give me the faith to trust You even when the answer is not what I expect, and let my life glorify You for every rescue. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Bring your battles to God in writing with the 30-Day Prayer Journal · Print our free Armor of God study · Memorize deliverance promises with the Scripture Memory Cards
Frequently asked questions
What does deliverance mean in the Bible?
Deliverance means being rescued by God: from enemies, danger, sickness, fear, sin and death. The Old Testament's great example is the Exodus, when Moses told the people, "stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD" (Exodus 14:13). In the New Testament the focus is on Jesus delivering us from sin and the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13).
What is deliverance ministry, and do all Christians practise it?
Jesus cast out evil spirits and gave His disciples authority to do the same (Luke 10:17-19), and all Christians agree that Christ has defeated the powers of evil. Practice differs widely. Pentecostal and charismatic churches often hold deliverance prayer sessions; the Catholic Church permits formal exorcism only through an authorised priest; many evangelical and mainline churches focus on prayer, confession, Scripture and community, and are cautious about labelling struggles as demonic. Whatever your tradition, mental illness, addiction and trauma should never be treated as proof of demon possession; prayer and medical care belong together.
Is there a short prayer for deliverance in the Bible?
Yes: "Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD" (Psalm 70:1). The Lord's Prayer also includes "deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13); the Greek can be read from evil or from the evil one, and the closing For thine is the kingdom is missing from the oldest manuscripts, so many modern Bibles footnote it, though churches have prayed it for centuries. Psalm 40:17 above is another honest prayer for help.
Does God always deliver us from suffering?
Not always in the way or the timing we hope. Before the furnace, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego said, "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us" (Daniel 3:17), and then, "But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods" (Daniel 3:18). Hebrews 11 lists people God rescued, and then others who "were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35). Scripture is honest that faithful people still suffer, and it is just as sure that God's final deliverance is certain (2 Timothy 4:18). See trials and tribulations.
If you are struggling with addiction, overwhelming fear, hearing voices, or thoughts of harming yourself, please get medical and pastoral help together; prayer and professional care work side by side. In the US, the SAMHSA National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357 (free, 24/7). If you have thoughts of harming yourself, in the US call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about freedom · Bible verses about addiction · Bible verses about protection · Bible verses about victory · Bible verses about the armor of God · Bible verses about fear · Bible verses about God answering prayers · Bible verses about heaven
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