Psalm 102 17

Psalm 102:17 kjv

He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

Psalm 102:17 nkjv

He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.

Psalm 102:17 niv

He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.

Psalm 102:17 esv

he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.

Psalm 102:17 nlt

He will listen to the prayers of the destitute.
He will not reject their pleas.

Psalm 102 verses

Psalm 102 17 Meaning

Psalm 102:17 reveals God's profound compassion and unwavering attentiveness to the desperate prayers of those who are utterly helpless and impoverished. It assures that the Lord, the Sovereign Creator, actively turns His focus toward, hears, and favorably receives the petitions of the destitute. Far from disregarding or looking down upon their cries, He treats them with special consideration and does not scorn their heartfelt supplication, affirming the dignity and worth of the suffering in His sight.

Psalm 102 17 Context

Psalm 102 is a "prayer of an afflicted man who is weak and pours out his lament before the Lord." It begins with profound personal suffering, detailing physical decay, social isolation, and emotional distress (vv. 1-11). The psalmist likens himself to a withered plant, a desolate bird, and an outcast. Despite this deep personal anguish, the psalm dramatically pivots from despair to hope, shifting from the transient nature of human life to the eternal, unchanging character of God and His ultimate purpose for Zion (vv. 12-18). Verse 17 serves as a crucial turning point, establishing the divine basis for the subsequent declaration of hope for Jerusalem's restoration. Historically and culturally, the psalm speaks to the ancient Near Eastern context where suffering was often interpreted as divine punishment or disfavor. This verse directly counters such beliefs by affirming God's special, compassionate attention to the vulnerable, particularly pertinent for a people possibly experiencing exile or profound national distress, feeling stripped of everything. It also counters the idea that the prayers of the powerless are insignificant in the eyes of God.

Psalm 102 17 Word analysis

• He: Refers to YHWH, the LORD, the eternal and sovereign God, who is addressed throughout the psalm. This emphasizes that it is the most powerful and majestic Being in the universe who pays attention to the most lowly.

• will regard / has turned his attention: Hebrew: panah (פָּנָה). This word means "to turn towards," "to face," "to pay attention to," or "to consider." It denotes an active, deliberate, and purposeful turning, signifying a shift in focus and intent. It implies much more than simply hearing; it suggests a caring, engaged, and responsive orientation towards the subject. It signifies a personal and deliberate act of compassionate involvement by God.

• the prayer: Hebrew: tphillah (תְּפִלָּה). This is a general term for prayer, supplication, or intercession. It refers to the act of communication with God.

• of the destitute: Hebrew: ha'ar'ar (הָעַרְעָר). This is a strong and evocative word. It means "stripped," "bare," "denuded," or "vulnerable." It paints a picture of extreme poverty, destitution, or helplessness—one who has been stripped of everything, left exposed and defenseless, like a tree whose leaves and branches have been completely removed. It suggests not just financial poverty, but a deep, all-encompassing state of affliction, despair, and abandonment. This highlights the profundity of the supplicant's need and the depth of God's compassionate response.

• and will not despise: Hebrew: velo bazah (וְלֹא בָזָה). This phrase means "and not scorn," "not reject," "not look down upon," or "not treat with contempt." It serves as a powerful affirmation, ensuring that God does not dismiss or undervalue the prayer of the "destitute." It directly opposes any notion that the prayers of the poor or suffering might be seen as less worthy or important. God validates their petition and honors the one who brings it.

• their prayer: Hebrew: tphillatam (תְּפִלָּתָם). The repetition of "prayer," possibly with a slightly different nuance or emphasis in some translations (though Hebrew uses the same root for both instances here, reiterating the object of God's positive reception), serves to emphatically underscore that it is precisely their supplication, born of their deep distress, that receives this unique divine commitment. It confirms that the subject of God's regard and non-despisal is indeed the communication from the vulnerable.

• He will regard... and will not despise: This pairing of phrases demonstrates God's twofold positive response. First, He actively pays attention (panah); second, He does not reject with contempt (bazah). This provides a complete assurance of acceptance and favorable reception for the prayer of the afflicted. It's an emphatic statement of God's positive disposition.

• the prayer of the destitute... their prayer: The repetition and specificity of the recipient ("destitute," "their") underscore that God's special attention is reserved for those in the most desperate need. It draws a clear link between the state of the supplicant and the compassionate response of the divine. This specific focus reinforces that God's justice and mercy prioritize the marginalized.

Psalm 102 17 Bonus section

• This verse contributes to understanding God's divine justice, demonstrating that His favoritism is not towards the powerful or wealthy but towards the vulnerable and marginalized, a recurring theme throughout biblical theology.
• The profound shift in Psalm 102 from personal lament (vv. 1-11) to communal hope for Zion (vv. 12-28) is fundamentally anchored in the character of God declared in verse 17 and onward. God's commitment to the destitute individual echoes His ultimate commitment to His desolate people, Israel.
• Psalm 102 is traditionally identified as one of the seven penitential psalms, suggesting a connection between deep affliction and humble, earnest supplication leading to divine restoration.

Psalm 102 17 Commentary

Psalm 102:17 stands as a beacon of hope, revealing a core attribute of God: His profound compassion for the lowly and suffering. In the midst of the psalmist's personal agony, this verse transitions from despair to a corporate vision of hope, asserting that God's unwavering character guarantees His response to the broken. It teaches that the sincerity and dire need embedded in the prayer of the ar'ar (destitute) make it exceptionally potent in God's eyes. This is not about the eloquence or social standing of the one praying, but the authenticity of their cry from a place of utter helplessness. God's act of "turning towards" signifies His personal, attentive engagement, validating the worth of the sufferer. Furthermore, His refusal to "despise" explicitly overturns human inclinations to scorn or overlook the disadvantaged, reassuring the afflicted that their pleas are received with honor and active concern by the Almighty. This verse, therefore, underpins the eventual restoration of Zion in the psalm, indicating that God's hearing of individual affliction is intrinsically linked to His larger redemptive plan for His people. It affirms that genuine humility and deep need unlock divine attention and action.

• Practical Example: A refugee who has lost everything, crying out to God from their temporary shelter; a person battling chronic illness, facing insurmountable medical debt and isolation, whispering a desperate prayer from their bedside; or someone facing profound loss, feeling utterly alone and without resources, finding courage to simply say "help me." In these instances, Psalm 102:17 affirms that God's ear is uniquely inclined towards their stripped and bare supplications.