Psalm 13 3

Psalm 13:3 kjv

Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

Psalm 13:3 nkjv

Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death;

Psalm 13:3 niv

Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

Psalm 13:3 esv

Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

Psalm 13:3 nlt

Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

Psalm 13 verses

Psalm 13 3 Meaning

Psalm 13:3 expresses a fervent and desperate plea from the Psalmist to God for divine intervention. It is a call for God to "consider" (pay attention), "answer" (respond to his cry), and "lighten his eyes" (restore vitality, understanding, hope, and life itself). This restoration is sought to prevent the ultimate feared outcome: to "sleep the sleep of death," signifying not only physical demise but also a complete descent into despair, spiritual lifelessness, or abandonment by God. It underscores the profound link between God's active presence and the Psalmist's very existence and well-being.

Psalm 13 3 Context

Psalm 13 is a classic individual lament, characteristic of many Psalms, wherein the Psalmist (David, in the superscription) pours out his heart to God in a season of intense suffering, feeling abandoned and overwhelmed. The psalm opens with a quadruple "How long?" (vv. 1-2), expressing the depth of his despair, feeling forgotten by God and constantly vexed by enemies. Verse 3 comes at a critical juncture, immediately after detailing his internal turmoil and external pressure. It transitions from questioning God's silence to a direct, desperate petition for God to act, before he completely succumbs to his dire circumstances. This verse marks the pivotal request within the lament, leading to a turn towards hope and trust in God's eventual deliverance (vv. 5-6). The historical/cultural context involves a world where people looked to deities for intervention in all aspects of life, and unanswered prayer or divine silence could signify rejection or powerlessness of the deity. David's plea reflects the tension between this common expectation and his covenant relationship with Yahweh, demanding a response fitting God's character.

Psalm 13 3 Word analysis

• Consider (Hebrew: נָבַט, nabat): This verb means "to look," "to gaze," often with intent, understanding, or compassion. It implies an active, attentive gaze rather than a passive glance. The Psalmist pleads for God not just to "see" his condition, but to attend to it with concern, indicating empathy and the willingness to act based on what is perceived. It challenges the perceived indifference or distance of God.
• and answer me (Hebrew: וַעֲנֵנִי, va'aneni): From the verb עָנָה, 'anah, meaning "to answer," "to respond," "to testify." This isn't just about vocalizing a reply, but implies an actionable response. The Psalmist craves a definitive, demonstrable answer from God—either through word, deliverance, or a change in circumstances. God's 'anah often involves deliverance or judgment.
• O LORD my God (Hebrew: יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי, YHWH Elohai):
  • YHWH (LORD): The personal covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful, and redeeming character. Addressing God by this name appeals to His unchanging promises and relational commitment to His people.
  • Elohai (my God): The possessive pronoun "my" signifies a deep, personal relationship. It emphasizes David's claim on God, rooting his plea in a bond of covenant intimacy and dependence. It expresses ownership in faith, believing God is his God who will act on his behalf.
• lighten (Hebrew: הָאִירָה, ha'ira): From the verb אוּר, 'ur, "to give light," "to shine." This word goes beyond mere illumination. In a spiritual and psychological context, it refers to reviving, bringing joy, restoring hope, granting insight or understanding, and renewing vitality. It is the opposite of the "darkness" of despair and death.
• my eyes (Hebrew: עֵינַי, 'einay): The literal organs of sight, but here profoundly metaphorical. "Lighten my eyes" means to restore life, energy, hope, alertness, and discernment. In ancient thought, bright, sparkling eyes were a sign of health, vitality, and joy, while dull or heavy eyes signaled despair, illness, or impending death. The "eyes" here represent the inner spirit and outward manifestation of life.
• lest I sleep the sleep of death (Hebrew: פֶּן אִישַׁן מָוֶת, pen ishan mavet): This vivid poetic expression uses a common biblical metaphor.
  • Sleep (ishan): In biblical contexts, sleep often metaphorically represents death (e.g., "slept with his fathers").
  • The sleep of death (mavet): The explicit addition of "death" makes the meaning unmistakable. It's not just a temporary repose but a permanent, final cessation. This phrase can denote literal physical death from the strain of his afflictions, but also a spiritual or existential death—a complete loss of hope, will, and vitality, descending into utter despair and disconnection from God. It also implies a state where he is no longer able to engage, hope, or testify to God's goodness, becoming useless in God's service.
• Word-group analysis:
  • "Consider and answer me": This pairing reveals the Psalmist's longing for God's active, empathetic attention and a concrete response. It's a progression from passive observation to active intervention, demonstrating trust in God's ability and willingness to hear and act.
  • "Lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death": This directly links divine life-giving light with the prevention of death. The imagery vividly portrays the vital necessity of God's presence and action for the Psalmist's continued existence, highlighting that divine light combats the encroaching darkness of despair and mortality. This plea implicitly contrasts God's life-giving light with the impotence of human means or false gods that offer no true light or life.

Psalm 13 3 Bonus section

The metaphor of "lightening the eyes" is common in the ancient Near East and reflects the understanding that the eyes are windows to the soul's state. Dull, sunken, or unseeing eyes denoted illness, starvation, fear, or impending death, while bright eyes symbolized vigor, joy, and life. Therefore, David's prayer is for a comprehensive restoration of his inner and outer being. This lament also sets up a powerful polemic against any alternative 'lights' or sources of hope found in pagan religions or self-reliance, affirming Yahweh alone as the true and sole provider of life and salvation. The psalm as a whole (vv. 1-6) moves from complaint to confidence, demonstrating the spiritual process of turning doubt into devotion, a transformation initiated by this specific prayer for God's life-giving light.

Psalm 13 3 Commentary

Psalm 13:3 encapsulates the human heart's deepest cry for divine presence and intervention in moments of extreme desolation. David, feeling abandoned, shifts from questioning God's apparent distance to a direct, personal appeal based on their covenant relationship: "O LORD my God." He implores God not only to observe his distress but to actively respond. The request to "lighten my eyes" is a profound petition for restoration of inner vitality, discernment, and hope—an essential spiritual reawakening, preventing the utter collapse symbolized by "the sleep of death." This "sleep of death" can be understood physically, spiritually, and emotionally; it signifies the end of all hope, the silencing of prayer, and disconnection from life itself. David recognizes that only God, the source of life and light, can reverse this impending demise. The verse serves as a potent reminder that even in our deepest valleys of despair, calling upon God for His life-giving light is our surest recourse, affirming His sovereignty over darkness and death.