Psalm 17 6

Psalm 17:6 kjv

I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Psalm 17:6 nkjv

I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.

Psalm 17:6 niv

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

Psalm 17:6 esv

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.

Psalm 17:6 nlt

I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.

Psalm 17 verses

Psalm 17 6 Meaning

Psalm 17:6 is an expression of unwavering faith and confident prayer. David declares that he calls upon God, firmly convinced that God will answer him. He then immediately follows this declaration of faith with an earnest plea for God to "incline His ear" and "hear" his prayer. It shows both a deep trust in God's character and an urgent personal petition for divine attentiveness and response in a time of distress.

Psalm 17 6 Context

Psalm 17 is a prayer of David, a fervent appeal to God for vindication and deliverance from his wicked adversaries. It is one of several "prayers" (תְּפִלָּה, tephillah) found in the Psalter, often associated with a plea for divine intervention during times of severe oppression. David opens the Psalm by declaring his righteousness and innocence (Ps 17:1-5), asserting that his heart and walk are pure before God. This foundational statement about his character precedes his plea. Verse 6 then transitions from asserting his uprightness to expressing profound confidence in God's willingness to respond to his petition, setting the stage for his subsequent requests for God to watch over and protect him from his enemies (Ps 17:7-14) and his ultimate hope in seeing God's face in righteousness (Ps 17:15). Historically, this Psalm could be placed during periods when David was hunted by Saul or pursued by other hostile forces, relying solely on God's protection and justice.

Psalm 17 6 Word analysis

• I call (קָרָאתִי, qarati): This is a verb in the Qal Perfect tense. The perfect tense indicates an action completed, but here it suggests a settled resolve or an established habit. It can also imply a confident "I have called and I will call," indicating a consistent pattern of appealing to God. It is an earnest, direct invocation, much more than a casual mention. The act of calling is central to seeking divine intervention.
• upon You (בְּךָ, beka): The preposition "upon" (בְּ, b') signifies the direct object of the calling, emphasizing that David's reliance and address are exclusively directed toward God. It denotes reliance and intimacy.
• for (כִּי, ki): This conjunction acts as a particle of assertion or reason. It links David's act of calling to his confident expectation. Here, it functions as "because," "indeed," or "surely," stating the basis for his calling: his firm belief in God's answer.
• You will answer me (תַּעֲנֵנִי, ta'aneni): From the verb עָנָה ('anah), in the Hifil Imperfect tense. The imperfect tense indicates a future, continuous, or habitual action, signifying "You will indeed answer me" or "You habitually answer me." 'anah encompasses responding, replying, paying attention to, and delivering an answer. It goes beyond mere acknowledgment; it implies active engagement and positive response to the petitioner's need.
• O God (אֵל, El): A majestic and fundamental name for God, denoting strength, power, and supreme divinity. El emphasizes God's omnipotence and capacity to act on behalf of His people, particularly in responding to prayer. It highlights His authority to answer effectively.
• incline Your ear (הַט־אָזְנֶךָ, hat-ozneka): This is a two-word phrase: הַט (hat), an imperative from נָטָה (natah, "to stretch out," "incline," "turn aside"); and אָזְנֶךָ (ozneka), meaning "Your ear." This is a profound anthropomorphism, depicting God bending down to listen closely, a metaphor for profound attentiveness, personal concern, and readiness to hear even the softest or most distressed plea. It implies active engagement, not passive hearing.
• to me (לִי, li): The preposition "to" specifies the direct recipient of God's attentiveness, reinforcing the personal nature of the prayer. It means "to me," "for me," "my way."
• hear (שְׁמָעָה, shema'ah): An imperative from the verb שָׁמַע (shama'), "to hear," "listen," "obey," "understand," or "heed." In a biblical context, "to hear" often implies not just the physical act but also to comprehend and to act upon what is heard. David asks God to truly "heed" his request and respond in kind.
• my speech (אִמְרָתִי, imrati): From אִמְרָה (imrah), meaning "utterance," "word," "speech," or "promise." It refers to the specific words David is speaking in his prayer, the content of his supplication and plea.
• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God": This initial declaration expresses radical trust. David doesn't say "I will call and maybe You will answer." He states his act of calling is because God's answering is a certainty to him. This reveals a faith grounded in God's character and past faithfulness, demonstrating both an act of will (calling) and a settled expectation (answered prayer). It subtly presents a polemic against pagan deities who are mute and deaf, unable to hear or respond to their worshippers. David's God, El, is living and responsive.
  • "incline Your ear to me; hear my speech": Following the confident declaration, this second part is a direct, urgent plea. It shows that even with profound faith in God's answer, the human supplicant still earnestly petitions for God's personal attention and responsive action. "Incline Your ear" highlights a desire for intimate, focused listening, while "hear my speech" is a plea for the active, effective hearing that results in intervention and help. The transition from confident statement to direct request emphasizes that faith does not negate prayer but empowers it.

Psalm 17 6 Bonus section

The anthropomorphic language of God inclining His ear or having ears to hear is not to be taken literally, as God is spirit. Instead, it serves to powerfully convey God's personal, compassionate, and attentive engagement with His people. It reassures believers that despite His infinite transcendence, He is immanently near to those who call upon Him in truth. This depiction highlights the accessibility of God to individual supplication and reinforces His deep care for His creation. The structure of the verse itself—a statement of confident faith followed by an urgent request—models for believers how assurance in God's character should fuel their prayers, rather than negating the need for specific petition.

Psalm 17 6 Commentary

Psalm 17:6 encapsulates the core essence of prayer: a confident approach to a faithful God. David's statement, "I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God," is not a plea for a hypothetical answer, but a declaration rooted in the assurance of God's nature and covenant faithfulness. This confident assertion undergirds his subsequent, earnest petitions to "incline Your ear" and "hear my speech." Even when certain of God's intention, the human heart still longs for and actively seeks His personal attention and responsive intervention. This verse teaches us to approach God with bold faith, knowing He hears, and simultaneously with humble earnestness, recognizing His sovereign prerogative to listen and act. It reminds believers that true prayer is born out of trust, not doubt, providing both the motive for calling and the expectation of a divine response. For instance, in times of grave concern, one should not just hope for a hearing but affirm with David, "I call upon You, for You will answer me," followed by precise petitions, fully trusting in God's attentiveness and capacity to deliver.