Psalm 27:7 kjv
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
Psalm 27:7 nkjv
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
Psalm 27:7 niv
Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
Psalm 27:7 esv
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
Psalm 27:7 nlt
Hear me as I pray, O LORD.
Be merciful and answer me!
Psalm 27 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 3:4 | I cried to the LORD with my voice, and he answered me from his holy hill. | God hears and answers audible prayer. |
| Ps 4:1 | Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! | Direct appeal for God to answer. |
| Ps 5:2 | Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. | Fervent call to God to hear prayer. |
| Ps 18:6 | In my distress I called upon the LORD... He heard my voice... | God's immediate response to a cry for help. |
| Ps 30:2 | O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you healed me. | Crying out to God for healing/restoration. |
| Ps 34:17 | When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them. | God's commitment to hear and deliver His people. |
| Ps 51:1 | Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love. | Plea for mercy based on God's character. |
| Ps 66:19 | But God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. | Affirmation of God hearing prayer. |
| Ps 86:5 | For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love... | God's character as merciful and gracious. |
| Ps 116:1-2 | I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice... Because he inclined his ear... | Thanksgiving for God's attentiveness to prayer. |
| Ps 138:3 | On the day I called, you answered me; you made me bold with strength... | God strengthens when He answers. |
| Ps 145:8 | The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. | God's merciful nature is fundamental. |
| Jer 33:3 | Call to Me, and I will answer you... | God's promise to answer when called. |
| Lam 3:55-56 | I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit... You heard my plea. | Calling from distress, God's hearing acknowledged. |
| Matt 7:7 | Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and... | Jesus' teaching on asking and receiving. |
| Lk 1:50 | And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. | God's mercy extends to the reverent. |
| Lk 18:1-8 | The parable of the persistent widow... teaches that men always ought to pray... | Persistence in prayer to God who hears. |
| Rom 8:26 | ...the Spirit intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. | God hears even unspoken prayers via the Spirit. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation... present your requests... | Supplication and prayer leading to peace. |
| Heb 5:7 | ...who in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears... | Christ as the example of fervent prayer. |
| 1 Jn 5:14-15 | ...if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us... | Assurance of God hearing prayer according to His will. |
Psalm 27 verses
Psalm 27 7 Meaning
Psalm 27:7 is a heartfelt and urgent plea from the psalmist to the Lord, immediately following expressions of strong confidence. It represents a direct and vocalized supplication, asking God not only to listen attentively to the desperate cry but also to show compassion and respond actively to the need. It moves from general trust to a specific, personal petition for divine intervention in a time of distress.
Psalm 27 7 Context
Psalm 27 stands as a poignant expression of faith and dependence on God amidst various trials. The first half (verses 1-6) bursts with confident declarations of trust in the Lord as the psalmist's light, salvation, and stronghold, anticipating dwelling in His presence. It speaks of unwavering courage despite enemies and armies. However, verse 7 marks a shift from this posture of certainty to a more immediate and urgent petition, reflecting the raw reality of the psalmist's present distress. This verse acknowledges the immediate need for divine intervention, transitioning from expressions of general confidence to a direct cry for God’s attention, compassion, and concrete response. It shows that faith does not preclude the honest expression of vulnerability and urgent need before God. Historically, many scholars attribute this psalm to King David, likely composed during periods of great threat, such as his flight from Saul or during Absalom's rebellion, where despite his trust, real dangers required divine action.
Psalm 27 7 Word analysis
Hear: (Hebrew: Shama, שָׁמַע) This term denotes more than merely perceiving sound; it implies "listening intently," "giving heed," and "paying attention with the intent to respond." In a covenant context, it suggests God's attentive responsiveness to the pleas of His people, upholding His promises. It is a direct appeal to God's attribute of attentiveness.
O LORD: (Hebrew: YHWH, יְהוָה) This is the Tetragrammaton, the personal and covenantal name of God. By invoking this name, the psalmist appeals not just to a deity, but to the specific, revealed God who has entered into a relationship with His people and is characterized by steadfast love and faithfulness (hesed). It grounds the plea in God's identity and covenant loyalty.
when I cry: (Hebrew: qol, קוֹל - "voice/sound" as the manner of crying, from qara, קָרָא - "to call out," "to shout") The use of "when I cry" denotes the active, often distressed, vocalization of prayer. It's an earnest and urgent outpouring from the heart, indicating significant distress or a profound need.
with my voice: This phrase reinforces the vocal, audible nature of the cry. It highlights the psalmist's intentional and fervent expression of his internal anguish or desire, distinguishing it from a silent thought or passive hope. It implies earnestness and genuine pleading.
have mercy: (Hebrew: Chanan, חָנַן) This verb means "to be gracious," "to show favor," or "to pity." It is a plea for unmerited favor, compassionate intervention that stems purely from God's benevolent character and not from any perceived merit of the psalmist. It underscores humanity's dependence on divine grace.
also upon me: The word "also" suggests that mercy is being requested as an additional, crucial element alongside "hearing." It specifies the direct, personal target of God's favor, making the petition intensely individual and immediate. It’s not just a general request, but a direct appeal for the psalmist himself.
and answer me: (Hebrew: Anah, עָנָה) This means "to reply," "to respond," or "to attend to." This is the desired outcome of the entire petition. It signifies a request for a definitive and active intervention or reply from God, not merely a hearing of the cry. The psalmist desires a tangible divine action or communication.
"Hear, O LORD... and answer me": This grouping illustrates the full spectrum of the desired divine engagement. The psalmist wants God's full attention (Hear), followed by His compassionate disposition (mercy), culminating in a concrete and timely act or communication (answer me). It demonstrates the comprehensive nature of heartfelt prayer: seeking not just God’s ear, but His heart and His hand.
"when I cry with my voice": This phrase emphasizes the depth and sincerity of the prayer. It’s a genuine, vocalized expression of an earnest petition, demonstrating active and desperate reliance on God. This is not a passive contemplation but an intense, engaged appeal.
Psalm 27 7 Bonus section
The vocal nature of the cry in Psalm 27:7 ("cry with my voice") contrasts with quiet meditation and underscores a profound, often desperate, need. Biblically, such vocalization is frequently associated with deep distress or fervent supplication, demonstrating an active, physical manifestation of inner urgency. The psalmist’s specific appeal for "mercy" (chanan) rather than justice or deliverance through might, highlights a reliance on God’s grace and character. It moves beyond just a factual acknowledgment of distress to an appeal to the very nature of God as compassionate and responsive. The order of the requests—hear, then have mercy, then answer—is significant. God's hearing initiates His awareness, His mercy fuels His willingness, and His answering actualizes His intervention. This implies that without God’s ear, heart, and hand engaged, the human cry remains unaddressed.
Psalm 27 7 Commentary
Psalm 27:7 powerfully encapsulates the paradox of faith: profound trust coexists with the pressing reality of need. Despite the confident declarations of God’s protective presence earlier in the Psalm, the psalmist transitions to a raw, direct plea for help. This demonstrates that faith is not a denial of trouble but rather a firm conviction that God hears and intervenes when His people call out in their distress. The prayer moves from asking God to simply "hear" to begging for "mercy" and culminating in the expectation that He will "answer." This progression reflects a desire for a holistic divine response: attentive listening, compassionate disposition, and active intervention. It teaches believers that genuine confidence in God leads to, rather than negates, fervent and specific prayer, acknowledging human vulnerability while leaning on divine omnipotence and grace. This verse serves as a timeless model for bringing our urgent needs before God, appealing to His covenant faithfulness and merciful character, and patiently awaiting His assured response.