Psalm 27 9

Psalm 27:9 kjv

Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Psalm 27:9 nkjv

Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Psalm 27:9 niv

Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.

Psalm 27:9 esv

Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!

Psalm 27:9 nlt

Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don't leave me now; don't abandon me,
O God of my salvation!

Psalm 27 verses

Psalm 27 9 Meaning

Psalm 27:9 is a fervent prayer from David, expressing deep longing for God's continuous presence and unfailing help. It reflects a fear of abandonment and a heartfelt plea for God to not withdraw His favor or reject His servant in anger. The verse grounds this petition in the remembrance of God's past faithfulness, acknowledging Him as the constant source of strength and deliverance, "the God of my salvation." It portrays an unwavering dependence on the Lord amidst perceived threats or moments of divine hiddenness.

Psalm 27 9 Context

Psalm 27 is broadly understood as a psalm of confidence and petition by David, shifting from an initial declaration of unshakeable faith (v. 1-6) to an earnest appeal for divine help in the face of adversaries (v. 7-14). The first half speaks of God as light, salvation, and strength, and expresses David's desire to dwell in the Lord's house. Verse 9 marks a turning point, where the psalmist's strong confidence gives way to direct petition, fearing divine abandonment and pleading for God to not withdraw His favorable presence. This shift suggests a moment of vulnerability or perceived immediate danger, perhaps a period of exile or intense persecution, where David keenly feels the need for God's manifest protection. It captures the dynamic interplay of strong faith and desperate dependence that marks a maturing relationship with God.

Psalm 27 9 Word analysis

• Hide not Thy face: The Hebrew phrase is al-taster paneka.
  • Hide (תַּסְתֵּר - taster): From the root satar, meaning "to hide," "to conceal." Here, it signifies withdrawal or withholding of presence and favor. In ancient Near Eastern thought, a king's hidden face meant displeasure or rejection, while a shining face signified approval and life.
  • Face (פָּנֶיךָ - paneka): Panim refers to "face," but biblically it is often a metonym for God's manifest presence, favor, and approval. When God hides His face, it signifies disfavor, anger, or abandonment, leading to great distress for the petitioner (e.g., Ps 13:1). David longs for God's attention and covenant faithfulness.
• Put not Thy servant away in anger: The Hebrew is al-tit nash el-avdekha b'af.
  • Put... away (תִּט - tit nash): From nashah, meaning "to forget," "to cast off," or "to forsake." It carries the connotation of a decisive, often irreversible, rejection, similar to casting off a servant or divorcing a spouse.
  • Thy servant (עַבְדֶּךָ - avdekha): Eved denotes a "servant" or "slave." In this context, it signifies David's loyal, dependent, and covenant relationship with God. Appealing as God's servant underscores his right to seek God's protection and a plea to divine responsibility towards His covenant people. It is not just about subservience but relationship.
  • In anger (בְּאַף - b'af): Af means "nose" or "nostril," and metaphorically "anger" (due to flaring nostrils when angry). David fears that God's action might stem from divine wrath or displeasure, which he desperately wishes to avert. This shows the psalmist's awareness of sin and judgment.
• Thou hast been my help: The Hebrew is ezrati hayita.
  • Thou hast been (הָיִיתָ - hayita): This verb in the perfect tense points to a completed action in the past, establishing a foundational truth. It affirms God's consistent historical provision.
  • My help (עֶזְרָתִי - ezrati): From ezer, meaning "help" or "succor." It is a common descriptor of God, especially in situations of distress where human strength fails (e.g., Ps 46:1). It indicates a strong, protective assistance, not merely a minor aid.
• Leave me not, neither forsake me: The Hebrew is al-tintesheni w'al-ta'azveni.
  • Leave me not (תִּנְטְשֵׁנִי - tintesheni): From natash, meaning "to abandon," "to relinquish," "to let go." It suggests withdrawal of care or protection, leaving someone vulnerable.
  • Neither forsake me (וְאַל-תַּעַזְבֵנִי - w'al-ta'azveni): From azav, meaning "to forsake," "to abandon," "to leave behind." This is often paired with natash for emphasis. Together, they form a strong idiom conveying total and irrevocable desertion. David appeals to God's covenant promise not to forsake His people (Deut 31:6).
• O God of my salvation: The Hebrew is Elohei yishi.
  • O God (אֱלֹהֵי - Elohei): Elohim, the general name for God, here with a possessive suffix "my God," emphasizing a personal relationship and trust in the sovereign deity.
  • My salvation (יִשְׁעִי - yishi): From yeshua, meaning "salvation," "deliverance," "rescue." It describes God as the one who brings deliverance and preservation from all forms of danger, physical or spiritual. It emphasizes His power to deliver David from his enemies and his distress, reiterating His character as a rescuer.

Words-Group Analysis:The verse demonstrates a climactic progression in its pleas, moving from a desire for God's manifest presence ("hide not Thy face"), to an avoidance of divine rejection ("put not Thy servant away in anger"), founded upon an appeal to God's unchanging character demonstrated in past experience ("Thou hast been my help"), and culminating in an intensified petition against total abandonment ("leave me not, neither forsake me"), addressing God by His redemptive nature as the source of all deliverance ("O God of my salvation"). This structure reveals a profound, covenantal intimacy where the psalmist expects God's unfailing love and assistance, even amidst the deepest fears.

Psalm 27 9 Bonus section

The Hebrew root panim (face) has significant theological weight. It does not merely mean God's physical countenance, but represents His essence, His manifested presence, favor, and direct involvement. To "seek God's face" (Ps 27:8) is to long for His active, benevolent presence in one's life. Conversely, God hiding His face implies the withholding of His blessing, favor, and attention, leading to distress and a sense of abandonment. This concept also aligns with the high priestly blessing (Num 6:25-26), where God making His face "shine upon you" and lifting "up His countenance upon you" conveys deep favor, grace, and peace. Therefore, David's plea in Ps 27:9 is for the active manifestation of God's blessing, not merely His omnipresence. The progression from strong faith (Ps 27:1) to this specific plea for continuous divine presence reveals that even the most devout servants can experience moments where the sense of God's tangible presence is tested, prompting renewed fervency in prayer.

Psalm 27 9 Commentary

Psalm 27:9 is a raw expression of dependence, voiced by David, who understands that true security rests not in his own strength but in the unbroken, favorable presence of God. His fear of God's "hidden face" speaks to the terror of spiritual abandonment, where the very source of light and life seems withdrawn. The plea to not be "put away in anger" acknowledges human fallibility and the potential for divine displeasure, yet it also trusts in God's mercy and covenant faithfulness. David recalls God's unwavering historical role as his "help," reinforcing his confidence that God, who has always been faithful, will continue to be. This past faithfulness is the bedrock of his present and future petitions. The double negative "leave me not, neither forsake me" intensifies the urgency, mirroring the deep personal anxiety of a devoted servant who clings to his Lord. By addressing God as "the God of my salvation," David concludes with a triumphant affirmation of God's redemptive power and his personal experience of divine deliverance, making this a prayer that both expresses fear and affirms profound faith in God's unchanging nature as rescuer and deliverer. It teaches us that faith is not the absence of fear, but rather bringing our fears directly to the unwavering Source of our salvation.