Psalm 31 16

Psalm 31:16 kjv

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.

Psalm 31:16 nkjv

Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies' sake.

Psalm 31:16 niv

Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

Psalm 31:16 esv

Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!

Psalm 31:16 nlt

Let your favor shine on your servant.
In your unfailing love, rescue me.

Psalm 31 verses

Psalm 31 16 Meaning

Psalm 31:16 is a heartfelt plea to the Living God, expressing a deep desire for divine favor, protection, and deliverance. The psalmist requests God to manifest His beneficial presence, to reveal His benevolent light, and to intervene to rescue them from distress and adversity. This appeal is anchored not in the psalmist's merit or worthiness, but solely on the basis of God's intrinsic and unfailing loyal love, His steadfast mercy. It is a cry for intimate communion, secure salvation, and tangible assistance, all rooted in the faithful character of God.

Psalm 31 16 Context

Psalm 31 is a profound lament where the psalmist (traditionally David) pours out his soul to God amidst severe distress and persecution. He describes being in deep trouble, surrounded by enemies, mocked, ostracized by friends, and feeling forgotten and broken like a shattered vessel. His bones and soul waste away with sorrow. Yet, despite this intense suffering and fear, the psalm transitions into declarations of trust and unwavering reliance on God. Verse 16 directly follows verses where the psalmist states he trusts in the Lord (v. 14) and commits his times into God's hand (v. 15). Therefore, "Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake" serves as a direct, desperate yet trusting petition for God's active, saving intervention, flowing from a place of deep dependence forged in adversity. It highlights a core biblical theme: prayer for deliverance is often grounded in the unchanging nature of God, especially His mercy and steadfast love, rather than the petitioner's merits.

Psalm 31 16 Word analysis

• Make thy face to shine (הָאֵר פָּנֶיךָ - ha'er panekha):

  • הָאֵר (ha'er): A verb in the Hiphil imperative, meaning "cause to shine" or "illuminate." It denotes an active, deliberate action by God. Implies a revelation of His presence.
  • פָּנֶיךָ (panekha): "Your face" or "Your presence." In biblical Hebrew, God's "face" represents His manifest presence, His favor, blessing, approval, and active intervention.
  • Significance: This is an appeal for divine favor and blessing. When God's face "shines," it signifies His approval, light, guidance, and provision. Conversely, God hiding His face implies disfavor or judgment (e.g., Ps 13:1). This echoes the priestly blessing in Num 6:25-26, invoking God's direct, benevolent attention. Scholars highlight this as a prayer for the lifting of God’s perceived hiddenness or anger and for His visible light to penetrate the darkness of the psalmist’s situation, offering comfort, insight, and reassurance.

• upon thy servant (אֶל עַבְדֶּךָ - el avdekha):

  • אֶל (el): "Upon," indicating direction or direct application.
  • עַבְדֶּךָ (avdekha): "Your servant." This is a humble yet privileged self-identification. In the Ancient Near East, a servant could be a bondslave, but often signified a devoted subordinate to a king, implying a personal relationship, loyalty, and access.
  • Significance: The psalmist does not demand but pleads as one who belongs to God, highlighting a covenantal relationship. This status implies both humble submission and a confident expectation of divine care from a master to a loyal servant. It connects to the theme of God's specific care for those who serve Him faithfully (e.g., Abraham, Moses, David were called God's servants).

• save me (הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי - hoshi'eni):

  • הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי (hoshi'eni): From the root יָשַׁע (yasha), meaning "to save," "to deliver," "to rescue," "to help," "to bring salvation." This is a strong imperative.
  • Significance: A direct, urgent petition for deliverance from concrete physical, emotional, and possibly spiritual danger. It's a comprehensive term covering rescue from enemies, distress, death, and oppressive circumstances. This salvation is understood as holistic, addressing both immediate needs and ultimate well-being.

• for thy mercies' sake (לְמַעַן חַסְדֶּךָ - lema'an chasdekha):

  • לְמַעַן (lema'an): "For the sake of," "on account of," indicating the motivation or ground for the request.
  • חַסְדֶּךָ (chasdekha): "Your loyal love," "Your covenant faithfulness," "Your steadfast love," "Your lovingkindness," "Your mercy." This is a crucial theological term (hesed). It signifies God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, His enduring and devoted love that goes beyond mere pity, expressing itself in loyalty and generosity, especially towards those in a covenant relationship with Him.
  • Significance: This phrase is the theological foundation of the entire plea. The psalmist appeals not to his own righteousness, worthiness, or deeds, but solely to God's inherent character – His faithful, enduring, and covenantal love. It highlights the grace-based nature of God's action. The psalmist trusts that God acts consistent with His nature of chesed, which compels Him to protect and save His people. Scholars emphasize chesed as the bedrock of God's relationship with Israel and with His faithful ones, making this appeal profoundly biblical.

Psalm 31 16 Bonus section

The concept of God's "face shining" (Psalm 31:16) implies His unhindered and beneficial presence, which can dispel spiritual and physical darkness. When God's face is perceived to be "hidden" (Ps 13:1, 44:24), it signals distress, judgment, or abandonment from the human perspective, prompting urgent prayer for restoration of that divine presence. The plea for God to make His face shine, therefore, is also a request for discernment and clarity, allowing the psalmist to perceive God's way and will more clearly amidst confusion. This verse implicitly opposes the notion of a detached or capricious deity; instead, it asserts faith in a God who is intimately involved and responsive, particularly to those who serve Him and appeal to His faithfulness.

Psalm 31 16 Commentary

Psalm 31:16 beautifully articulates the essence of biblical prayer in times of distress: a humble yet bold petition for divine intervention, grounded in God's immutable character. The psalmist cries out for God's illuminating presence, asking Him to turn His favor upon His devoted servant. This isn't just a longing for good fortune but for the warmth of God's active fellowship, His guidance through life's darkness. The subsequent plea, "save me," encapsulates a deep human need for deliverance from physical peril, emotional burden, or spiritual despair. Critically, the basis of this saving work is explicitly stated as "for thy mercies' sake," utilizing the profound Hebrew concept of hesed. This term transcends mere compassion, speaking to God's loyal, covenant-keeping love, His steadfast faithfulness that motivates His actions. It reveals that salvation, healing, and favor are not earned by human merit but are gracious expressions of God's enduring love. Thus, this verse serves as a powerful model for believers to appeal to God's inherent goodness and faithfulness when facing overwhelming challenges, resting in the assurance that He is moved by His own character and promises. It assures us that our hope is securely founded not on who we are, but on who God is.