Psalm 31 22

Psalm 31:22 kjv

For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

Psalm 31:22 nkjv

For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You.

Psalm 31:22 niv

In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.

Psalm 31:22 esv

I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.

Psalm 31:22 nlt

In panic I cried out,
"I am cut off from the LORD!"
But you heard my cry for mercy
and answered my call for help.

Psalm 31 verses

Psalm 31 22 Meaning

Psalm 31:22 reveals David's candid confession of a moment of profound despair, when he impulsively believed himself utterly forsaken by God's watchful care, uttering words born of panic and fear. However, in stark contrast to his own fleeting doubt, he testifies to God's unfailing faithfulness, acknowledging that God did indeed hear his desperate pleas and supplications. The verse serves as a powerful testimony to the efficacy of earnest prayer and the unwavering attentiveness of God, even when the human heart falters in its perception of His presence.

Psalm 31 22 Context

Psalm 31 is a prayer of David reflecting deep trust in God despite intense suffering and opposition. He appeals to God for deliverance, describing his distress, the slander of his enemies, and feelings of abandonment and disgrace. The psalm is structured as a lament, transitioning from pleas for help (vv. 1-8) to detailed descriptions of physical and emotional agony (vv. 9-13), then reaffirming trust in God's steadfastness (vv. 14-18), and finally erupting in praise for deliverance (vv. 19-24). Verse 22 specifically serves as a crucial pivotal point within this shift, immediately following an outburst of thanksgiving for God's wondrous kindness (vv. 19-21). David here provides a retrospective confession, admitting a moment of acute human doubt and fear, contrasted directly with the undeniable reality of God's immediate and gracious response to his cries for help, thus reinforcing the sincerity of his newfound praise. This experience likely refers to a moment in David's life of persecution, perhaps during his flight from Saul or later from Absalom, where his physical danger led to a momentary spiritual lapse.

Psalm 31 22 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction serves as an explanatory connector, introducing the reason or basis for the preceding expressions of praise and trust (vv. 19-21). It reveals the specific past experience that validates David’s current confidence in God’s unfailing goodness.
• I said (אָמַרְתִּי - 'amarti): A clear declaration in the first person singular, past tense. It indicates a definite, explicit verbalization, whether spoken aloud or thought deeply, expressing David’s inner state at that specific moment of crisis.
• in my haste (בְּחָפְזִי - bechofzi): The Hebrew term chofez (from the root חָפַז) means "to be alarmed," "to be terrified," "to make haste out of fear," or "to flee in consternation." It denotes not merely hurried speech, but words uttered in a state of sudden, overwhelming panic, emotional agitation, or bewildering confusion, rather than careful reflection or calm assessment. This captures the intensity of David's internal crisis.
• I am cut off (נִגְרַזְתִּי - nigrazti): From the root גָּרַז (garaz), meaning "to cut off," "to be separated," "to be severed," or "to be excluded." In this Niphal form, it suggests a passive state of being completely removed or isolated. It signifies a profound feeling of divine abandonment and a loss of connection to God’s care and covenant, feeling utterly undone and without hope.
• from before Your eyes (מִנֶּגֶד עֵינֶיךָ - minneged 'eineyka): This phrase emphasizes the feeling of complete disengagement from God's direct awareness and benevolent oversight. In ancient thought, the "eyes" of the deity signified watchfulness, care, and intervention. To be "cut off from before His eyes" implied being unseen, forgotten, and beyond the scope of divine help or protection.
• nevertheless (אָכֵן - 'aken): This strong adversative particle introduces a striking contrast. It signals an immediate and absolute pivot, underscoring that despite David’s despondent pronouncements, the true reality of God’s nature prevailed and powerfully superseded his perception. It denotes certainty and emphasis against a previous thought.
• You heard (שָׁמַעְתָּ - shama'ta): A direct address to God, emphasizing His personal, active, and completed action of listening. This past tense verb counters the "I am cut off" by confirming God's tangible presence and attentiveness. It’s not just acknowledgment, but responsive hearing.
• the voice (קוֹל - qol): Refers to the audible sound or cry, not just internal thought. It implies the actual sound of desperate verbalized prayer, underscoring that God heard an external expression of his inner pain.
• my supplications (תַּחֲנוּנָי - tachanunay): From the root חָנַן (chanan), "to show favor" or "to be gracious." These are pleas for grace, mercy, and favor, often made from a position of acknowledged weakness and desperation. They are earnest petitions acknowledging complete dependence on God’s kindness.
• when I cried out to You (בְּשַׁוְּעִי אֵלֶיךָ - beshavve'i 'eleyka): The Hebrew verb שָׁוַע (shava') means "to cry for help," "to shout for deliverance." This signifies a fervent, desperate appeal, often loud and urgent, prompted by severe distress or threat. It highlights the desperate and immediate nature of David's prayer in his moment of feeling forsaken.

• "I said in my haste, 'I am cut off from before Your eyes'": This segment exposes the raw vulnerability of human faith under duress. David's honest admission demonstrates that even those deeply devoted to God can experience moments of profound doubt and despair, where emotional turmoil distorts their perception of God’s omnipresent care and sovereign involvement. It is a moment where human feeling overrode theological truth.
• "nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You": This part powerfully contrasts human fallibility with divine fidelity. Despite David’s unfaithfulness in his thoughts, God remained faithful to His character. It affirms the absolute reality of God’s responsiveness to earnest, albeit desperate, prayer. This phrase testifies that God does not abandon those who cry to Him, even when they themselves fear His abandonment.

Psalm 31 22 Bonus section

The concept of "cut off from Your eyes" resonates deeply with the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine blessing and curse. To be seen by the gods implied favor and protection, while being unseen or having the deity turn their face away meant doom and abandonment. David's fear was therefore a profound existential dread, believing he was now vulnerable to all threats because God had withdrawn His protective gaze. This makes God's actual hearing and response all the more striking; it was a reversal of his deepest fear, testifying to YHWH's personal and actively engaged nature, distinguishing Him from any perceived distant or capricious deities. This verse reinforces the biblical understanding that God is immanent and responds to His covenant people, even when their perception is clouded by affliction.

Psalm 31 22 Commentary

Psalm 31:22 encapsulates a profound truth about human experience and divine faithfulness. David honestly confesses his momentary lapse of faith, where in a state of sheer panic and agitation, he declared himself utterly cut off from God’s sight and care. This shows the authentic wrestling within the heart of a believer, where feelings can overshadow truth, leading to words of despair that misrepresent God’s character. Yet, the turning point "nevertheless" acts as a beacon of hope. It proclaims that despite David's flawed perception and hasty pronouncement, God faithfully heard his cries for mercy and aid. This verse assures believers that even when they are at their lowest point, when they feel utterly forgotten and isolated, and even when their prayers are mingled with doubt, God remains attentive to their sincere petitions. His willingness to listen and respond is rooted in His unwavering nature, not the perfection of the one crying out.

Examples for practical usage:

• For someone feeling abandoned: This verse validates the feeling ("I am cut off...") but redirects to God's reality ("nevertheless You heard...").
• For hasty words regretted: It acknowledges human imperfection under pressure while highlighting God's grace in still hearing despite imperfect articulation.
• For prayer in despair: It teaches that earnest cries born of deep distress are heard by God, demonstrating the efficacy of lament and desperate appeal.