Psalm 35 17

Psalm 35:17 kjv

Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

Psalm 35:17 nkjv

Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, My precious life from the lions.

Psalm 35:17 niv

How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.

Psalm 35:17 esv

How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!

Psalm 35:17 nlt

How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing?
Rescue me from their fierce attacks.
Protect my life from these lions!

Psalm 35 verses

Psalm 35 17 Meaning

Psalm 35:17 is a passionate cry from David, expressing profound anguish and impatience in the face of relentless, destructive enemies. It is a direct appeal to God (Adonai) to cease His perceived inaction and urgently intervene, delivering the psalmist's very life and cherished being from the overwhelming power and ruinous intentions of his adversaries, depicted as ferocious lions. The verse captures a moment of deep distress where the psalmist longs for divine deliverance from complete devastation.

Psalm 35 17 Context

Psalm 35 is a psalm of Davidic lament and imprecation, primarily a plea for vindication against treacherous and unjust enemies. The surrounding verses depict the psalmist's deep distress. Prior to verse 17, David has lamented how his adversaries have turned on him with malicious glee despite his acts of compassion for them in their distress (Psa 35:11-16). He mourned and afflicted himself when they were sick, yet they mock and conspire against him when he is in trouble. This profound sense of betrayal and injustice drives his plea in verse 17. The verse stands as a desperate outcry in the middle of a passage describing the cruel mockery and deceit of his persecutors, moving from recounting their evil to directly imploring God for active intervention.

Psalm 35 17 Word analysis

• Lord (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai):

  • This title for God signifies master, sovereign ruler, owner. It emphasizes a relationship of authority and submission, acknowledging God's power and right to command and deliver.
  • It's a specific personal address, signifying reverence and dependence, acknowledging His supreme authority over all creation and especially His covenant people.

• how long (עַד-אָנָה - 'ad-'anah):

  • A common Hebrew lament phrase indicating impatience, deep anguish, and a yearning for an end to suffering.
  • It expresses distress not only over the present state but also over God's perceived delay in acting. It's an honest question of faith from one who expects divine intervention.

• wilt Thou look on (תִּרְאֶה - tir'eh):

  • From the verb ראה (ra'ah), meaning to see, look, perceive, or appear. Here it implies God observing the psalmist's suffering and the enemies' actions without intervening.
  • The psalmist knows God sees, but asks when His seeing will translate into acting. It is a plea for God's active, visible intervention, not just His omnipresent awareness.

• rescue (הָשִׁיבָה - Hashibah):

  • Imperative form of שׁוּב (shuv), which primarily means to return or restore. In this context, it implies causing someone or something to return to safety or its rightful place from danger.
  • It is a fervent command/plea to God to bring his life back from the brink of destruction.

• my soul (נַפְשִׁי - napshi):

  • Nafshi (נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh) refers to the entire being: the life, person, self, breath, inner being, mind, emotions. It's not just a part, but the totality of the individual.
  • Its use here emphasizes that his very existence and identity are under threat, not just a physical attack or material loss.

• from their destructions (מִשֹּׁאֵיהֶם - mi'sho'eihem):

  • שׁוֹאָה (sho'ah) refers to ruin, desolation, disaster, destruction, often implying widespread devastation or sudden calamity.
  • The plural sho'eihem (desolations) indicates the multiple, overwhelming, and utterly ruinous attacks or intentions of the enemies. They aim for complete annihilation.

• my darling (יְחִידָתִי - yechidathi):

  • Derived from יָחִיד (yachid), meaning only, sole, unique, or lonely one. It can refer to an only child, something unique and precious, or life itself (Psa 22:20, where "my darling" is paired with "my life").
  • Here, it's a tender and intimate term for his life, his sole existence, something extremely valuable and vulnerable. It highlights the preciousness of what is at stake, as if he only has this one life to lose.

• from the lions (מִכְּפִירִים - mi'kephirim):

  • כְּפִיר (kephir) refers to a young lion, vigorous and strong, known for its fierce hunting and destructive power.
  • Used metaphorically for ruthless, powerful, and predatory enemies who seek to utterly devour and destroy. This imagery powerfully conveys the grave danger and the formidable nature of the adversaries.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Lord, how long wilt Thou look on?": This phrase encapsulates a common theme in the laments—the urgent appeal to a seemingly passive God. It reflects honest, anguished prayer from someone who knows God sees all but desperately needs Him to intervene. It questions God's timeline from a human perspective while affirming His sovereignty.
• "rescue my soul from their destructions": This is the core petition for deliverance. It is not just physical rescue but the preservation of his very being (nephesh) from comprehensive ruin planned by his enemies (sho'ot). It underscores the internal and existential threat posed by his adversaries.
• "my darling from the lions": This parallelism reiterates the preciousness of his life (yachidathi) and vividly portrays the ferocity and overwhelming power of the enemies (kefirim). It paints a picture of extreme peril, where his most cherished possession is about to be utterly consumed.

Psalm 35 17 Bonus section

The concept of yachidathi ("my darling" or "my unique one") being threatened by "lions" prefigures spiritual warfare concepts in the New Testament, where the believer's nephesh (soul/life) is similarly precious and assailed by unseen spiritual enemies (e.g., 1 Pet 5:8, comparing Satan to a roaring lion). The prayer itself serves as a model for crying out to God when one feels overwhelmed by circumstances and perceived divine silence, validating genuine faith that struggles with impatience while still clinging to God's ultimate power and justice. It reveals that lament is a legitimate and often necessary part of an authentic relationship with the Living God.

Psalm 35 17 Commentary

Psalm 35:17 forms the passionate climax of David's initial lament within Psalm 35, transforming his narrative of suffering into an urgent, direct plea. It underscores the intense emotional honesty found in the Psalms, where the psalmist doesn't shy away from questioning God's apparent delay. "How long wilt Thou look on?" is not an accusation of God's inability or disinterest, but rather a desperate appeal for the visible activation of His divine justice and power against overwhelming evil. The doubling of his plea – "rescue my soul" and "my darling" – amplifies the intensity and preciousness of what is at stake. The enemies, personified as powerful, ravenous lions, are not just inconvenient adversaries but existential threats bent on complete ruin. This verse highlights a fundamental human cry for God to actively engage in His world, especially in the face of profound injustice, affirming the believer's trust that divine intervention, though perhaps delayed by human perception, is ultimately sure and decisive.