Psalm 35:22 kjv
This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
Psalm 35:22 nkjv
This You have seen, O LORD; Do not keep silence. O Lord, do not be far from me.
Psalm 35:22 niv
LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord.
Psalm 35:22 esv
You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!
Psalm 35:22 nlt
O LORD, you know all about this.
Do not stay silent.
Do not abandon me now, O Lord.
Psalm 35 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 10:14 | But You have seen, for You consider mischief and spite, to repay it... | God's seeing and intention to act. |
| Ps 22:1-2 | My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? ... O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer... | A cry to God when He seems silent or absent. |
| Ps 27:9 | Do not hide Your face from me... Do not turn Your servant away in anger... | Plea for God's continuous presence and favor. |
| Ps 34:15 | The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. | God's watchful care over the just. |
| Ps 50:3 | Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence... | God's expected coming to judge and not remain silent. |
| Ps 59:1 | Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me. | Plea for deliverance from enemies. |
| Ps 70:5 | But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay! | Urgency for divine assistance. |
| Ps 83:1 | O God, do not keep silence; Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! | Direct parallel in asking God to not be silent. |
| Ps 119:153 | Consider my affliction and deliver me, For I do not forget Your law. | Prayer for God to see and act on affliction. |
| Ps 139:7-8 | Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? | Affirmation of God's omnipresence. |
| Ps 143:7 | Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails; Do not hide Your face from me... | Urgent plea for swift divine response. |
| Is 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you... | God's comforting presence. |
| Jer 23:23-24 | Am I a God near at hand... and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places...? | God's nearness and inescapable awareness. |
| Lam 3:56 | You have heard my voice; Do not hide Your ear from my sighing, from my cry for help. | Lament acknowledging God hears yet still pleads for Him to listen. |
| Hab 1:2 | O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, "Violence!" And You will not save? | Prophet's question about God's seeming inaction. |
| 2 Kgs 20:5 | "Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears...'" | God hears and sees the distress of His people. |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. | God's sovereignty in dispensing justice. |
| 2 Thess 1:6-7 | ...since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest... | God's promise to justly repay adversaries and bring relief. |
| Heb 4:13 | And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. | God's complete knowledge and transparency. |
| James 4:8 | Draw near to God and He will draw near to you... | Encouragement for drawing near to God for His presence. |
| 1 Pet 3:12 | For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers... | Reiterates God's watchful eye and attentiveness to His people's prayers. |
Psalm 35 verses
Psalm 35 22 Meaning
Psalm 35:22 is a heartfelt plea from David to the sovereign God. It conveys a deep desire for divine intervention, rooted in the certainty that God has observed his suffering and the injustice against him. David implores God to break His silence and act on his behalf, asserting His close presence and immediate aid, especially against his adversaries. It underscores the believer's trust that God is not only aware but also responsive and actively involved in the affairs of His people.
Psalm 35 22 Context
Psalm 35 is a raw and intense prayer for deliverance from powerful and malicious enemies who seek David's ruin without cause. It falls into the category of a lament and imprecatory psalm. David describes being unjustly slandered and attacked by those whom he had shown kindness (verses 1-16). He cries out for God's intervention, contrasting his suffering with the triumph of his enemies. Verse 22, positioned near the end of the psalm's first major section (vv. 1-18), follows David's vivid description of his enemies' deceptive tactics and cruel mocking. This specific verse forms a desperate appeal, predicated on God's omniscient awareness of the situation, to intervene and manifest His justice. The plea reflects David's complete dependence on divine help rather than self-vindication or retaliation.
Psalm 35 22 Word analysis
- You have seen (רָאִ֧יתָ ra'îta): This verb means "to see, to perceive, to observe." It is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action, implying God's full and unchangeable awareness of the situation. David begins his plea with a confident affirmation of God's perfect knowledge. This appeals to God's omniscience, grounding David's prayer in God's prior observation of the injustice. It implies that God has witnessed every detail of the enemy's malice and David's suffering. The basis of David's appeal is not just a general request for help, but an argument founded on God's perfect vision and understanding.
- O Lord (יְהוָ֣ה YHWH, followed by אֲדֹנָ֥י Adonai): The first "O Lord" is the tetragrammaton, God's personal covenant name, Yahweh, emphasizing His relational and unchanging nature. The second "O Lord" is Adonai, a title emphasizing God's sovereignty, mastery, and supreme authority. The use of both forms highlights the dual aspect of God as the personal, covenant-keeping God (Yahweh) who is also the supreme Ruler and Master (Adonai) of all creation. It intensifies the plea, invoking God's character and power in full measure.
- do not be silent (אַל־תֶּחֱרַ֖שׁ al-techêrâsh): The verb charâsh can mean "to be deaf, to keep silence, to hold one's peace, to plow." In this context, it is a negative imperative, meaning "do not be silent." This is not a request for literal quietude, but a plea for God to break His apparent inactivity or non-response. It implies an urgent need for God to speak through judgment, vindication, or miraculous intervention. It is a powerful lament that God's perceived silence feels like indifference or absence in the face of suffering. This might be a subtle polemic against mute idols who cannot speak or act. David implores the living God to demonstrate His aliveness and power by responding.
- do not be far from me! (אַל־תִּרְחַ֖ק מִמֶּֽנִּי al-tircḥaq mimmenî): This is a negative imperative meaning "do not be far from me," a request for God's immediate and effective presence. To be "far" from God can imply absence, indifference, or withholding of help. David desires God's tangible nearness, implying not just proximity, but active support, protection, and deliverance. It speaks to a fear of divine abandonment in the midst of extreme distress. He pleads for God to demonstrate His immanence and protective hand in his current trial.
Word-groups Analysis:
- "You have seen, O Lord;": This opening phrase asserts God's omniscience as the very foundation for the petition. It declares absolute certainty that God is fully aware of every detail of David's plight and the enemies' wicked deeds. This is not informing God, but appealing to His just character.
- "do not be silent; O Lord,": This paired phrase intensifies the desperate cry for divine action. The repetition of "O Lord" following "do not be silent" stresses the urgency of God breaking His inaction. David implores God not just to know but to respond definitively, to "speak" His judgment or deliverance.
- "do not be far from me!": This phrase completes the appeal by requesting God's active, protective presence. It expresses a deep need for God's tangible support and nearness during a time of immense vulnerability and persecution. It moves beyond passive observation to active engagement and protection.
Psalm 35 22 Bonus section
The anthropomorphic language used ("seen," "silent," "far") vividly portrays human emotions and relational needs applied to God. It highlights how the biblical authors wrestled with God's perceived absence or silence in times of acute suffering, while simultaneously holding fast to His unchanging nature and covenant faithfulness. Such language bridges the gap between the infinite God and the limited human experience, making theological truths relatable. This verse also implicitly reminds believers that prayer is not about informing an unknowing deity, but aligning human will with divine purpose and invoking God's righteous character to bring about justice and deliverance.
Psalm 35 22 Commentary
Psalm 35:22 epitomizes a fundamental aspect of biblical prayer: an appeal to God based on His divine attributes. David, facing overwhelming injustice, does not plead from a position of despairing doubt but from a faith-filled assurance that God, the All-Seer, has perfect knowledge of his predicament. "You have seen" affirms God's omniscience and therefore His capacity for righteous judgment. The subsequent twin petitions, "do not be silent" and "do not be far from me," move from affirmation to urgent request for God to act decisively and personally. "Do not be silent" implies a yearning for God to speak through intervention, breaking the stillness that seems to empower the wicked. It's a prayer against divine apathy. "Do not be far from me" is a cry for intimate, empowering presence and protection, without which David feels utterly vulnerable. This verse serves as a model for believers in distress, teaching us to appeal to God's character, particularly His awareness and immanence, when we face overwhelming opposition. It instructs us to not merely ask for help but to appeal to the very nature of God as one who sees, hears, and acts on behalf of His people.