Psalm 38 15

Psalm 38:15 kjv

For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

Psalm 38:15 nkjv

For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.

Psalm 38:15 niv

LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.

Psalm 38:15 esv

But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

Psalm 38:15 nlt

For I am waiting for you, O LORD.
You must answer for me, O Lord my God.

Psalm 38 verses

Psalm 38 15 Meaning

Psalm 38:15 conveys the psalmist's unwavering hope and confident expectation in God as his sole deliverer amidst deep personal suffering. This verse serves as the profound theological basis and explanation for the psalmist's choice to remain silent and endure attacks without retaliation (as described in previous verses), rather than relying on his own words or human intervention. He knows that despite his current distress, the Almighty God will certainly respond and bring deliverance.

Psalm 38 15 Context

Psalm 38 is a profound lament, classified as one of the seven Penitential Psalms. It depicts David in a state of profound distress, attributing his suffering to God's discipline for his sin. His affliction is multi-faceted: he experiences physical illness (v. 3-8), internal anguish and sorrow (v. 6-8), abandonment by friends and family (v. 11), and severe attacks, slander, and traps from enemies (v. 12). Importantly, verses 13-14 describe the psalmist's deliberate choice to remain silent, appearing deaf and mute to the taunts of his adversaries, not defending himself. Verse 15 then provides the crucial theological reason for this silent endurance: his entire hope and expectation for justice and deliverance are fixed exclusively upon the Lord. It signifies a complete surrender to God's will and reliance on His divine intervention, rather than engaging in self-vindication or seeking human solutions.

Psalm 38 15 Word analysis

• For (Hebrew: kî, כִּי): This conjunction serves to introduce a reason or explanation. It creates a causal link between the psalmist's quiet endurance and patient suffering in the preceding verses (13-14) and his unwavering trust in God. It explains why he holds his peace—because his hope is in the Lord.
• in You (Hebrew: bᵊḵā, בְּךָ֥): The preposition "in" (בְּ) emphasizes the direct object and absolute focus of his hope. It's not a general or vague hope, but specifically directed towards and resting in the very person of God. This highlights a deep, personal relationship and utter dependence.
• O Lord (Hebrew: Yahweh, יְהוָ֑ה): This is the personal, covenant name of God revealed to Israel. Its use signifies the psalmist's appeal to God's unchanging character, faithfulness to His promises, and redemptive power within His covenant relationship with His people. It points to God's active presence and care.
• I hope (Hebrew: yāḥal'tî, יָחָֽלְתִּי): From the root yāḥal, meaning "to wait, to hope, to be patient, to expect." The Hebrew tense (perfect tense) indicates a settled, established hope—a past act of placing hope that continues into the present with ongoing results. It is not a wish, but a firm and confident anticipation, an act of confident surrender and waiting. It carries the nuance of patient, persevering trust, not wavering.
• You will answer (Hebrew: tahănēnī, תַּעֲנֶ֥ה): From the root ʿānāh, meaning "to answer, respond, testify, grant, hear, pay attention." The future tense expresses absolute certainty and conviction, not merely a desire or plea. It is a confident declaration of faith that God will intervene and deliver, implying a just and timely response to his plea or predicament. The suffix `-nī` means "me," emphasizing God's personal response to the psalmist.
• O Lord my God (Hebrew: Yahweh 'ĕlōhay, יְהוָ֣ה אֱ֫לֹהָ֥י): This dual appellation further strengthens the appeal. Yahweh (the covenant name) stresses personal relationship and faithfulness. 'ĕlōhay (my God, derived from 'ĕlōhîm, God/supreme divine being) emphasizes God's supreme power, sovereignty, and rightful claim as the God. Together, it is a profound declaration of personal submission and confidence in the sovereign, covenant-keeping God. The possessive "my" reaffirms the deep personal relationship.

• Words-Group Analysis: "For in You, O Lord, I hope": This phrase encapsulates the core theological truth of the psalmist's stance. It's an affirmation that his ultimate security, patience, and silent endurance are rooted solely in his absolute reliance on Yahweh. This hope is active, deeply personal, and foundational to his ability to withstand adversity without resorting to self-help or despair. It underscores a profound relationship where God is the exclusive object of trust.
• Words-Group Analysis: "You will answer, O Lord my God": This declaration moves from personal trust to confident expectation of divine intervention. The certainty implied by "You will answer" demonstrates an unwavering faith that God, in His sovereign power and covenant faithfulness, will not fail to respond. The concluding appeal to "O Lord my God" reaffirms both God's power (as 'Elohay) and His relational commitment (as Yahweh), reinforcing the assurance of a personal, just, and decisive divine response. It transforms his silent suffering into a powerful statement of faith in ultimate vindication.

Psalm 38 15 Bonus section

This verse offers profound insight into the nature of biblical hope. It's not wishful thinking but a firm conviction rooted in God's character and covenant promises. It is active rather than passive; it informs the psalmist's actions (or non-actions) and enables his patient endurance. This absolute reliance on God foreshadows the New Testament concept of living by faith and enduring trials, knowing that Christ, who suffered silently, will ultimately vindicate His own. The contrast between human inability to resolve one's suffering and God's sovereign capability to "answer" (meaning to vindicate, deliver, or restore) is stark and central. This waiting on God also acknowledges God's perfect timing, often different from human expectations, but always leading to the best outcome.

Psalm 38 15 Commentary

Psalm 38:15 provides the interpretive key to understanding the psalmist's behavior in the midst of his profound distress. His silent endurance and refusal to retaliate are not signs of weakness or despair, but rather active expressions of a robust, covenantal hope in God. This verse reveals a fundamental spiritual truth: genuine patience and strength in suffering come not from inner fortitude alone, but from an external, unwavering trust in the Almighty. It's a testament to the believer's absolute confidence that God is just, good, and actively involved in the lives of His people, and that He will ultimately intervene and deliver. The psalmist surrenders control, trusting God’s timing and method. Practically, this calls believers to fix their gaze on the Lord amidst trials, refrain from self-vindication, and patiently await His certain, perfect answer. It teaches that our silence can be a powerful testimony of faith when our hope is truly fixed in God.