Psalm 38 21

Psalm 38:21 kjv

Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

Psalm 38:21 nkjv

Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me!

Psalm 38:21 niv

LORD, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.

Psalm 38:21 esv

Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me!

Psalm 38:21 nlt

Do not abandon me, O LORD.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.

Psalm 38 verses

Psalm 38 21 Meaning

Psalm 38:21 is a fervent, twofold plea from a suffering individual to God. It expresses an intense desire for God's unfailing presence and immediate assistance, urging Him not to withdraw His support or remain distant, especially in times of profound distress, illness, and opposition from adversaries. It signifies the psalmist's complete reliance on divine proximity for solace and salvation.

Psalm 38 21 Context

Psalm 38 is one of the seven "penitential psalms," a fervent lament expressing deep personal suffering due to physical illness, social ostracization, and the malicious intent of enemies. David, the psalmist, perceives his affliction as a direct consequence of his sin, leading to severe physical decay and inner anguish. Throughout the psalm, he describes his distress: his wounds festering (v. 5), his friends avoiding him (v. 11), and his enemies rejoicing in his downfall while plotting his destruction (vv. 12, 19-20). He has no strength or support from man.

Verse 21 emerges at the end of the psalm as a desperate, culminating plea for divine intervention. Having openly confessed his iniquity (v. 18) and acknowledged the unjust hostility of those who seek to harm him (v. 20), David turns entirely to God. This verse represents his absolute dependency on God's immediate and tangible presence when all other help has failed and he feels on the verge of total collapse and abandonment. It's a prayer born out of extreme vulnerability, clinging to the hope of God's faithful engagement.

Psalm 38 21 Word analysis

• "Do not forsake me," (אַל-תַּעַזְבֵנִי, al-ta'az'veni):

  • אַל (al): A strong prohibitive particle, meaning "do not" or "lest." It conveys an earnest, desperate entreaty against a feared outcome.
  • תַּעַזְבֵנִי (ta'az'veni): From the Hebrew verb עָזַב ('azav), meaning "to abandon, leave, desert, neglect." The ending -ֵנִי signifies "me." This word implies not merely a passive absence, but an active or intentional withdrawal of support or presence. In a covenant context, it refers to God upholding or withdrawing His faithfulness, or people abandoning His ways. David is appealing to God’s covenantal nature, recognizing that to be forsaken by God is to face utter ruin without divine succor.

• "O LORD;" (יְהוָה, YHWH):

  • This is the sacred, personal covenantal name of God, often transliterated as Yahweh and traditionally rendered "the LORD" (Adonai) in English translations. Invoking YHWH appeals to God's immutable character as the ever-present, self-existent God who made and upholds His covenant with His people. It highlights an appeal to His unchanging faithfulness and promises, emphasizing His unique relationship with Israel and with David personally.

• "O my God," (אֱלֹהַי, Elohai):

  • אֱלֹהַי is the Hebrew אֱלֹהִים (Elohim, meaning God as the mighty Creator, Judge, and Sovereign of all) with the first-person singular possessive suffix (-ַי, "my"). This emphasizes a deeply personal, intimate relationship, where the supplicant claims God as his own. Combined with YHWH, it signifies appealing to both God's universal power and His personal covenant relationship.

• "be not far from me!" (אַל-תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי, al-tirḥaq mimmenni):

  • אַל (al): Repeated, intensifying the urgency of the plea.
  • תִּרְחַק (tirḥaq): From the verb רָחַק (raḥaq), "to be distant, far off." This expresses a yearning for God's active, manifested proximity. God being "far" implies His perceived non-intervention or absence, leaving the psalmist exposed.
  • מִמֶּנִּי (mimmenni): "from me," specifying the direct object of God's presence.

• Words-group analysis: "Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me!"

  • This phrase exhibits masterful Hebrew poetic parallelism. The second clause, "O my God, be not far from me!" largely reiterates and intensifies the first, "Do not forsake me, O LORD." "Forsake" emphasizes the active abandonment or withdrawal, while "be not far" focuses on the desired continuous, active presence.
  • The use of both "O LORD" (YHWH, the covenant-keeping God) and "O my God" (Elohim, the sovereign God, claimed personally) indicates a profound appeal to God's full character: His covenant faithfulness, personal commitment, and omnipotent power. The dual address underscores the extreme distress and the absolute desperation for God's intervention, making the plea incredibly rich and poignant. It is not just for God's non-abandonment, but for His immediate, saving proximity.

Psalm 38 21 Bonus section

• Polemical Significance: The psalmist's desperate and intimate appeal to YHWH, the personal and covenantal God of Israel, inherently stands in stark contrast to the distant or indifferent deities worshipped by surrounding cultures. Pagan gods were often perceived as demanding appeasement and might arbitrarily abandon their followers; Israel's God, by contrast, had established a personal covenant, promising never to forsake His people. David's prayer relies on and reaffirms this unique aspect of God's character, indirectly countering any notion of a passive or unconcerned divine being.
• Messianic Connection: While a human cry of lament, the thematic resonance of "forsakenness" (the fear of being abandoned) strikingly foreshadows Christ's cry on the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Ps 22:1; Mt 27:46). Although Psalm 38:21 is a prayer not to be forsaken, it delves into the profound terror of divine abandonment. Christ's experience, in bearing the full weight of humanity's sin which truly separated Him from the Father's face, brings to full reality the ultimate dread that Psalm 38:21 expresses, demonstrating God's ultimate solution to mankind's spiritual separation.
• Theological Principle (God's Immanence): This verse powerfully asserts the concept of God's immanence—His active presence and engagement in the world and in the lives of His creation, particularly His people. The intensity of David's plea underscores that God's proximity is not merely a comforting thought, but a fundamental necessity for survival, strength, and deliverance from existential threats. It challenges any deistic perspective where God creates and then remains aloof, emphasizing His vital and personal involvement.

Psalm 38 21 Commentary

Psalm 38:21 is the heart-cry of a person brought to the brink, mirroring the depths of human vulnerability and profound reliance on God. Having traversed a journey of intense suffering—marked by debilitating illness, the shunning of former companions, and the venomous plotting of enemies—David now strips away all pretense of self-sufficiency. This verse is not a theological doubt in God's faithfulness but a fervent, practical plea for the experience of His presence in his overwhelming anguish. The repetition of the negative אַל ("do not") emphasizes the absolute urgency and intensity of the petition against divine withdrawal. By invoking YHWH and claiming Him as "my God," the psalmist appeals simultaneously to God's unchanging, covenantal reliability and His personal relationship with David. The plea is for God's manifest action; to be "far" is synonymous with inactivity or absence of help, whereas His presence guarantees comfort, strength, and ultimate deliverance from enemies and despair. It teaches that when life's burdens are crushing and human aid vanishes, believers are called to cling desperately to the truth of God's nearness, seeking His manifest presence as their ultimate refuge and hope.

• Examples for practical usage:
  • When experiencing loneliness or isolation, voice David's prayer to remind yourself of God's desired closeness.
  • In moments of deep physical or emotional pain, pour out your heart, requesting that God not remain distant from your suffering.
  • When faced with overwhelming spiritual opposition, appeal to God's personal covenant name, asking Him not to "forsake" you, but to actively draw near with power.