Psalm 38 9

Psalm 38:9 kjv

Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

Psalm 38:9 nkjv

Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You.

Psalm 38:9 niv

All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.

Psalm 38:9 esv

O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.

Psalm 38:9 nlt

You know what I long for, Lord;
you hear my every sigh.

Psalm 38 verses

Psalm 38 9 Meaning

Psalm 38:9 is a deeply personal lament from a distressed heart, conveying the Psalmist's complete transparency before God. It means that all the Psalmist's deepest longings, desires, and unutterable inner groanings are entirely known and seen by the Almighty. Even the unarticulated pain, the silent anguish that cannot be expressed in words, is fully present before God, concealed from Him in no way. This verse is an appeal to God's omniscience and compassion, a desperate hope that because God knows the extent of the suffering, He will intervene.

Psalm 38 9 Context

Psalm 38 is a penitential psalm, one of seven such psalms expressing confession, lament, and an appeal for mercy from God amidst great distress. The Psalmist, identified as David, is suffering profoundly from physical illness (Ps 38:3-8) that seems to be a consequence of his own sin (Ps 38:3, 18). This suffering is compounded by feelings of abandonment from friends and family, and active hostility from enemies who seek his downfall (Ps 38:11-12, 19-20). In this dire state, the Psalmist feels utterly vulnerable and without human recourse. Verse 9 is positioned after his description of physical ailments and before his despair over isolation and the maliciousness of his adversaries. It marks a shift from describing the outward symptoms of his distress to revealing the depths of his internal anguish, which is hidden from all but God. This acknowledgment of God's perfect understanding serves as the foundation for his plea for help that follows in the rest of the psalm.

Psalm 38 9 Word analysis

• O Lord (Adonai - אֲדֹנָי): This Hebrew title for God signifies "my Lord," emphasizing God's sovereignty and mastery. It conveys a personal relationship and humility in addressing the Almighty. It speaks to David's reverence and recognition of God's ultimate authority over his life and suffering.
• all my longing (kol ta'avati - כָּל תַּאֲוָתִי):
  • kol (כָּל): "all," emphasizing completeness and totality. No part of his longing is withheld or overlooked.
  • ta'avati (תַּאֲוָתִי): Derived from ta'avah (תַּאֲוָה), meaning "desire," "longing," "craving." While it can sometimes carry negative connotations of illicit lust, in this context, it refers to the deep, inner spiritual and emotional yearnings, possibly for healing, restoration, or simply for God's merciful intervention and deliverance from his distressing situation. It points to a deep, intense, inward desire.
• is before you (negdecha - נֶגְדֶּֽךָ): From neged (נֶגֶד), meaning "opposite," "in front of," "in sight of." This implies not just general awareness, but immediate, unobstructed presence and full knowledge. It communicates a radical transparency—the Psalmist’s deepest being is laid bare before God.
• my sighing (anḥati - אַנְחָתִ֑י): From anḥah (אָנְחָה), meaning "sighing," "groaning," "moaning." This term denotes an inarticulate sound of deep pain, grief, or distress, often produced involuntarily. It points to suffering so profound that words fail, and the emotion can only find expression in deep, unspoken groans. It highlights the Psalmist's utter helplessness and the overwhelming nature of his internal agony.
• is not hidden from you (lo nisterah mimmecha - לֹא נִסְתְּרָה מִמֶּֽךָּ):
  • lo (לֹא): "not."
  • nisterah (נִסְתְּרָה): From satar (סָתַר), "to hide," "conceal." The nifal form ("is hidden") makes it passive, conveying that it is impossible for it to be hidden.
  • mimmecḥa (מִמֶּֽךָּ): "from you."This double negative construction emphatically declares God’s absolute omniscience. There is nothing about the Psalmist’s innermost suffering—even the unexpressed sighs—that escapes God's complete and intimate knowledge. This statement serves as both a confession of vulnerability and a plea for divine attentiveness.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "O Lord, all my longing is before you": This phrase emphasizes the complete honesty and open confession before a sovereign and personal God. It reflects the heart's earnest desire laid bare, trusting God to see and understand the core motivations and pains that might be invisible or unintelligible to others.
  • "my sighing is not hidden from you": This directly addresses the deep, inarticulate pain. It speaks to moments where suffering is so profound words are inadequate, but even then, God understands. It brings immense comfort to realize that even one's silent, sorrowful groans are fully perceived and compassionately acknowledged by the Divine.

Psalm 38 9 Bonus section

The deep knowledge expressed in Psalm 38:9 prefigures the New Testament concept of the Holy Spirit interceding for believers with "groanings too deep for words" (Rom 8:26). This highlights that our own limited capacity to articulate our pain and longings does not hinder God's perfect understanding; rather, the Spirit acts as our divine Advocate, conveying the depths of our needs to God the Father. This verse affirms God's compassion and attentiveness to our inward suffering, serving as a pillar of comfort when our distress overwhelms our ability to verbalize. It teaches us that our lament, even in its most primitive and inarticulate form, is a valid and heard form of prayer when directed towards the living God.

Psalm 38 9 Commentary

Psalm 38:9 offers a profound spiritual insight: God knows us utterly and completely, even our unarticulated longings and deepest, unspoken sighs. In moments of extreme distress, when we may lack the words to express our suffering, or when we feel isolated and misunderstood by others, this verse reassures us that our God is intimately aware of every nuance of our internal state. David, in his anguish, found solace in the divine omniscience, trusting that this perfect knowledge would compel God to compassionate action. It's a reminder that true prayer is not merely verbal petition but the open posture of the heart before God, where even groanings beyond utterance are a language He comprehends. This truth encourages radical honesty and unwavering trust in God's ever-present understanding, assuring us that our pain is never unseen, and our silent appeals are never unheard by Him. It empowers us to bring our entire selves, vulnerabilities included, before the throne of grace.