Psalm 40 1

Psalm 40:1 kjv

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1 nkjv

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1 niv

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1 esv

I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1 nlt

I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40 verses

Psalm 40 1 Meaning

Psalm 40:1 communicates a foundational truth of faith: the psalmist's resolute and persistent waiting upon the Lord culminated in God's attentive and responsive intervention. It describes an intensely active expectation and a subsequent divine act of leaning down and heeding a plea for help. This verse highlights both human endurance in faith and divine faithfulness in hearing and acting.

Psalm 40 1 Context

Psalm 40 stands as a profound "mixed psalm," transitioning from a psalm of thanksgiving (v. 1-10) for a past deliverance to a psalm of lament and petition (v. 11-17) for current distress. Verse 1 serves as the foundational declaration of God's past faithfulness, setting the stage for the psalmist's present plea and trust. Historically, while ascribed to David, the psalm speaks to the universal human experience of affliction and the need for divine intervention. It captures the essence of a personal testimony of God's salvific work, emphasizing a commitment to true obedience (as highlighted in verses 6-8, a central theme echoed in the New Testament's understanding of Christ's sacrifice) over ritualistic offerings, thereby indirectly contrasting genuine devotion with mere external practice.

Psalm 40 1 Word analysis

• "I waited patiently":

  • Original Hebrew: קַוֺּה קִוִּיתִי (qavvoh qivviti)
  • This is an infinitive absolute followed by a finite verb, a common Hebrew idiom for emphatic action. It means "I truly waited," "I earnestly waited," or "I waited and kept on waiting." It denotes persistent, active expectation and unwavering hope, not a passive or resigned waiting.
  • The root qavah (קָוָה) often means "to hope," "to look eagerly," or "to bind together" like twisting cords, suggesting resilience and tenacity in anticipation.

• "for the Lord":

  • Hebrew: לַֽיהוָה (la-YHWH)
  • The use of YHWH, the covenant name of God, signifies a personal, relational connection and trust in God's faithfulness and power as the unchanging, self-existent One who keeps His promises. The psalmist waits for the ultimate, personal sovereign God, not merely for a circumstance to change.

• "he inclined":

  • Hebrew: וַיֵּט (va-yet) from the root natah (נָטָה)
  • This word depicts a literal bending or leaning. Here, it implies God bending down from His exalted position, leaning His ear towards the psalmist. It conveys intimate, compassionate, and attentive engagement, demonstrating God's condescension to human plight. It's an active, personal movement of God towards the one calling.

• "to me":

  • Hebrew: אֵלַי (elay)
  • This simple preposition emphasizes the personal nature of God's response. The psalmist feels singularly heard and attended to.

• "and heard":

  • Hebrew: וַיִּשְׁמַע (vayyishma) from the root shama (שָׁמַע)
  • Shama means not only to perceive sound but also to listen, understand, and most importantly, to heed and respond. In this context, hearing implies action and intervention following the supplication.

• "my cry":

  • Hebrew: שַׁוְעָתִי (shavati)
  • Refers to a call for help, a loud shout, often uttered in distress, deep trouble, or from a state of being oppressed or overwhelmed. It's a desperate, earnest plea.

• Phrase analysis: "I waited patiently for the Lord": This phrase encapsulates a profound spiritual discipline. It is a posture of faith that understands divine timing and sovereignty, refusing to abandon hope even in prolonged periods of difficulty. It is a waiting on the Lord, not just for a solution, signifying sustained reliance on His person.

• Phrase analysis: "he inclined to me and heard my cry": This highlights God's reciprocal action. The intimate nature of "inclined to me" portrays a personal, compassionate God who draws near to the distressed. His "hearing" is not passive but active, indicating a reception of the plea and a subsequent readiness to intervene. This phrase assures believers that persistent prayer from a heart of trust does not go unheard by God.

Psalm 40 1 Bonus section

• The structure of Psalm 40 as a mixed psalm showcases how past experiences of God's deliverance (v. 1-5) fuel faith and courage for present and future trials (v. 11-17). The initial statement of God's past action becomes the basis for continuing to trust Him.
• The profound connection between the initial experience of "waiting patiently" and the later emphasis on obedience in sacrifice (v. 6-8) suggests that true waiting fosters a heart submitted to God's will. Christ Himself perfectly exemplified this "patient waiting" and ultimately expressed the obedient will of God in His perfect sacrifice (Heb 10:5-7). His Gethsemane experience (Lk 22:42) embodies waiting and crying out in extreme distress, perfectly heard by the Father.
• The act of God inclining His ear or hearing a cry is a recurring anthropomorphism in Scripture, vividly portraying God's closeness and engagement with humanity, often contrasted with the silent, deaf idols of pagan worship.

Psalm 40 1 Commentary

Psalm 40:1 sets forth a timeless pattern of divine interaction: faithful human persistence met by God's personal and effective response. The psalmist's "patient waiting" is not idleness but a focused, tenacious hope in Yahweh, the covenant God who is faithful. This active waiting is born of deep trust and involves continuously directing one's expectation towards God alone, regardless of the perceived delay or the intensity of distress. The emphatic Hebrew conveys the absolute certainty and long duration of this waiting. In turn, God's act of "inclining" signifies His compassionate attentiveness, personally bending down to the psalmist's level, thereby bridging the infinite gap between Creator and creature. His "hearing" is not merely auditory perception but the active reception of the desperate plea, leading directly to the deliverance described in subsequent verses of the psalm. This verse serves as an enduring testament to the efficacy of persevering faith in God, demonstrating that true spiritual struggle is recognized and met by a gracious and responsive Father.For instance, when a believer faces a prolonged health struggle, the temptation is to despair or give up praying. Psalm 40:1 encourages them to emulate the psalmist's active, patient waiting, confident that their earnest cries will ultimately be met by God's attentive care, even if His answer unfolds in unexpected ways or timing. Similarly, when enduring injustice, one can patiently wait for God to incline His ear and hear their cry for righteousness, rather than immediately seeking personal vengeance.