Psalm 5 3

Psalm 5:3 kjv

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 5:3 nkjv

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.

Psalm 5:3 niv

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Psalm 5:3 esv

O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Psalm 5:3 nlt

Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Psalm 5 verses

Psalm 5 3 Meaning

Psalm 5:3 describes the psalmist's dedicated practice of seeking the Lord early in the day. It expresses confidence that God hears their specific plea. The verse emphasizes an active and disciplined approach to prayer, involving both preparing one's thoughts and earnestly waiting for God's response and guidance, rather than a mere casual utterance.

Psalm 5 3 Context

Psalm 5 is a morning prayer of King David, likely composed during a period of distress or false accusation, as suggested by verses addressing the wicked and those who plot against him. It's a prayer for protection and guidance in the face of adversaries who engage in deceit and violence. The verse stands within David's larger pattern of consistent communication with God, affirming his reliance on God's just nature, especially at the dawn of a new day. In the ancient Near East, mornings were often associated with new beginnings, judgment, or the dispatch of justice. For the original audience, particularly under Mosaic covenant, approaching God required reverence and order. This verse serves as a declaration of David's commitment to ordered worship, contrasting it with the chaotic and ungodly practices of his enemies and potentially polemicizing against pagan rituals or informal supplications where deities were invoked without true reverence or personal commitment.

Psalm 5 3 Word analysis

• יְהוָ֣ה (YHVH / Lord): This is the Tetragrammaton, the personal, covenantal name of God. It signifies God's self-existence ("I Am Who I Am" - Ex 3:14) and His eternal, unchanging nature. Using "YHVH" instead of a generic title like ʾĔlōhîm (God) implies a deep, relational intimacy and trust in God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. It indicates that David is not addressing a general deity but the specific God of Israel who has revealed Himself.
• בֹּ֭קֶר (bōʹqer / in the morning): The Hebrew word literally means "morning." Its repetition emphasizes the deliberate choice to seek God at the start of the day. In the biblical worldview, morning often symbolizes a new beginning, light, revelation, and the optimal time for clear communication and direction. It implies disciplined seeking, prior to the day's distractions, setting the spiritual tone for what lies ahead.
• תִּשְׁמַ֣ע (tišmaʿ / you hear): This is a verb in the imperfect tense, indicating ongoing action or expectation. It doesn't just mean "hear" audibly but also to "attend to," "heed," or "answer." It signifies God's active listening and responsive nature, implying a willingness to act on what is heard. It speaks to God's omnipresence and attentiveness to His people's cries.
• קוֹלִ֑י (qôlî / my voice): Qôl means "voice" or "sound." "My voice" personalizes the communication. It refers to a distinct, articulate expression of the heart, not just silent thoughts. It suggests David is verbally uttering his petition, giving it form and specific content.
• אֶֽעֱרָךְ־לְךָ֥ (ʾeʿerōḵ ləḵā / I prepare a prayer for you / I order for you): The verb ʿāraḵ means "to arrange," "to set in order," "to prepare," or "to set out." It implies careful thought and intention, not spontaneous or haphazard words. David is structuring his plea, much like an offering or an argument presented formally. This suggests diligence, purposefulness, and a respect for God worthy of a well-considered address. It speaks against a flippant or impulsive approach to God.
• וַֽאֲצַפֶּֽה׃ (wāʾaṣappeh / and watch / and wait expectantly): The verb ṣāphāh means "to look out," "to watch," "to wait for," or "to observe with expectation." It goes beyond simply uttering words; it signifies an attitude of active anticipation for God's response or direction. It’s a posture of alertness and dependence, believing that God will indeed answer and reveal Himself or His will. This waiting is not passive but infused with hope and readiness to receive.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "O Lord, in the morning... in the morning": The emphatic repetition of "in the morning" highlights intentionality and a commitment to seeking God before anything else dominates the day. It is a prioritization of the divine relationship.
• "you hear my voice; I prepare a prayer for you": This shows a sequence. The psalmist trusts God's immediate attentiveness, which motivates the psalmist to diligently compose his prayer. It signifies a dialogical relationship, not a monologue. It suggests confidence in being heard, prompting structured supplication.
• "I prepare a prayer for you and watch": This phrase encapsulates active and expectant faith. It combines deliberate action (preparation) with an posture of waiting. It teaches that true prayer involves not only speaking but also listening and observing for God's leading, revelation, or intervention.

Psalm 5 3 Bonus section

The emphasis on "morning" in Psalm 5:3 carries theological weight beyond mere timing. In biblical eschatology, "morning" can symbolize the dawn of salvation, divine judgment, or God's vindication (e.g., Psa 30:5, Isa 17:14). David's morning prayer, therefore, might also carry an underlying hope for the "morning" of divine justice against his adversaries, a common theme in the Psalms. Furthermore, the act of "preparing" and "watching" implies an understanding of the divine order. It suggests that while prayer is conversational, it's also a presentation to a divine Judge or King, where one waits for a verdict or decree. This structured approach to prayer aligns with the tabernacle and temple services, where priests meticulously "prepared" offerings and observed the divine response. Thus, David's individual prayer echoes a liturgical precision, bringing his personal devotion into alignment with the communal reverence due to God.

Psalm 5 3 Commentary

Psalm 5:3 is a foundational declaration of how the faithful should approach God: consistently, deliberately, and expectantly. David's practice of engaging God at "morning" (בֹּ֭קֶר - bōʹqer) is a disciplined spiritual habit, setting the tone for the day. This isn't a casual wake-up call but a strategic engagement, anticipating God's presence and direction before daily events unfold. The phrase "you hear my voice" (תִּשְׁמַ֣ע קוֹלִ֑י - tišmaʿ qôlî) reflects a profound confidence in God's attentive nature and His personal engagement with His children, not merely a distant acknowledgement but an active listening leading to response. "I prepare a prayer for you" (אֶֽעֱרָךְ־לְךָ֥ - ʾeʿerōḵ ləḵā) implies careful thought and a deliberate arrangement of one's requests, indicating respect and earnestness rather than hurried, shallow words. It contrasts with pagan prayers that were often ritualistic recitations. Finally, "and watch" (וַֽאֲצַפֶּֽה׃ - wāʾaṣappeh) is not passive waiting but active observation, looking for God's answer or His unfolding plan, demonstrating a living expectation of His intervention. It's a posture of faith, combining petition with confident anticipation. This verse underscores that vital prayer is intentional, articulate, and anchored in hopeful expectation of God's response, setting the precedent for daily reliance on Him.

Examples:

• Rising early to read the Scripture and pray before daily tasks begin.
• Taking time to write out specific prayer requests, ordering thoughts.
• After praying for guidance, consciously looking for signs, open doors, or confirmations throughout the day.