Psalm 55 1

Psalm 55:1 kjv

Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

Psalm 55:1 nkjv

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

Psalm 55:1 niv

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;

Psalm 55:1 esv

Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!

Psalm 55:1 nlt

Listen to my prayer, O God.
Do not ignore my cry for help!

Psalm 55 verses

Psalm 55 1 Meaning

Psalm 55:1 is a desperate and immediate plea to God for attentive listening and active presence. The Psalmist, in profound distress, cries out to the Almighty, urging Him to lean in and hear his specific prayer, while simultaneously begging Him not to ignore or withdraw from his fervent supplication for mercy and help. It articulates the deep anguish of a soul that feels abandoned or overlooked and yearns for tangible divine engagement.

Psalm 55 1 Context

Psalm 55 is a passionate lament attributed to David, expressing profound anguish, primarily due to the betrayal of a trusted friend. This individual, who was once close to the Psalmist and shared intimacy and counsel, has now turned against him, aligning with his enemies. This deep personal betrayal intensifies the feeling of distress. Historically, many commentators link this Psalm to the period of Absalom's rebellion, where David faced treachery from his trusted counselor, Ahithophel. The Psalmist wishes for wings to flee the tumult and deceit (Psa 55:6-8), highlights the wickedness in the city (Psa 55:9-11), and vividly describes the pain of betrayal by a former equal (Psa 55:12-14). Therefore, verse 1 initiates a fervent appeal to God in a context of overwhelming fear, oppression, and heartfelt betrayal, signifying the only avenue of escape and hope for the afflicted soul.

Psalm 55 1 Word analysis

• "Give ear" (Hebrew: הַאֲזִינָה, ha'azina): This is a strong imperative form of the verb 'azán, meaning to listen, attend, or give ear. It's not a casual request to simply "hear" (שָׁמַע, shama‘), but an urgent plea for profound and careful attention, as if asking God to "lean in" and give full concentration to what is being said. It signifies a desire for God's active, empathetic, and responsive listening, indicating a situation where the Psalmist feels unheard or ignored. It resonates with the concept of God paying heed to human suffering, a central theme in many laments.

• "to my prayer" (Hebrew: תְּפִלָּתִי, tefillati): This refers to a specific, deliberate act of supplication or petition. It denotes a structured or formalized address to God, contrasting with spontaneous cries. The suffix "-i" indicates "my," making it a deeply personal plea. It highlights that the Psalmist has meticulously articulated his distress and hopes for divine intervention.

• "O God" (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): A general and common name for God in the Old Testament, emphasizing His role as the sovereign, mighty Creator and Judge of the universe. It denotes God in His character of absolute power and deity. Using this name invokes God's inherent capacity to act authoritatively and justly, the very power the Psalmist needs to intervene in his dire situation.

• "do not hide yourself" (Hebrew: אַל תִּתְעַלַּם, 'al tit'allam): This is a strong negative imperative, "do not make yourself inaccessible," "do not turn a blind eye," or "do not disregard." The root implies becoming veiled or turning away. It reveals the Psalmist's fear of divine abandonment or indifference, which often accompanies profound suffering. It's a cry against God's perceived absence or inaction, fearing that God might simply choose not to notice or acknowledge his plea. This fear of God's hiddenness is a common element in biblical lament.

• "from my supplication" (Hebrew: מִתְחִנָּתִי, mitḥināti): Derived from the root "חָנַן" (hanan), meaning "to show favor, be gracious." "Supplication" therefore is a plea for grace, favor, or mercy. It goes beyond general prayer, implying a humble, earnest, and often desperate request for compassion, recognizing the Psalmist's state of need and reliance on God's unmerited favor rather than his own merit. It implies that the prayer comes from a position of distress, earnestly seeking divine pity and intervention.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Give ear to my prayer, O God": This phrase combines a humble but urgent directive to God ("Give ear") with the personal nature of the address ("my prayer"). It emphasizes that the prayer is deliberate and seeking full, attentive reception from the all-powerful "O God," acknowledging Him as the sole source of aid.
  • "do not hide yourself from my supplication!": This second part functions as a vital counterbalance and intensification of the first. After asking for attentive listening, the Psalmist pleads for God's visible presence and non-indifference. The fear of God hiding His face represents a deep dread of spiritual abandonment. "My supplication" specifies the intense, grace-seeking nature of his desperate plea, making the act of hiding even more unbearable in his distress. Together, these two parallel requests underscore a desperate yearning for active divine engagement in the face of profound adversity.

Psalm 55 1 Bonus section

The structure of Psalm 55:1 mirrors typical features of Hebrew lament psalms: an initial appeal to God followed by the specific content of the complaint or petition. This opening serves to grab God's attention and state the primary need. The dual nature of the request—asking God to "give ear" and "not hide"—is a profound reflection of the human need for both cognitive and relational reassurance from the Divine. "Give ear" seeks God's intellectual apprehension of the prayer's content, while "not hide" seeks His emotional and practical engagement, His visible, active presence. The verse uses the simple, yet potent, "O God" (Elohim), a general term for the Almighty, reinforcing the Psalmist's reliance on the absolute power of God, perhaps indicating the breadth of his perceived threat.

Psalm 55 1 Commentary

Psalm 55:1 encapsulates the raw vulnerability of a believer crying out to God in profound anguish. It reflects a universal human experience of feeling overwhelmed and forsaken, yet still clinging to the hope of divine intervention. David, often called the man after God's own heart, does not sugarcoat his emotions or spiritual state. He boldly asks God not just to hear his words, but to actively "give ear," implying a desire for deep empathy and understanding from his Heavenly Father. The simultaneous plea, "do not hide yourself from my supplication," articulates the terror of perceived divine silence or withdrawal. In moments of extreme distress, God's perceived absence can be more crushing than the tribulation itself. The verse is a foundational lament, affirming that even when human support fails, and despair looms, believers are called to bring their brokenness and desperate pleas directly before God, trusting in His merciful nature even when His presence feels distant. This psalm, and particularly its opening, offers permission for the distressed soul to voice its deepest fears and uncertainties while maintaining an anchor of hope in God's capacity and willingness to respond. It highlights the direct, personal, and urgent nature of prayer in times of extreme personal crisis.