Psalm 61 1

Psalm 61:1 kjv

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

Psalm 61:1 nkjv

To the Chief Musician. On a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.

Psalm 61:1 niv

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

Psalm 61:1 esv

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;

Psalm 61:1 nlt

O God, listen to my cry!
Hear my prayer!

Psalm 61 verses

Psalm 61 1 Meaning

Psalm 61:1 is a desperate and urgent plea from a person in deep distress, identified as King David in the superscription, addressing God for immediate attention and responsive action. The verse establishes the psalmist's profound need for divine intervention, articulating both an emotional outcry ("my cry") and a deliberate petition ("my prayer"). He calls upon God, emphasizing God's universal power and willingness to listen intently and act on behalf of those who seek Him.

Psalm 61 1 Context

Psalm 61 is a prayer of lament and trust from King David, as indicated by its superscription. The general context of the Psalm suggests David is in a desperate situation, possibly fleeing from enemies or exiled, far "from the end of the earth" (v. 2), and unable to access the sanctuary in Jerusalem. Many scholars attribute this Psalm to the period of Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-17), when David was forced to flee his throne and city. The psalm begins with an intense appeal for God's attention, setting the tone for David's reliance on God as his refuge and fortress (v. 3), and expressing a longing to dwell perpetually in God's presence and under His protection (v. 4). This opening verse is thus a foundational cry for God's unique attentiveness in a moment of profound vulnerability and spatial separation from the visible symbols of God's presence.

Psalm 61 1 Word analysis

• "Hear" (שְׁמַע - shema'): This Hebrew verb denotes not merely the physical act of hearing, but also to listen attentively, to obey, to heed, and implicitly, to respond. It suggests a comprehensive act of perception that often leads to action. For the ancient Israelites, "Shema" encapsulated their core obedience and relational response to God. In this context, David is not just asking God to register sound, but to acknowledge, consider, and act upon his distress.
• "my cry" (רִנָּתִי - rinnati): This noun comes from the root "rinnah," meaning a "ringing cry," a "shout of joy or distress," or a "song." Here, it clearly denotes a loud, passionate, and fervent outcry born of deep anguish or lament. It implies an unfiltered, raw expression of suffering that overflows beyond mere words, appealing to God's compassion. It emphasizes the desperation and emotional intensity of the psalmist's situation.
• "O God" (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): This is one of the most common Hebrew names for God, a plural noun treated with singular verbs when referring to the one true God. It emphasizes God's majesty, power, transcendence, and His role as the Creator and sovereign ruler over all things. By using "Elohim," David addresses the Almighty God, emphasizing His universal power and ability to intervene in any circumstance, even when the psalmist feels geographically isolated or utterly powerless.
• "attend to" (הַקְשִׁיבָה - haqshivah): This verb means to "give heed," "pay close attention," or "incline the ear." It implies a more active, deliberate, and intense listening than "shema." It speaks of God not just being aware of the sound, but focusing His divine will and presence entirely on the plea. It suggests an engaged, caring, and responsive disposition. The psalmist wants God's focused and undivided attention.
• "my prayer" (תְּפִלָּתִי - tefillati): This noun refers to a general "prayer" or "supplication." While "my cry" conveys emotional distress, "my prayer" suggests a more composed, articulate, or traditional form of address to God. It indicates a conscious act of seeking divine communication, possibly repeated and structured. It's the act of communication, a deliberate turning towards God for assistance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Hear my cry": This urgent opening captures the raw, spontaneous, and desperate nature of the psalmist's distress. It is an immediate outburst of overwhelming need, indicating that the psalmist's suffering is so profound it moves beyond quiet reflection to an open, heartfelt lament. It is a primal appeal to God's responsiveness to suffering.
• "O God; attend to my prayer": The second part intensifies the first through poetic parallelism and expansion. While "cry" speaks of emotion, "prayer" speaks of articulated petition. "Hear" broadens to "attend to," signifying a request for more than just acknowledgment but for an engaged and active consideration of his petition. By calling upon "Elohim," David addresses God's omnipotent nature, seeking not just comfort but deliverance that only the supreme sovereign can provide. The dual nature of the request, combining emotional cries with considered prayer, showcases a comprehensive appeal for God’s full attention and intervention.

Psalm 61 1 Bonus section

• The repetitive structure of "Hear my cry... attend to my prayer" is a common feature in biblical poetry, known as synonymous parallelism. It emphasizes and intensifies the core message: David desperately needs God's undivided and responsive attention. It shows his insistence and persistent hope.
• Theologically, this verse establishes a fundamental tenet of Judeo-Christian faith: God is not a distant, impassive deity but a personal, interactive God who actively listens and responds to the pleas of His people. This concept stands in stark contrast to the pagan deities of the ancient world, who were often depicted as silent, localized, or capricious.
• The verse encapsulates the journey from spontaneous emotional outpouring (the "cry") to more structured, hopeful supplication (the "prayer"), showing that both forms of communication are valid and heard by God. This provides comfort and instruction for believers to bring all facets of their spiritual and emotional states to the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 61 1 Commentary

Psalm 61:1 lays bare the soul of a believer in extreme duress. King David, feeling geographically or spiritually distant and threatened, opens his appeal not with elaborate theological discourse, but with a visceral cry for divine attention. He makes a twofold appeal: first, for God to hear his raw, emotional cry (rinnah), signifying his acute distress and desperation. Second, he asks God to attend to (qashab) his more formal prayer (tefillah), which suggests a conscious and sustained petition. The shift from "hear" to "attend" marks an intensification, desiring not just recognition but deep, intentional engagement. Addressing God as Elohim (the mighty God) reinforces the psalmist's trust in a deity powerful enough to respond and intervene effectively, despite his current desperate state. This verse teaches that God welcomes both our rawest anguish and our deliberate supplications, eager to respond to our whole being in our times of need. It invites believers to approach God authentically and directly with all their fears and hopes, trusting in His compassionate attentiveness.