Psalm 69 17

Psalm 69:17 kjv

And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

Psalm 69:17 nkjv

And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in trouble; Hear me speedily.

Psalm 69:17 niv

Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.

Psalm 69:17 esv

Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.

Psalm 69:17 nlt

Don't hide from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble!

Psalm 69 verses

Psalm 69 17 Meaning

Psalm 69:17 is a desperate plea from the psalmist, overwhelmed by affliction, urging God not to withdraw His presence or favor. It is an earnest prayer for immediate divine intervention and swift responsiveness in a time of profound distress, seeking the restoration of God's manifest presence and help.

Psalm 69 17 Context

Psalm 69 is a profound lament expressing extreme distress, humiliation, and intense persecution. Often attributed to David, it is a Messianic psalm, with many of its verses being directly quoted or alluded to in the New Testament concerning Jesus' suffering. The psalmist, identifying as one consumed by zeal for God's house, finds himself metaphorically "drowning" in overwhelming trouble, despised by those in authority, mocked, and isolated, even feeling forsaken by his family. He has endured reproaches and insults on account of his devotion to God. In this harrowing context, verse 17 marks a desperate, urgent turn towards God, pleading for His active presence and swift intervention, perceiving God's hidden face as an additional layer of torment that must be removed for relief to come. Historically, a ruler turning away their face symbolized rejection or refusal of favor, and the psalmist urgently desires the opposite from his divine Sovereign.

Psalm 69 17 Word analysis

• וְאַל־תַּסְתֵּר (ve'al-taster): "And do not hide." From the Hebrew root סָתַר (satar), meaning "to hide, conceal." The use of "al" with the imperfect tense forms a strong, urgent negative command or prohibition. It conveys a pleading request for God not to engage in an action (hiding His face) that the psalmist perceives as exacerbating his suffering. This points to the psalmist's understanding that God's hiddenness is a deliberate act or withholding of His active presence.
• פָּנֶיךָ (paneykha): "Your face." Panim (face) is a key biblical anthropomorphism representing God's active presence, favor, approval, and direct benevolent engagement. When God "hides His face" (הַסְתֵּר פָּנִים - haster panim), it is a metaphor for His apparent absence, displeasure, withdrawal of help, or refusal to acknowledge and respond to His people. The psalmist desperately desires the manifestation of God's favor and intervention.
• מֵעַבְדֶּךָ (me'avdekha): "from Your servant." The term 'evved' (servant) signifies humility, devoted obedience, and a relationship of covenantal loyalty and belonging. By calling himself God's servant, the psalmist appeals to God's responsibility to protect and care for those who serve Him, reminding God of their established bond. It underscores his total dependence on God and his identity as one committed to God, making God's apparent withdrawal even more poignant.
• כִּי־צַר־לִי (ki-tzar-li): "for I am in distress." Ki means "for" or "because," providing the rationale for the plea. Tzar-li comes from the root צָרַר (tzarar), meaning "to be narrow, confined, hemmed in, distressed, pressed." This vividly expresses an overwhelming sense of constriction and desperation, feeling trapped with no way out. This deep internal and external affliction necessitates God's immediate response.
• מַהֵר (maher): "quickly," "hasten." From the root מָהַר (mahar), "to hasten, hurry." This adverb conveys the profound urgency of the psalmist's need. It implies that the situation is critical, time-sensitive, and cannot bear delay. The distress is so great that an immediate divine answer is deemed essential for survival or relief.
• עֲנֵנִי (aneneni): "answer me." From the root עָנָה (anah), which means "to answer, respond, reply," but also "to afflict" or "to humiliate." In this context, it clearly means to respond positively, to intervene effectively, and to provide the needed deliverance or help. The suffix '-ni' means "me," directly implicating the psalmist in his cry for God's direct and personal action.

• Words-group analysis:
  • "do not hide Your face from Your servant": This plea is fundamental to a deep, personal relationship with God. It expresses the agony of perceived divine abandonment or silence, longing for God's favorable and active presence, emphasizing the covenant relationship implied by "Your servant."
  • "for I am in distress": This phrase serves as the core justification and urgent plea. The "distress" is not mere discomfort but an encompassing state of extreme difficulty and pressure, necessitating swift, divine relief from this unbearable confinement.
  • "answer me quickly": This forceful and direct command encapsulates the psalmist's profound desperation and unwavering belief that God can and will respond, but it must be immediate due to the severity of his plight. It combines faith with urgent human need.

Psalm 69 17 Bonus section

• Messianic Fulfillment and Deeper Meaning: Psalm 69, including this verse, carries strong Messianic overtones. The cry of the psalmist for God not to hide His face resonates with Jesus' agony on the cross, particularly His cry "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Ps 22:1; Matt 27:46). Although not a direct quote, Jesus experienced the ultimate distress and the Father's face seemed hidden as He bore the sin of the world. Yet, as with the psalmist who trusts God for vindication, the Father ultimately did not hide His face from Christ, but powerfully raised Him from the dead, vindicating Him as the perfect "Servant." This shows how ultimate suffering is met with ultimate divine response.
• Contrasting with Contemporary Beliefs: The psalmist's persistent and personal appeal to Yahweh, based on a deep covenant relationship and trust that He hears and responds, contrasts sharply with the polytheistic and often transactional beliefs of surrounding pagan cultures. Pagan gods were often perceived as capricious, distant, or indifferent, whose favor had to be earned through rituals and sacrifices without assurance of a personal relationship or timely, empathetic response to genuine distress. This verse asserts the uniqueness of Israel's God, who listens and acts on behalf of His servants.

Psalm 69 17 Commentary

Psalm 69:17 is a raw expression of human desperation reaching out to divine compassion. The psalmist, burdened by profound affliction, perceives God's "hidden face" as an unbearable compounding of his suffering. This prayer is not just for an intellectual understanding but for the tangible, benevolent presence of God that alleviates distress. By identifying as God's "servant," he appeals to their established relationship and God's covenantal faithfulness. The severity of his "distress" necessitates an immediate divine "answer," emphasizing his conviction that only God's swift intervention can bring relief. This verse highlights the honesty and fervor acceptable in prayer, urging believers to pour out their entire hearts to God in their direst moments, trusting in His responsiveness despite present appearances.