Psalm 69 3

Psalm 69:3 kjv

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Psalm 69:3 nkjv

I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Psalm 69:3 niv

I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

Psalm 69:3 esv

I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

Psalm 69:3 nlt

I am exhausted from crying for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes are swollen with weeping,
waiting for my God to help me.

Psalm 69 verses

Psalm 69 3 Meaning

Psalm 69:3 vividly portrays a state of profound physical and emotional exhaustion brought about by prolonged and intense crying out to God in prayer and distress. The psalmist describes being utterly weary and spent, with a throat dried and shrunken from constant supplication, and eyes failing or dimming from the strain of ceaselessly watching and waiting for divine intervention. Despite this overwhelming depletion, the verse powerfully concludes with the unwavering focus of this desperate hope still fixed firmly on "my God."

Psalm 69 3 Context

Psalm 69 is a deeply personal lament, attributed to David in its superscription. It belongs to a category of psalms where the speaker, the righteous sufferer, appeals to God for deliverance from enemies and intense persecution. The psalmist feels like he is drowning in a deluge of troubles (Ps 69:1-2), a common metaphor for overwhelming distress. The specific nature of the opposition includes false accusations and being hated without cause (Ps 69:4).

This particular verse, Psalm 69:3, occurs early in the psalm, setting the tone for the depth of the psalmist's suffering and his long-standing plea to God. The physical exhaustion described—weariness, parched throat, failing eyes—is a direct result of the relentless intensity and duration of his cries for help, demonstrating his desperation and commitment to seeking God’s intervention. Throughout the psalm, there's a strong emphasis on the psalmist's personal relationship with God, even amidst rejection and reproach. Significantly, Psalm 69 is extensively quoted in the New Testament concerning Jesus' suffering and ministry (e.g., His zeal for the house, His being hated without cause, His thirst on the cross, the bitter drink, and the judgment upon His betrayers), making it one of the key Messianic psalms.

Psalm 69 3 Word analysis

• I am weary (Hebrew: yāgaʿtî - יָגַעְתִּי): From the root yāgaʿ, meaning to toil, labor, be exhausted, grow weary. This signifies a profound physical and spiritual exhaustion, not from physical labor alone, but from the immense exertion of intense, prolonged crying out and supplication. It speaks to a deep, debilitating fatigue that penetrates the very core of being.
• with my crying (Hebrew: bəqārəʾî - בְּקָרְאִי): This uses the root qārāʾ, meaning to call, cry out, appeal. The prefix bə- means "by means of" or "from." So, the weariness is a direct result of the continuous, fervent, desperate vocalization of distress and prayer. It suggests sustained, loud, and intense prayer, like a shout for help that goes on without ceasing.
• my throat is parched (Hebrew: nissōḵ gārôni - נִקְקָה גָרוֹנִי in most textual traditions, though nissōḵ from some others related to "swallowed"). Most commonly from naqaq, to be dried up, shriveled, withered. This signifies a severe physical symptom of dehydration and exhaustion, literally dry and constricted, making it difficult to continue crying out. This drying is a tangible representation of the spiritual and emotional desolation from pouring out one's soul without immediate relief. It often implies a prolonged period of fasting and prayer, exacerbating the physical strain.
• mine eyes fail (Hebrew: kālû ʿêna̱y - כָּלוּ עֵינַי): From the root kālāh, meaning to be completed, consumed, exhausted, wasted away. The eyes are described as "failing" or "growing dim," not necessarily physically blind but exhausted from constant straining and weeping, unable to focus or retain their natural strength. It paints a picture of being physically drained, perhaps from ceaseless vigilance, or from the overwhelming tears of distress and relentless looking out for deliverance. This speaks to the duration and intensity of the struggle.
• while I wait (Hebrew: mêyaḥēl - מְיַחֵל): From the root yāḥal, meaning to wait, hope, tarry, look expectantly, trust. This is a critical word, highlighting the active, enduring nature of the psalmist's expectation. Despite the severe physical symptoms of weariness and failure, the underlying act of waiting — an act of faith and hopeful expectation — continues. It's not a passive surrender but an active perseverance in trusting God for deliverance.
• for my God (Hebrew: lēʾlōh̲āy - לֵאלֹהָי): The prepositive lē- (to/for) emphasizes the direct object of his hope and expectation. The personal possessive suffix "-ay" on ʾĔlōhîm (God) stresses the intimate, covenantal relationship. This underlines that despite all suffering and depletion, the psalmist's focus and ultimate trust remain unwaveringly centered on his personal God, the God of the covenant, as his only source of salvation and hope.

Psalm 69 3 Bonus section

The intensity described in Psalm 69:3 portrays not just discomfort but utter physical incapacitation arising from spiritual effort and intense emotion. In ancient Israelite culture, extended periods of crying out and intense prayer often coincided with fasting, which would further exacerbate dehydration and physical weariness, making the description of a "parched throat" and "failing eyes" extremely literal. This state of profound exhaustion demonstrates the psalmist's complete commitment to seeking God's face, withholding nothing, and pouring out his very essence. It reveals a radical dependency on divine intervention, where all other avenues of help have been exhausted, or simply never considered. The enduring focus on "my God" despite the severe symptoms of collapse highlights the unwavering, singular nature of true faith even in the face of despair.

Psalm 69 3 Commentary

Psalm 69:3 captures the pinnacle of human weakness met with persistent, albeit strained, divine hope. It describes a soul so thoroughly spent by the intensity and duration of prayer and suffering that it manifests in physical breakdown: vocal cords dried out from continuous cries, and eyes failing from endless watching for an answer that seems long in coming. This vivid imagery is not mere hyperbole; it communicates the psalmist’s raw and honest struggle with protracted anguish and unrequited devotion. Yet, crucially, even in this state of profound weariness and physical decline, the object of his patient endurance remains explicitly and personally "my God."

This verse thus highlights the paradox of faith under duress: while the physical self may reach the brink of collapse, the spiritual will, anchored in the Divine, continues its unwavering pursuit. It exemplifies that even when all human resources are depleted, true hope finds its reservoir in God alone. This spiritual reality finds profound resonance in the New Testament with Jesus Christ's own suffering, particularly His prayers in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44, Heb 5:7) and His physical thirst and weariness on the cross (John 19:28), demonstrating His ultimate endurance and reliance on His Father even unto death. For believers, this verse offers solace and identification: it affirms that such utter exhaustion in spiritual pursuit is not a sign of weakness in faith but often a testament to its fervent, long-suffering depth. It is a reminder that persistence in prayer, even when met with seeming silence, is never in vain; God sees the depths of our longing and the strength of our endurance in Him.