Psalm 71 12

Psalm 71:12 kjv

O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

Psalm 71:12 nkjv

O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!

Psalm 71:12 niv

Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me.

Psalm 71:12 esv

O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!

Psalm 71:12 nlt

O God, don't stay away.
My God, please hurry to help me.

Psalm 71 verses

Psalm 71 12 Meaning

Psalm 71:12 is a fervent and urgent cry from a psalmist in distress, who feels surrounded by adversaries and possibly facing the challenges of old age. It is a dual appeal to God: first, for His constant presence and nearness ("O God, be not far from me"), signifying a plea against perceived abandonment or spiritual distance; and second, for His swift intervention and immediate assistance ("O my God, make haste to help me!"), reflecting a desperate need for practical deliverance from pressing threats. The verse captures profound dependence and unwavering trust in the face of opposition and vulnerability.

Psalm 71 12 Context

Psalm 71 is a psalm of personal lament, petition, and trust, particularly poignant as it comes from a psalmist who speaks of old age (v. 9, 18). Unlike many psalms, it is not attributed to David, but its themes resonate with his experiences. The psalm details the psalmist's lifelong reliance on God, from youth to old age, as his rock, fortress, and deliverer from the wicked.

Verse 12 is an immediate response to the malicious whispers and conspiracies of the psalmist's enemies in verses 10-11. These adversaries are saying, "God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is no one to deliver him." This false accusation of divine abandonment is a grave theological insult and a direct challenge to the psalmist's faith and the covenant faithfulness of God. Thus, verse 12 is a direct counter-prayer, a desperate cry for God to prove His enemies wrong by demonstrating His presence and swift aid. The cultural context implies that for one to be forsaken by God was to be utterly vulnerable and without hope, making the psalmist's plea all the more urgent and vital.

Psalm 71 12 Word analysis

• O God: (Hebrew: ’Ĕlōhîm, אֱלֹהִים) - This is a general, majestic title for God, emphasizing His supreme power and universal sovereignty. The psalmist appeals to God in His capacity as the ultimate divine authority.

• be not far from me; (Hebrew: ’al tirḥaq mimmennî, אַל-תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי) -

  • ’al: A negative particle, expressing prohibition or earnest petition.
  • tirḥaq (from rāḥaq): "You be far." The full phrase "be not far" indicates a deep-seated fear of God's absence or withdrawal. It's a prayer for God's manifest presence, for Him to draw near and intervene directly in the psalmist's situation. It directly refutes the enemy's claim that God has forsaken him.

• O my God, (Hebrew: ’ĕlōhay, אֱלֹהַי) - This shifts from the majestic "O God" (’Ĕlōhîm) to a more intimate and personal address, "My God." This highlights the personal relationship and covenant bond the psalmist has with God. It implies a deeply personal plea to the God whom he knows and has trusted throughout his life.

• make haste (Hebrew: ḥûšāh, חוּשָׁה) - This is an imperative verb, a command or strong plea, meaning "hasten," "hurry," "make speed." It expresses extreme urgency and a critical need for immediate intervention. The situation is dire, and any delay could be catastrophic.

• to help me! (Hebrew: lᵊ‘ezrāṯî, לְעֶזְרָתִי) -

  • lᵊ: A preposition meaning "to" or "for."
  • ‘ezrāṯî (from ‘ezrāh): "my help," "my aid," "my assistance." This specifies the nature of the urgent action desired from God – direct and saving help against the specific threats posed by his enemies. It encompasses rescue, deliverance, and vindication.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "O God, be not far from me": This opening phrase emphasizes the core spiritual and emotional need for God's felt presence. It acknowledges that human beings are deeply dependent on divine proximity, especially in trials, and directly challenges the enemy's assertion of God's desertion.
  • "O my God, make haste to help me!": This second part focuses on the practical and urgent need for divine action. The personal address combined with the demand for speed shows complete reliance on God as the sole source of effective and timely salvation from physical or existential threats. The parallel structure amplifies the intensity and dual nature of the psalmist's petition for both presence and powerful intervention.

Psalm 71 12 Bonus section

• The structure of Psalm 71:12—two parallel pleas, each starting with an address to God—underscores the intensity and earnestness of the prayer, a common rhetorical device in Hebrew poetry to amplify meaning.
• The urgency ("make haste") indicates not a lack of faith in God's power, but a deep reliance on His specific and timely intervention in a crisis where the psalmist feels his human resources are utterly insufficient.
• This prayer provides a theological counter-argument to those who suggest that God is indifferent or absent in suffering; it actively invites God to display His character of steadfast love and faithful deliverance.
• The desire for God not to be "far" anticipates the ultimate revelation of "Immanuel" (God with us) in the New Testament, embodying God's permanent closeness to humanity in Christ.

Psalm 71 12 Commentary

Psalm 71:12 is a powerful illustration of faith expressed through desperate prayer. The psalmist, possibly a king or elder leader, feels vulnerable, facing real threats and the demoralizing taunt from enemies who claim God has abandoned him. This verse is his immediate, vehement response. His address to God transitions from the general and all-powerful "O God" to the intimate and personal "O my God," showcasing both reverence for divine sovereignty and a deeply rooted, covenantal relationship. This intimate cry rejects the enemy's premise that his life and plight are without God's watchful eye. The dual plea — for God not to be far away, and for Him to "make haste to help" — reveals both a desire for sustaining divine presence and an urgent need for active deliverance. It's not just a general request for help but a cry for swift intervention that would publicly vindicate the psalmist and glorify God by demonstrating His faithfulness. This verse becomes a timeless model for believers facing severe trials and malicious accusations: call on God with humble dependence, assured that His promise is to draw near to those who draw near to Him, and that His help, though His timing differs from ours, is always true.