Psalm 84 8

Psalm 84:8 kjv

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

Psalm 84:8 nkjv

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

Psalm 84:8 niv

Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob.

Psalm 84:8 esv

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

Psalm 84:8 nlt

O LORD God of Heaven's Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob. Interlude

Psalm 84 verses

Psalm 84 8 Meaning

Psalm 84:8 is a heartfelt cry from the psalmist to the Almighty God, pleading for divine attention and response. It functions as an earnest petition within the context of deep longing for God's presence, invoking His powerful and covenantal names to emphasize the basis of the appeal. The psalmist believes God, who rules over all creation and hosts, and who established a special relationship with Jacob (and by extension, Israel), will incline His ear to the prayers of His devoted followers. It's an affirmation of God's nature as both transcendent in power and intimately connected to His people.

Psalm 84 8 Context

Psalm 84 is one of the "Songs of Ascent," traditionally sung by pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem for the great annual festivals. It expresses a deep and ardent longing for God's dwelling place, the temple, which symbolizes His presence. The psalmist portrays the profound blessedness of those who live in the temple courts or even those who journey towards it with hearts fixed on God. The verses immediately preceding verse 8 praise the happiness of those whose strength is in God and who set their hearts on pilgrimage to Zion. Within this context of longing for intimate fellowship with God and His dwelling, verse 8 stands as a direct, fervent prayer. It's a confident appeal for the God who blesses pilgrims and protects His people to specifically attend to the psalmist's plea, underpinning the entire desire for presence with the certainty that such a God hears His supplicants.

Psalm 84 8 Word analysis

• O LORD God of hosts (יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֣ים צְבָא֑וֹת - YHWH Elohim Tzeva'ot):

  • YHWH: The sacred, personal, covenant name of God, often translated as "LORD" (all caps) in English. It signifies God's self-existent, eternal, and covenant-keeping nature. It is the name revealing God's faithful presence to His people.
  • Elohim: The general Hebrew word for God, indicating His majesty, power, and role as Creator and sovereign ruler.
  • Tzeva'ot (צְבָא֑וֹת): Means "armies" or "hosts." In this context, it refers to God's complete sovereignty over all earthly and heavenly armies, angelic beings, and cosmic forces. Addressing God as "LORD God of hosts" acknowledges His omnipotence and supreme authority. It's a confession of His unparalleled power and capacity to act.

• hear (שִׁמְעָ֖ה - Shim'ah):

  • An imperative verb, meaning "listen!" or "hearken!" It's a direct, urgent command, reflecting the psalmist's deep desire for God's attentive response, not just passive awareness. It conveys an active listening that leads to action.

• my prayer (תְפִלָּתִ֣י - Tephillati):

  • From "tephillah" (prayer), signifying an act of intercession, supplication, or communication with God. The possessive "my" makes it a deeply personal and specific request from the psalmist.

• give ear (הַאֲזִ֣ינָה - Ha'azinah):

  • Another imperative verb, intensely reinforcing the previous "hear." While similar to "shim'ah," "ha'azinah" often implies a more attentive, deliberate listening, almost bending down to catch every word. It heightens the urgency and desperation of the plea. The doubling of these similar imperatives (“hear” and “give ear”) underscores the profound earnestness of the prayer.

• O God of Jacob (אֱלֹהֵ֖י יַעֲקֹֽב - Elohei Ya'akov):

  • Elohei (אֱלֹהֵ֖י): "God of."
  • Ya'akov (יַעֲקֹֽב): Jacob, the patriarch, whose name was changed to Israel. This title reminds God of His specific, historical covenant with Jacob and his descendants (Israel). It invokes God's faithfulness to His promises, His personal care for His people, and His identification with their journey and struggles. It anchors the universal power of "God of hosts" in a particular, intimate, and faithful relationship with His chosen people.

• "O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer" and "give ear, O God of Jacob":

  • This two-part structure demonstrates beautiful parallelism, a common feature in Hebrew poetry. The first half addresses God by His majestic, universal title ("LORD God of hosts"), highlighting His supreme power and authority, emphasizing who He is in terms of might. The request "hear my prayer" is a general plea for Him to listen and respond.
  • The second half intensifies the request ("give ear") and addresses God by His intimate, covenantal title ("God of Jacob"), emphasizing who He is in terms of His faithful relationship with His chosen people. This structure suggests that the psalmist bases his plea on both God's universal omnipotence and His particular covenantal love and faithfulness to Israel. It's a profound declaration that this mighty, sovereign God is also a personal, covenant-keeping God who actively hears the cries of His people.

Psalm 84 8 Bonus section

The Hebrew word "Selah" (סֶלָה), which often appears at the end of verses in Psalms (and also after verse 8 in the original), is not a direct part of the verse's spoken message but rather a musical or liturgical notation. Its exact meaning is debated, but it is often understood as indicating a pause, a break for reflection, or a musical interlude (perhaps for stringed instruments). In the context of Psalm 84:8, it suggests that after such a powerful and profound invocation and plea, a moment of contemplative pause is appropriate, allowing the worshiper to meditate on the immense significance of addressing the Almighty God, "LORD God of hosts" and "God of Jacob," and on the certainty of His hearing.

Psalm 84 8 Commentary

Psalm 84:8 is a model of fervent and confident prayer, succinctly capturing the essence of the supplicant's reliance on God. The psalmist, filled with an unquenchable longing for God's presence, does not merely hope to be heard but boldly petitions God with the imperative "hear!" and "give ear!" This double injunction signifies not only an earnest request but also a deep conviction that God is able and willing to attend to the petitions of His faithful. The addresses used – "LORD God of hosts" and "God of Jacob" – are crucial. "LORD God of hosts" establishes God's absolute sovereignty, His control over all cosmic and earthly powers. It's an appeal to the mighty, invincible Creator. Conversely, "God of Jacob" invokes God's covenant faithfulness and His personal, historical relationship with His chosen people, implying a God who is intimately involved and bound by promises. By combining these two grand titles, the psalmist expresses faith in a God who is both universally majestic and intimately concerned with the lives of His individual children. The verse illustrates that true prayer is grounded in an understanding of God's character—His ultimate power combined with His steadfast love and covenant-keeping nature—assuring the believer that He listens and will respond according to His perfect will. It inspires confidence in prayer, knowing the King of all creation is also our personal, faithful Father.