Psalm 86 1

Psalm 86:1 kjv

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

Psalm 86:1 nkjv

A Prayer of David. Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me; For I am poor and needy.

Psalm 86:1 niv

A prayer of David. Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Psalm 86:1 esv

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Psalm 86:1 nlt

Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer;
answer me, for I need your help.

Psalm 86 verses

Psalm 86 1 Meaning

Psalm 86:1 is a direct and heartfelt plea from the psalmist, David, to the Lord. It calls upon God to bend down and pay close attention to his prayer, implying an earnest desire for the divine ear to be sensitive and receptive to his urgent petition. The verse explains the compelling reason for this desperate cry: the psalmist acknowledges his complete and utter dependence on God, describing himself as "poor and needy," a declaration of humility and lack of personal resources or merit, appealing solely to God's compassionate character for help and deliverance.

Psalm 86 1 Context

Psalm 86 is a deeply personal and fervent prayer attributed to David. It belongs to a group of psalms often called "Psalms of Lament" or "Supplication," where the psalmist expresses distress, asks for divine intervention, affirms trust in God, and sometimes vows praise. This particular psalm shifts between plea, confession of faith, and expressions of gratitude, revealing David's profound spiritual struggles and his unwavering dependence on God's character.

Historically, David, despite being king, faced numerous threats and periods of intense personal hardship, including flight from King Saul, internal family strife, and rebellions (like Absalom's). The verse sets the stage for a desperate prayer, likely composed during a time when David felt overwhelmed and entirely without human means to resolve his circumstances. It's a foundational statement of humility preceding an extensive list of petitions, showing that a sincere cry for God's help often begins with the recognition of one's own limitations and utter need for divine grace.

Psalm 86 1 Word analysis

• Bow down/Incline (הַטֵּה - hatteh): This is a Hiphil imperative form of the verb נָטָה (natah), which means "to stretch out," "to bend," "to incline," or "to turn aside." In this context, it vividly pictures God literally bending or stooping down to listen, as a compassionate parent might lean in to hear a child's soft whisper or urgent plea. It conveys intense personal attention, indicating that God isn't distant or uninterested but willing to adjust His posture to focus fully on the petitioner.
• Thine ear/Your ear (אָזְנְךָ - ozneka): The specific reference to the ear emphasizes not just hearing in general, but keen and perceptive listening. It's a metaphor for God's attentiveness, comprehension, and readiness to respond, rather than merely passive auditory reception.
• O LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the personal, covenant name of God, revealing His character as faithful, unchanging, and present with His people. David's appeal is not to a generic deity but to the God who has revealed Himself, entered into covenant, and consistently demonstrated His power and love towards His chosen ones. It invokes God's relational identity and historical faithfulness.
• Hear me/and answer me (עֲנֵנִי - anenî): This is a Qal imperative of the verb עָנָה (anah), meaning "to answer," "to respond," "to reply," or often "to respond by helping" or "delivering." It’s more than just hearing; it’s an urgent request for active, effective intervention and a favorable resolution to the problem at hand. The prayer expects a direct and impactful divine reply.
• For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction serves as a causal link, explaining the reason for the earnest plea. It translates as "because," "for," or "surely," directly connecting the psalmist's state to his call for God's action.
• I am poor (אָנִי דָּל - ani dal): "I" (ani) is the first person singular pronoun, reinforcing the personal nature of the plea. דָּל (dal) refers to someone who is weak, lacking, thin, or low in status. It implies economic poverty, social vulnerability, but often in the Psalms, it also connotes spiritual weakness, one who has no human resources or power to cope with his situation and is entirely dependent on external help.
• And needy (וְאֶבְיוֹן - ve'evyon): The conjunction "and" (ve) intensifies the preceding term. אֶבְיוֹן (evyon) describes one who is profoundly destitute, utterly lacking, dependent, or truly miserable. It implies not just a state of poverty but an urgent, compelling need that demands immediate attention. When coupled with "poor," it emphasizes a complete and utter reliance on God for provision and rescue, highlighting a sense of spiritual and material bankruptcy that leaves no alternative but divine aid.

Psalm 86 1 Bonus section

The concept of "poor and needy" (dal v'evyon) in the Psalms extends beyond mere material lack to encompass spiritual humility and a profound sense of utter dependence on God. This posture is not seen as a weakness but as a spiritual strength that positions the individual for God's special attention and blessing. It is the opposite of self-reliance or pride. In biblical thought, God consistently champions and provides for those who recognize their need for Him. This phrase, therefore, sets the theological tone for Psalm 86 as a whole, affirming that God hears and answers those who approach Him in true humility, emptied of self-sufficiency. The divine ear is uniquely attentive to such cries from a desperate and trusting heart.

Psalm 86 1 Commentary

Psalm 86:1 is a quintessential prayer that embodies the posture of utter dependence central to biblical spirituality. David does not approach God based on his accomplishments as king or his perceived righteousness, but rather from a position of acknowledged weakness and desperation. The petition "Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me" is not merely polite language; it conveys a deep earnestness, recognizing God's omnipotence yet humbly asking Him to condescend to his specific and pressing needs. The imagery of God bending down powerfully illustrates His compassion and readiness to personally engage with the humble.

The foundation for this bold plea is laid bare in the declaration, "for I am poor and needy." This is not a cry for sympathy alone, but a profound theological statement. It aligns the psalmist with those whom God has consistently shown favor throughout the biblical narrative—the humble, the oppressed, and the powerless, rather than the proud or self-sufficient. This self-identification as "poor and needy" expresses spiritual bankruptcy, an admission that apart from God's intervention, the supplicant has no hope, strength, or solution of his own. This humble dependence taps into God's character as the defender of the weak and the provider for the destitute, establishing the most compelling reason for divine mercy and action. It encourages believers to always approach God with a heart reliant not on merit, but on His unfailing grace.