Psalm 86 3

Psalm 86:3 kjv

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

Psalm 86:3 nkjv

Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long.

Psalm 86:3 niv

have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.

Psalm 86:3 esv

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.

Psalm 86:3 nlt

Be merciful to me, O Lord,
for I am calling on you constantly.

Psalm 86 verses

Psalm 86 3 Meaning

Psalm 86:3 is a heartfelt plea for God's divine favor and mercy. The psalmist urgently cries out to the Lord, indicating a continuous and desperate dependence on Him throughout the entire day. It reflects a deep personal distress and unwavering reliance on God as the sole source of help and grace.

Psalm 86 3 Context

Psalm 86 is a deeply personal and fervent prayer attributed to David, presenting a plea from an individual facing great affliction and danger. It is categorized as a lament, yet it is profoundly marked by expressions of faith, trust in God's unique nature, and expectation of His deliverance. Verse 3 directly follows the opening plea for God to "hear" and "answer" because the psalmist is "poor and needy" (v. 1) and devout (v. 2). This verse intensifies the psalmist's appeal, emphasizing the chronic nature of his distress ("all day long") and his exclusive reliance on God for relief. The broader psalm contrasts the weakness and need of the supplicant with the might, goodness, and singular deity of God, affirming God's readiness to hear and His unique ability to save.

Psalm 86 3 Word analysis

• "Be gracious to me": (Hebrew: ḥānan - חָנַן). This imperative verb expresses a petition for undeserved favor, mercy, and compassion. It is not a demand based on merit, but a humble appeal to God's inherent benevolent character. It signifies seeking divine intervention born out of deep need, acknowledging God's right and ability to bestow favor freely.
• "O Lord": (Hebrew: ʾAdōnāy - אֲדֹנָי). This title designates God as sovereign Master, Ruler, and Possessor. It emphasizes absolute authority and dominion, establishing the context of the psalmist's utter submission and dependency. When used in prayer, it underscores God's ability and right to command and control all circumstances.
• "for to You": This phrase highlights exclusive and singular focus. It implies "only to You" or "it is to You alone." The psalmist has no other recourse or hope for help, emphasizing utter reliance on God, distinguishing Him from any other perceived source of aid or false gods. It subtly serves as a polemic against relying on idols or human strength prevalent in the ancient world.
• "I cry": (Hebrew: qārāʾ - קָרָא). This verb means to call, proclaim, summon, or cry out. In this context, it conveys urgency, distress, and a vocal, fervent appeal for immediate help. It suggests a desperate situation compelling the psalmist to articulate his need loudly and continuously.
• "all day long": (Hebrew: kol-hayyom - כָּל-הַיּוֹם). This temporal phrase signifies ceaselessness, persistence, and unbroken duration. It reveals the chronic, pervasive nature of the psalmist's distress and the constant, intense longing for divine intervention. It illustrates devotion and commitment to prayer, marking prayer not as an occasional act but a continuous posture of the heart and mind.

Word-group analysis

• "Be gracious to me, O Lord": This is the core petition, foundational to the psalm. It acknowledges God's ultimate power and the supplicant's dire need for unmerited favor. The invocation of "O Lord" (ʾAdōnāy) underlines God's mastership over the situation and the psalmist's life, creating a posture of reverent submission in seeking grace.
• "for to You I cry all day long": This clause provides the reason or the basis for the petition "Be gracious to me." It is not a merit-based reason but a plea born of desperate, persistent dependence. The continuous "crying" emphasizes the severity of the affliction and the sole focus of the psalmist's hope on God. It paints a picture of unwavering reliance and devotion, distinct from momentary or superficial prayer.

Psalm 86 3 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates a crucial theological principle: true prayer often stems from deep need and expresses utter dependence, appealing not to one's own merit but solely to the gracious character of God. The psalmist’s "all day long" crying emphasizes that even when the answer isn't immediately evident, faith persists in seeking the only one who can truly help. This continuous communication fosters intimacy with God, transforming affliction into an opportunity for deeper fellowship. It implicitly stands against the contemporary practice of appealing to multiple deities for different needs, clearly affirming the singular supremacy and all-sufficiency of Yahweh (expressed through ʾAdōnāy in this context). This prayerful tenacity resonates strongly throughout the scriptures, portraying God as one who rewards persistent, faithful appeals.

Psalm 86 3 Commentary

Psalm 86:3 presents a profound declaration of unwavering reliance on God amidst continuous distress. The psalmist's urgent cry, "Be gracious to me, O Lord," is not a presumption of worthiness but a humble appeal to God's inherent character as one who freely gives undeserved favor. This plea is powerfully amplified by the confession, "for to You I cry all day long." This isn't merely a statement of duration, but a testament to profound, relentless need and absolute, exclusive trust. It demonstrates that prayer is not an occasional formality, but a constant breath of the soul, driven by a deep awareness of personal weakness and God's infinite power and readiness to listen. It models a prayer life marked by unceasing dependence, where every moment of affliction becomes an impetus to seek the Lord alone.

• Practical usage:
  • When faced with overwhelming challenges, continuously turn to God, acknowledging His unique ability to extend grace.
  • Let your felt needs cultivate a persistent posture of prayer, drawing you into God's presence throughout your day.