Psalms 17:6

KJV

I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, [and] hear my speech.

KJV (with Strong's)

I have called {H7121} upon thee, for thou wilt hear {H6030} me, O God {H410}: incline {H5186} thine ear {H241} unto me, and hear {H8085} my speech {H565}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now I call on you, God, for you will answer me. Turn your ear to me, hear my words.

Berean Standard Bible

I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

American Standard Version

I have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: Incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 17:6 presents a profound declaration of King David's unwavering faith and an earnest, intimate plea for divine attention. Amidst his fervent prayer for deliverance from adversaries, David expresses absolute confidence that God has heard and will continue to hear his cries. This verse beautifully encapsulates the paradox of faith: a bold assertion of God's responsiveness ("for thou wilt hear me") coupled with a humble, specific request for His personal engagement ("incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech"). It stands as a timeless testament to the accessible and intimately involved nature of God in the lives of those who call upon Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 17 is explicitly titled "A Prayer of David," placing it within the genre of individual lament or petition psalms. It immediately follows Psalm 16, a psalm of confidence and hope, and precedes Psalm 18, a grand psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance. Within Psalm 17 itself, verse 6 serves as a pivotal moment. David begins by appealing to God for justice and vindication, asserting his own integrity (e.g., [Psalms 17:3-5](/psalms/17-3 "Psalms 17:3-5 - David's Integrity")). He describes his enemies as wicked, arrogant, and predatory (e.g., [Psalms 17:9-12](/psalms/17-9 "Psalms 17:9-12 - Description of Enemies")). Verse 6, therefore, is nestled within a desperate cry for God's intervention and protection, highlighting David's deep-seated trust even in the midst of intense distress and opposition. It is a direct address to God, moving from a general appeal for justice to a specific, intimate request for hearing.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This psalm is attributed to David, a king and warrior who frequently faced betrayal, persecution, and military threats from both internal and external enemies (e.g., Saul, Absalom, Philistines). The "wicked" described in the psalm likely refer to specific adversaries who sought to undermine him or take his life. In ancient Israel, prayer was a central component of both individual and communal life, often offered in times of crisis, thanksgiving, or confession. Kings, as God's anointed, had a unique relationship with the divine, often serving as intercessors for the nation. The concept of God "inclining His ear" was a common anthropomorphism, signifying not merely passive hearing but active, attentive engagement, much like a superior bending down to listen closely to a humble petitioner. This imagery would have resonated deeply in a culture where access to a king or ruler was often restricted and required a special gesture of condescension from the powerful.

* **Key Themes:** Psalms 17:6 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Psalter and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **God's accessibility and responsiveness to prayer**. David's confidence that God "will hear" him is a foundational aspect of biblical faith, echoing the promise that God is not distant but intimately involved in the lives of His people (e.g., [Psalms 34:15](/psalms/34-15 "Psalm 34:15 - God's Ears Open to the Righteous")). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **divine justice and vindication**. David appeals to God as the ultimate judge, seeking righteous judgment against his oppressors (e.g., [Psalms 17:1-2](/psalms/17-1 "Psalms 17:1-2 - Plea for Justice")). Finally, the verse subtly touches upon the theme of **personal integrity and reliance on God**, as David's plea is rooted in his assertion of a blameless walk before the Lord, not as a claim to sinless perfection, but as a commitment to God's ways in contrast to his wicked enemies (e.g., [Psalms 17:3-5](/psalms/17-3 "Psalms 17:3-5 - David's Integrity and Reliance")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Called upon (Hebrew, _qara'_):** This verb signifies a strong, earnest cry or appeal, often implying a desperate need or a formal invocation. It is not a casual utterance but a deliberate act of seeking divine intervention. The perfect tense ("I have called upon") indicates a settled, past action with continuing results, implying David's consistent habit of prayer and his reliance on God in times of trouble.
* **Incline thine ear (Hebrew, הַט־אׇזְנְךָ, _hat-oznekha'_):** This is a vivid anthropomorphism, portraying God as bending down or turning His ear towards the petitioner. It conveys an image of active, attentive listening, far beyond mere passive hearing. It suggests a personal, intimate engagement, as if God is leaning in to catch every word, demonstrating His deep concern and readiness to respond to the specific, detailed "speech" of His servant.
* **Speech (Hebrew, שִׂיחָה, _siychah'_):** This noun refers to meditation, complaint, or specific discourse. It implies more than just a general cry; it's a deliberate, articulated expression of thoughts, feelings, and petitions. David is asking God not just to hear a sound, but to comprehend the content and heart of his specific words, his detailed account of his situation and his precise requests.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God":** This opening clause establishes David's profound confidence and the theological basis for his prayer. His past action of calling upon God is predicated on an absolute certainty that God is a hearer of prayer. The "for" (כִּי, _ki_) introduces the reason or ground for his confidence: it is God's character as a responsive deity that empowers David to pray. This is not a hopeful wish but a firm conviction rooted in God's faithfulness.
* **"incline thine ear unto me":** This is the first specific petition, a powerful anthropomorphic image. It's a plea for God to actively and intimately engage with David's situation. It's a request for God to draw near, to give His full, undivided attention, demonstrating a personal and compassionate interest in David's plight. It underscores the desire for a deeply personal encounter with the divine.
* **"and hear my speech":** This second petition reinforces and specifies the first. It's not just about God's physical proximity, but His cognitive and volitional engagement with David's words. David desires God to fully comprehend, consider, and respond to the specific content of his prayer, his "speech" or detailed supplication. The conjunction "and" links this specific request to the preceding one, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of David's desire for God's attentive response.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Anthropomorphism**, notably in the phrase "incline thine ear unto me." This device attributes human characteristics—in this case, the act of bending an ear to listen—to God, making His divine attentiveness more relatable and tangible to human understanding. It vividly portrays God's personal engagement rather than a distant, abstract hearing. Furthermore, there is a clear instance of **Parallelism** in the latter part of the verse: "incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech." While not strict synonymous parallelism, the two clauses express a similar core desire for God's attentive listening, with the second clause ("hear my speech") specifying the object of that attention, thereby intensifying the plea. The overall structure also demonstrates a form of **Chiasm** in its underlying thought: David's confidence that God *will hear* (A) leads to his plea for God to *incline His ear* (B) and *hear his speech* (B'), reinforcing the central theme of divine attentiveness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 17:6 powerfully articulates the biblical truth of God's active engagement with His people's prayers. It moves beyond a mere theological concept to a deeply personal experience, portraying God as not only capable of hearing but also willing to bend down and listen intently to the specific cries of His children. This verse underscores the privilege and efficacy of prayer, grounding it not in the petitioner's merit, but in God's character as a compassionate and responsive Father. It teaches that our confidence in prayer stems from God's faithfulness to His promises, assuring believers that their earnest petitions do not fall on deaf ears.

* [1 John 5:14](/1_john/5-14 "1 John 5:14 - Confidence in Prayer")
* [Psalm 34:15](/psalms/34-15 "Psalm 34:15 - God's Eyes and Ears on the Righteous")
* [Psalm 116:2](/psalms/116-2 "Psalm 116:2 - God Inclines His Ear")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 17:6 serves as a profound anchor for our prayer lives, inviting us to approach God with both unwavering confidence and heartfelt specificity. David's declaration, "I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God," challenges us to examine the foundation of our own prayer. Do we pray with an expectation that God truly listens, not as a distant deity, but as an intimately involved Father? The subsequent plea, "incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech," encourages us to be vulnerable and articulate in our petitions, sharing our deepest concerns and specific needs, knowing that God desires to engage with the details of our lives. This verse reminds us that even in the midst of life's fiercest battles and injustices, we have direct access to a God who bends down to hear, inviting us into a relationship of trust, intimacy, and bold petition. It calls us to cultivate a consistent and sincere prayer life, confident that our Heavenly Father is always attentive to the cries of His children.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What is the foundation of your confidence when you approach God in prayer?**
* **How does the imagery of God "inclining His ear" impact your understanding of His character and your willingness to pray specifically?**
* **In what ways can you cultivate a more consistent and trusting "speech" with God in your daily life?**
* **How does knowing God truly hears your prayers empower you to face adversity or injustice?**

### FAQ

**Does God literally "incline His ear" or "bend down" to hear us?**

Answer: No, God does not literally have physical ears or a body that can bend. The phrase "incline thine ear" (Hebrew: הַט־אׇזְנְךָ, _hat-oznekha'_) is a powerful **anthropomorphism**, a literary device where human characteristics are attributed to God to help us understand His actions and nature. It vividly conveys the idea of God's active, attentive, and personal engagement with our prayers. It means He is not distant or indifferent, but rather leans in, as it were, to listen closely and intimately to our specific "speech." This imagery emphasizes His compassion, accessibility, and readiness to respond, making His divine attentiveness relatable to human experience. It reassures us that our prayers are not lost in the void but are received with full divine attention.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 17:6, with its profound plea for God's attentive ear, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While David, a righteous king, prayed with confidence in God's hearing, Jesus, the perfect Son, embodied the ultimate relationship of perfect communion with the Father. The Father always heard Jesus (e.g., [John 11:41-42](/john/11-41 "John 11:41-42 - Jesus' Prayer at Lazarus' Tomb")), and His entire life was a living prayer, a constant "speech" of obedience and communion. Furthermore, Christ is now our great High Priest, who "ever lives to make intercession for us" (e.g., [Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Intercession")). He is the one through whom we, who are in Him, can now "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (e.g., [Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace")). David's longing for God to "incline His ear" is fully realized in Christ, who not only assures us of the Father's hearing but also intercedes on our behalf, ensuring that our prayers are heard and understood by the very God who bent down to become man in Jesus, the Word made flesh (e.g., [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 116:2

Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon [him] as long as I live.

Psalms 86:7

In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

Psalms 88:2

Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;

Psalms 66:19

[But] verily God hath heard [me]; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

Psalms 66:20

Blessed [be] God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

Psalms 55:16

¶ As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

Daniel 9:17

Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.