Psalms 18:6

KJV

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, [even] into his ears.

KJV (with Strong's)

In my distress {H6862} I called {H7121} upon the LORD {H3068}, and cried {H7768} unto my God {H430}: he heard {H8085} my voice {H6963} out of his temple {H1964}, and my cry {H7775} came {H935} before {H6440} him, even into his ears {H241}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In my distress I called to ADONAI; I cried out to my God. Out of his temple he heard my voice; my cry reached his ears.

Berean Standard Bible

In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.

American Standard Version

In my distress I called upon Jehovah, And cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry before him came into his ears.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 18:6 is a profound testament to the efficacy of prayer in times of extreme peril, capturing King David's confident assertion that his desperate cry for help was heard by God. This verse serves as the pivotal moment within Psalm 18, initiating the dramatic narrative of divine intervention and deliverance that unfolds, emphasizing God's immediate attentiveness and powerful response to the fervent pleas of His faithful servant. It underscores the intimate and personal nature of the relationship between the believer and the transcendent, sovereign God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 18 is a majestic psalm of thanksgiving and deliverance, attributed to David and paralleled in [2 Samuel 22](/2_samuel/22 "2 Samuel 22 - David's Song of Deliverance"). The psalm begins with David's declaration of love for the LORD (verse 1) and then transitions into a vivid recounting of his distress and subsequent divine rescue. Verse 6 marks the critical turning point, where David's earnest prayer serves as the catalyst for God's awe-inspiring intervention. The verses immediately following (7-19) describe God's dramatic descent and powerful actions, using cosmic and natural imagery to depict His overwhelming might unleashed on David's behalf. This verse, therefore, is the hinge upon which the entire narrative of divine rescue swings, establishing the direct causal link between David's desperate prayer and God's miraculous deliverance.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The superscription of Psalm 18 states that David sang this song "in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul." This places the psalm at a significant juncture in David's life, likely after he had consolidated his kingdom and overcome persistent threats from both external foes and internal adversaries like King Saul. David's life was marked by numerous periods of intense persecution and warfare, making the theme of divine deliverance particularly resonant. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, kings often attributed their victories to their patron deities, but David's psalm uniquely emphasizes his personal relationship with YHWH, the covenant God of Israel, and the direct, personal nature of God's response to his individual prayer, rather than merely a nationalistic triumph. The concept of God hearing from His "temple" would have resonated with the understanding of God's dwelling place, whether the tabernacle or, more profoundly, His heavenly abode.

* **Key Themes:** Psalms 18:6 encapsulates several foundational themes central to the book of Psalms and biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the **necessity and efficacy of prayer in distress**, portraying David's immediate and unreserved turning to God in his deepest need. This aligns with the broader biblical invitation to "call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me" ([Psalms 50:15](/psalms/50-15 "Psalms 50:15 - Call Upon Me in Trouble")). Secondly, it powerfully asserts **God's responsiveness and attentiveness** to His people's cries. The repetition of "heard my voice" and "my cry came before him, even into his ears" underscores the certainty of divine reception, assuring the worshiper that their petitions are not ignored. Thirdly, the phrase "out of his temple" introduces the theme of **God's transcendent presence and sovereign authority**. This refers not to an earthly structure, which was not yet built in David's time, but to God's heavenly sanctuary or dwelling place. It signifies the transcendent realm where God resides in His glory and exercises His sovereign rule. God hearing "out of his temple" underscores that His response comes from His exalted, divine throne, emphasizing His supreme authority and ability to intervene from His holy, heavenly abode. Finally, the verse serves as the **catalyst for divine deliverance**, establishing that God's subsequent mighty acts are a direct, personal response to the sincere and desperate cry of His servant, showcasing God's active involvement in the lives of those who trust Him.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Distress (צַר, _tsar_):** This Hebrew word literally means "narrowness" or "tightness," conveying a sense of being hemmed in, confined, or under severe pressure. It vividly describes a situation of acute trouble, anguish, or affliction, where one feels trapped and without escape. David's use of _tsar_ emphasizes the severity and overwhelming nature of his predicament, making his cry to God a desperate plea born out of extreme duress.
* **Called upon (קָרָא, _qara'_):** This verb signifies more than a casual utterance; it implies a formal, earnest, and often loud invocation or appeal. It is the act of summoning or proclaiming, indicating a deliberate and urgent turning to God for help. In a theological context, _qara'_ often denotes a relationship of dependency and trust, where the one calling acknowledges the power and authority of the one being called upon.
* **Temple (הֵיכָל, _hekal_):** While _hekal_ can refer to an earthly palace or temple, in the context of God hearing David's prayer before the Solomonic Temple was built, it primarily denotes God's heavenly sanctuary or dwelling place. It signifies the transcendent realm where God resides in His glory and exercises His sovereign rule. God hearing "out of his temple" underscores that His response comes from His exalted, divine throne, emphasizing His supreme authority and ability to intervene from His holy, heavenly abode.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In my distress I called upon the LORD,"**: This clause establishes the setting and the initial action. David is in a state of intense "distress" (_tsar_), a deep and pressing affliction. His response is not to despair or turn to human aid, but immediately and intentionally to "call upon the LORD" (YHWH), invoking God's personal, covenantal name, signifying a plea based on an existing relationship of faithfulness and trust.
* **"and cried unto my God:"**: This phrase reinforces the intensity and personal nature of David's prayer. "Cried" (שָׁוַע, _shava'_) implies a loud, urgent, and often desperate appeal for help. The use of "my God" (אֱלֹהִים, _Elohim_) emphasizes a personal possession and intimate relationship, even as it acknowledges God's universal power and sovereignty. This parallelism underscores the earnestness and directness of David's communication with the Divine.
* **"he heard my voice out of his temple,"**: This is the pivotal declaration of divine response. Despite David's earthly location and dire circumstances, God "heard" (שָׁמַע, _shama'_) his voice. The phrase "out of his temple" (heavenly dwelling) signifies that God's hearing is not limited by earthly proximity but originates from His glorious, transcendent throne. It implies a divine attentiveness and a readiness to act from His place of ultimate authority and power.
* **"and my cry came before him, [even] into his ears."**: This final clause provides a powerful, anthropomorphic confirmation of God's reception of David's prayer. "My cry came before him" suggests direct access to God's presence, overcoming any barrier. The addition of "[even] into his ears" is a vivid and intimate affirmation that God not only generally heard but specifically inclined His divine "ears" to David's petition, signifying a personal and attentive listening that leads to understanding and action.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 18:6 is rich in literary devices that enhance its impact and convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry. The verse employs **synonymous parallelism** where the second line or clause reiterates the meaning of the first using different words for emphasis. For example, "I called upon the LORD" is paralleled by "and cried unto my God," both expressing the act of fervent prayer. Similarly, "he heard my voice out of his temple" is paralleled and intensified by "and my cry came before him, even into his ears," both affirming divine reception. This repetition strengthens the certainty of God's hearing. Another significant device is **Anthropomorphism**, the attribution of human characteristics or behaviors to God. The phrase "into his ears" is a clear example, depicting God as having physical ears to hear, making His attentiveness more relatable and immediate for the human worshiper. This device serves to bridge the gap between the transcendent God and the immanent human experience, assuring the psalmist of a personal and direct divine engagement. The verse also implicitly uses **Hyperbole** or **Vivid Imagery** to convey the power and immediacy of God's response. The idea of a human cry reaching God's ears from His heavenly temple speaks to the extraordinary nature of divine attentiveness and the boundless reach of His presence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 18:6 serves as a foundational declaration of God's responsiveness to prayer, reinforcing the biblical truth that the sovereign Creator is intimately involved in the lives of His people. It underscores the profound theological principle that God is not a distant, impassive deity but one who actively listens and intervenes when His children call upon Him in faith. This verse establishes a direct link between human supplication and divine action, demonstrating that prayer is not merely a psychological exercise but a powerful means of engaging with the living God, whose hearing is always followed by appropriate and often dramatic response. It affirms both God's transcendence (hearing from His heavenly "temple") and His immanence (inclining His "ears" to a human cry), assuring believers of His simultaneous majesty and personal care.

* [Psalms 34:17](/psalms/34-17 "Psalms 34:17 - The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them")
* [Jeremiah 33:3](/jeremiah/33-3 "Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to me and I will answer you")
* [Isaiah 65:24](/isaiah/65-24 "Isaiah 65:24 - Before they call I will answer")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 18:6 offers profound and enduring encouragement for every believer navigating the trials of life. It anchors our faith in the unshakeable truth that no matter the depth of our "distress," our God is not only accessible but actively attentive to our cries. David's experience reminds us that our first and most effective recourse in any overwhelming situation is to turn directly to the LORD, pouring out our hearts in raw honesty and desperate plea. This verse assures us that our prayers do not dissipate into the void; they ascend directly "before him, even into his ears," reaching the very throne of the Almighty. This divine attentiveness is not passive; it is the precursor to God's powerful intervention and deliverance, as the rest of Psalm 18 vividly illustrates. Therefore, we are invited to pray with absolute confidence, knowing that the God who hears from His heavenly temple is mighty to save and intimately concerned with every detail of our lives. This confidence transforms our distress into an opportunity for deeper reliance on Him, fostering a profound sense of peace and expectation even amidst chaos.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific "distress" or "narrow place" in your life is God inviting you to bring before Him today?**
* **How does the assurance that God hears "out of his temple" and "into his ears" impact your confidence in prayer?**
* **In what ways have you experienced God's active hearing and subsequent intervention in your own life?**
* **How might a deeper understanding of God's attentiveness transform your approach to daily challenges and anxieties?**

### FAQ

**Does "temple" in Psalms 18:6 refer to an earthly building or a heavenly one?**

Answer: In Psalms 18:6, "temple" (Hebrew: _hekal_) primarily refers to God's heavenly dwelling place, His celestial sanctuary. At the time David wrote this psalm, the glorious Temple in Jerusalem, built by Solomon, did not yet exist. While _hekal_ could refer to an earthly palace or the Tabernacle, the context of God's powerful, cosmic intervention throughout Psalm 18 strongly suggests a divine, transcendent realm from which God exercises His supreme authority. This understanding emphasizes that God's hearing and subsequent action originate from His exalted throne in heaven, not from a physical structure on earth. It reinforces His omnipresence and omnipotence, as He hears and responds from His eternal dwelling.

**How can I be sure God hears my prayers, especially when I don't feel an immediate answer?**

Answer: Psalms 18:6 provides a powerful assurance that God hears our prayers, regardless of our immediate feelings or the timing of His response. David's declaration, "he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears," is a statement of divine reality, not human perception. The certainty of God's hearing is rooted in His character and covenant faithfulness, not in our emotional state or the speed of His visible intervention. The Bible repeatedly affirms God's attentiveness to His people's cries (e.g., [Psalms 34:17](/psalms/34-17 "Psalms 34:17 - The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them"), [1 John 5:14-15](/1_john/5-14 "1 John 5:14-15 - Confidence in Prayer")). While answers may not always be immediate or in the way we expect, the promise is that our prayers reach His ears. Trusting in His perfect timing and sovereign wisdom, even in silence, is an act of faith, knowing that His hearing always leads to His perfect will being accomplished.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 18:6 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While David's cry in distress led to his deliverance, Jesus, the greater Son of David, experienced distress beyond measure, culminating in His agonizing prayers in Gethsemane and His cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). Yet, even in His deepest anguish, Jesus perfectly embodied the trust and dependence David expressed. The Father always heard the Son, for "he was heard because of his reverence" ([Hebrews 5:7](/hebrews/5-7 "Hebrews 5:7 - Jesus' Prayers and Obedience")). Jesus' ultimate "cry" was not for His own deliverance from death, but for the salvation of humanity, and through His obedient sacrifice, that cry was answered with resurrection and triumph over sin and death. Now, from His heavenly "temple"—the true sanctuary where He sits at the right hand of God ([Hebrews 8:1-2](/hebrews/8-1 "Hebrews 8:1-2 - Christ, the High Priest of the Heavenly Sanctuary"))—Christ Himself continually intercedes for us ([Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Romans 8:34 - Christ's Intercession")). Our access to God's ears is no longer dependent on our own perfect cries, but on the perfect High Priest who has entered the heavenly temple on our behalf, ensuring that when we call upon the LORD in our distress, our prayers are heard and answered through Him, the ultimate Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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 50:15

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

2 Samuel 22:7

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry [did enter] into his ears.

Psalms 34:15

The eyes of the LORD [are] upon the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their cry.

Psalms 130:1

¶ A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Psalms 130:2

Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

Psalms 120:1

¶ A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

Psalms 18:3

I will call upon the LORD, [who is worthy] to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.