Psalms 28:6

KJV

¶ Blessed [be] the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

KJV (with Strong's)

Blessed {H1288} be the LORD {H3068}, because he hath heard {H8085} the voice {H6963} of my supplications {H8469}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Blessed be ADONAI, for he heard my voice as I prayed for mercy.

Berean Standard Bible

Blessed be the LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy.

American Standard Version

Blessed be Jehovah, Because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 28:6 stands as a powerful declaration of praise and thanksgiving, marking a dramatic pivot in David's prayer from earnest petition to joyful adoration. It encapsulates the profound experience of a believer who, having cried out in distress, now confidently affirms God's faithfulness in hearing their supplications. This verse celebrates the divine attentiveness and responsiveness, transforming anxiety into worship and modeling the appropriate human response to God's unwavering character.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 28 is a prayer of David, structured as a lament that transitions into a psalm of thanksgiving. The preceding verses ([Psalms 28:1-5](/psalms/28-1 "Psalms 28:1-5 - David's Plea for Deliverance")) depict David's desperate cry to the Lord, pleading for God not to remain silent, lest he be counted among those who descend into the grave. He vividly describes his adversaries as "workers of iniquity" who speak peace but harbor malice, calling for God's righteous judgment upon them. Verse 6 represents a pivotal shift, a profound declaration of confidence or an immediate spiritual experience of God's affirmation. This transition from anguish to triumph underscores David's deep-seated faith in God's active involvement and responsiveness to His people's cries, setting the stage for further expressions of trust and praise in the psalm's conclusion ([Psalms 28:7-9](/psalms/28-7 "Psalms 28:7-9 - David's Continued Praise and Prayer for Israel")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** As a psalm attributed to David, its composition likely occurred during a period of intense personal or national distress. Such times could include his flight from King Saul, the rebellion of Absalom, or other moments of military or political threat. In ancient Israelite culture, prayer was not merely a ritual but a vital, personal interaction with a living God who intervened in human affairs. The concept of God "hearing" prayer was foundational to the covenant relationship, signifying His attentiveness, justice, and faithfulness. The "pit" imagery in the opening verses refers to Sheol or the grave, emphasizing the mortal danger David perceived. The "workers of iniquity" were those who violated covenant stipulations and societal justice, often through deception and violence, against whom David sought divine vindication.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Psalter and broader biblical narrative. Central is the theme of **Answered Prayer**, highlighting God's active attentiveness to the cries of His people, transforming their pleas into praise. It also powerfully underscores **Divine Faithfulness**, portraying God not as a distant or indifferent deity, but as one who listens, cares, and responds reliably to His children's needs, reinforcing the covenant promise. Furthermore, it models **Praise and Thanksgiving** as the appropriate and necessary response to God's intervention and character. David's declaration demonstrates that true faith not only petitions God but also praises Him for who He is and for His anticipated or perceived acts, even before the full manifestation of deliverance. This confidence echoes sentiments found in other psalms, such as [Psalms 6:9](/psalms/6-9 "Psalms 6:9 - God Hears the Voice of Weeping"), where the psalmist declares, "The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Blessed (Hebrew, _baruch'_):** When directed towards God, this term is not merely a statement of fortune but an act of profound adoration and worship. It signifies acknowledging God's inherent goodness, power, and sovereignty. To "bless the LORD" is to praise Him, to declare His praiseworthiness, and to express gratitude for His character and His actions. It is a recognition that all blessings flow from Him, and therefore He alone is worthy of all praise.
* **Heard (Hebrew, _shama'_):** This verb is far richer than a simple auditory perception. In biblical Hebrew, _shama'_ often implies not just hearing, but also listening intently, understanding, heeding, and responding. When God "hears" a prayer, it means He has taken notice, understood the plea, and is prepared to act in accordance with His divine will and character. It conveys active attentiveness and a commitment to engage with the suppliant's situation.
* **Supplications (Hebrew, _tachanunim'_):** This plural noun refers to earnest pleas for favor, mercy, or grace. It denotes a humble and dependent posture, acknowledging one's need for divine intervention and compassion. The term emphasizes the earnestness, sincerity, and often the desperation of the prayers, which are not demands but requests for unmerited favor. God's hearing of such _tachanunim_ highlights His compassionate and merciful nature.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ Blessed [be] the LORD,"**: This opening phrase is a declaration of worship and adoration. It signifies David's decision to praise God, not merely as a passive recipient of blessing, but as an active participant in magnifying the Lord's name. It is an acknowledgment of God's inherent worthiness of praise, regardless of circumstances, yet here, it is directly linked to a specific divine action. The KJV's bracketed "[be]" correctly indicates that the verb "is" or "be" is implied in the Hebrew, making it a direct acclamation.
* **"because he hath heard"**: This clause provides the immediate and compelling reason for David's declaration of praise. The past tense "hath heard" suggests either a completed action (God has already heard and responded), or a confident assurance that God has heard and will certainly respond. The emphasis is on God's active and attentive listening, which is the foundation of David's renewed hope and thanksgiving. This hearing is not passive but implies a divine engagement with the prayer.
* **"the voice of my supplications."**: This final phrase specifies what God has heard: the earnest, humble, and dependent pleas for mercy and favor that David has offered. The "voice" emphasizes the vocalized, heartfelt nature of the prayers, indicating a direct and personal communication with God. The term "supplications" underscores the nature of these prayers as requests for grace, stemming from a position of need and dependence, rather than entitlement.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 28:6 masterfully employs several literary devices. The most prominent is a dramatic **Shift in Tone and Mood**. The preceding verses are characterized by urgent lament and desperate petition, while verse 6 abruptly transitions to confident praise and thanksgiving. This sudden change reflects a profound spiritual turning point, a moment of divine assurance or perceived answer. The verse also utilizes **Anthropomorphism** by attributing the human characteristic of "hearing" to God, making His responsiveness relatable and immediate. Furthermore, the phrase "the voice of my supplications" employs **Metonymy**, where "voice" stands for the prayers themselves, emphasizing their earnest and vocalized nature. The entire verse functions as a **Declaration of Faith**, where the psalmist boldly proclaims God's faithfulness based on an internal conviction or an immediate experience, rather than waiting for full external manifestation of deliverance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 28:6 profoundly articulates the biblical truth that God is a God who hears and responds to the cries of His people. This verse is not merely a personal testimony but a universal principle, affirming God's active involvement in human affairs and His intimate attentiveness to those who seek Him in humility and faith. It underscores the covenantal relationship where God commits to listen to His people, and they, in turn, are called to respond with praise and trust. This dynamic interaction between divine attentiveness and human supplication forms the bedrock of biblical prayer, demonstrating that prayer is not a monologue into the void but a genuine dialogue with a living, responsive God. The confidence expressed here serves as a powerful encouragement for believers across all generations to persist in prayer, knowing that their petitions do not fall on deaf ears.

* [Psalms 6:9](/psalms/6-9 "Psalm 6:9 - God Hears the Voice of Weeping")
* [1 John 5:14-15](/1_john/5-14 "1 John 5:14-15 - Confidence in Prayer According to His Will")
* [Jeremiah 33:3](/jeremiah/33-3 "Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to Me and I Will Answer")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 28:6 offers a timeless blueprint for the life of faith, particularly in the crucible of adversity. It encourages us to cultivate a posture of persistent prayer, bringing our deepest fears and most earnest desires before God, even when answers seem delayed or circumstances remain dire. David's immediate shift to praise, even before full deliverance, challenges us to move beyond mere petition to a profound trust in God's character. This verse reminds us that our confidence in prayer is not rooted in our eloquence or worthiness, but in God's inherent faithfulness and His promise to hear. When we pray, we are not speaking into an empty void but to a God who is intimately attentive to the cries of His children. Cultivating a spirit of thanksgiving, even in anticipation of answers, strengthens our faith and transforms our perspective from anxiety to adoration, aligning our hearts with God's sovereign will and nurturing a deeper relationship with Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's immediate shift to praise in Psalms 28:6 challenge your own typical response to unanswered or delayed prayers?**
* **What does it mean for God to "hear" your supplications, beyond just an auditory perception? How does this understanding impact your confidence in prayer?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you need to cultivate a greater spirit of thanksgiving, even while still awaiting God's full intervention?**
* **How does the knowledge of God's attentiveness, as highlighted in this verse, encourage you to be more consistent and earnest in your prayer life?**

### FAQ
**Does God always answer prayers exactly as we ask, given David's declaration of "he hath heard"?**

Answer: Not necessarily in the way we expect, but always in accordance with His perfect will and wisdom. David's declaration in [Psalms 28:6](/psalms/28-6 "Psalms 28:6 - God Hears My Supplications") reflects a profound confidence that God has heard and acknowledged his prayer, implying that God will act. This "hearing" often means God has received the prayer, considered it, and will respond in a way that is best for the supplicant and aligns with His divine purposes. Sometimes the answer is "yes," sometimes "no," and sometimes "wait." The crucial point is that God is attentive and engaged, and His response is always good, even if it differs from our immediate desires. [1 John 5:14](/1_john/5-14 "1 John 5:14 - Confidence in Prayer") teaches that "if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us." This emphasizes that God's hearing is tied to His sovereign plan, which is ultimately for our good and His glory.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 28:6, with its profound declaration of God hearing supplications, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While David's confidence stemmed from a personal experience of God's attentiveness, it foreshadows the perfect access to the Father that we now have through the Son. Jesus himself exemplified perfect prayer, consistently communing with the Father and always being heard, as He affirmed in [John 11:41-42](/john/11-41 "John 11:41-42 - Jesus Prays to the Father"). His life, culminating in His atoning sacrifice, opened the way for all believers to approach God's throne with confidence, knowing that our "supplications" are heard not based on our merit, but on His finished work. The [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") became the ultimate answer to humanity's deepest cry for deliverance from sin and death. Moreover, it is through Christ that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with "groanings which cannot be uttered" ([Romans 8:26-27](/romans/8-26 "Romans 8:26-27 - The Spirit's Intercession")), ensuring that our prayers, even in their imperfect form, are presented and heard according to God's will. Thus, David's ancient cry of praise becomes a resounding anthem for all who are in Christ, for in Him, we truly know that the Lord has heard the voice of our supplications, and He is indeed blessed forever.

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 107:19

Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saveth them out of their distresses.

Psalms 107:22

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

Psalms 31:21

Blessed [be] the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

Psalms 31:22

For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

Psalms 118:5

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place.

Psalms 116:1

¶ I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice [and] my supplications.

Psalms 116:2

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