Psalms 31:22

Translation
King James Version
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.
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KJV (with Strong's)
For I said H559 in my haste H2648, I am cut off H1629 from before H5048 thine eyes H5869: nevertheless H403 thou heardest H8085 the voice H6963 of my supplications H8469 when I cried H7768 unto thee.
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Complete Jewish Bible
As for me, in my alarm I said, "I have been cut off from your sight!"Nevertheless, you heard my pleas when I cried out to you.
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Berean Standard Bible
In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from Your sight!” But You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help.
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American Standard Version
As for me, 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.
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World English Bible Messianic
As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Though I said in mine haste, I am cast out of thy sight, yet thou heardest the voyce of my prayer, when I cryed vnto thee.
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Young's Literal Translation
And I--I have said in my haste, `I have been cut off from before Thine eyes,' But Thou hast heard the voice of my supplications, In my crying unto Thee.
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See also
Psalms 116:11Psalms 88:16Psalms 6:9Job 35:14Ezekiel 37:111 Samuel 27:1Lamentations 3:54
In the KJVVerse 14,354 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalm 31:22 offers a profound glimpse into the raw honesty of human faith and the unwavering steadfastness of God. In a moment of intense panic and despair, David confesses to a rash declaration—that he was utterly cut off from God's sight and care. Yet, with immediate conviction, he testifies to the divine reality that, despite his fleeting doubt, the Lord had indeed heard and responded to his fervent supplications. This verse beautifully illustrates the tension between human vulnerability and divine faithfulness, serving as a powerful assurance that God's ear remains open to the cries of His children, even when they feel most abandoned.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalm 31 is a deeply personal lament and prayer of trust attributed to David, likely composed during a period of intense distress and persecution. The psalm opens with an urgent plea for deliverance from enemies and a declaration of unwavering trust in God's refuge, setting the tone for a desperate yet hopeful cry to the Almighty, as seen in Psalm 31:1-3. David vividly describes his physical and emotional decay, feeling like a "broken vessel" and the object of scorn and terror from his adversaries, a sentiment powerfully articulated in Psalm 31:9-13. Verse 22 functions as a pivotal retrospective confession within this narrative of suffering and hope. It recalls a specific instance of profound doubt, contrasting David's momentary despair with God's consistent faithfulness, thereby leading into a concluding section of praise and exhortation to love the Lord, which culminates the psalm's journey from lament to trust in Psalm 31:23-24.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: While the specific historical occasion for Psalm 31 is not explicitly stated, David's life was replete with periods of intense trial and flight, such as his prolonged persecution by King Saul, as extensively documented in 1 Samuel 23, or the traumatic rebellion of his own son Absalom, detailed in 2 Samuel 15. In ancient Israel, a king's well-being was often seen as intrinsically intertwined with the nation's, and his public laments and prayers were not merely personal expressions but acts of leadership, demonstrating profound reliance on Yahweh. The concept of being "cut off" from God's eyes would have been particularly terrifying, implying a complete loss of divine favor, protection, and even existence, as God's "face" or "eyes" often symbolized His active presence and benevolent attention. The act of crying out in supplication was a common and accepted form of prayer, reflecting complete dependence on God for rescue and mercy in times of dire need.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 31 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it underscores the reality of human despair and doubt, even for figures of great faith. David's admission of saying "in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes" normalizes the experience of feeling abandoned by God during intense suffering, a sentiment echoed in other laments like the poignant question found in Psalm 13:1. Secondly, it highlights the unwavering faithfulness and responsiveness of God. Despite David's momentary lapse in faith, God demonstrably "heardest the voice of my supplications," affirming the divine commitment to listen and respond to the cries of His people, a truth celebrated throughout the Psalms, as beautifully expressed in Psalm 116:1-2. Finally, the verse speaks to the power and efficacy of persistent prayer, even when offered from a place of deep distress. It teaches that God's hearing is not contingent on our perfect emotional state or unwavering confidence, but on His steadfast character and covenantal love, thereby encouraging believers to continue crying out to Him regardless of their immediate feelings.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Haste (Hebrew, châphaz', H2648): This word (H2648, חָפַז) conveys a sense of alarm, panic, or hurried flight. It implies a rash, impulsive statement made under duress, without careful thought or consideration. David's confession here is not of a deliberate theological error, but a spontaneous outburst of despair born from overwhelming circumstances, similar to his reflection in Psalm 116:11. It emphasizes the emotional intensity and unreasoned nature of his utterance.
  • Cut off (Hebrew, gâraz', H1629): The verb (H1629, גָּרַז) literally means "to cut off." In this context, it vividly describes a feeling of being completely severed, isolated, or excluded from God's presence and protective gaze. It expresses a profound sense of abandonment and hopelessness, as if God had turned His back and withdrawn His care entirely, leaving David utterly exposed and without divine connection.
  • Supplications (Hebrew, tachănûwn', H8469): This noun (H8469, תַּחֲנוּן) denotes earnest prayer or humble pleas for grace, mercy, or favor. The plural form (as implied in the KJV translation "supplications") emphasizes the multitude and intensity of David's desperate prayers, acknowledging his utter reliance on God's undeserved kindness. These are not demands, but earnest requests from one who recognizes his profound need for divine intervention and compassion.

Verse Breakdown

  • "For I said in my haste": This opening clause is a deeply personal and honest confession from David. He admits to a moment of impulsive speech, triggered by intense pressure, fear, or overwhelming circumstances. The phrase "in my haste" indicates that his words were not a reasoned theological conclusion but an emotional, perhaps even panicked, reaction—a raw expression of his immediate feelings of being overwhelmed and desperate. It sets up a poignant contrast with God's steadfast reality.
  • "I am cut off from before thine eyes": This is the content of David's hasty, despairing declaration. To be "cut off from before thine eyes" means to be removed from God's sight, protection, and benevolent attention. It signifies a profound feeling of utter abandonment, as if God had ceased to see him, care for him, or intervene on his behalf. This hyperbolic expression reflects the depth of his perceived isolation and hopelessness, a common lament in times of severe distress.
  • "nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee": This is the powerful pivot and triumphant affirmation of faith that transforms the lament into a testimony. Despite David's mistaken and despairing utterance, God's faithfulness remained absolute. The word "nevertheless" introduces a stark contrast, highlighting God's consistent character over David's fluctuating emotions and flawed perception. God not only heard but actively attended to his "voice of supplications," demonstrating His ever-present ear and responsiveness to the desperate cries of His servant, even when that servant's faith faltered or his words were born of despair.

Literary Devices

Psalm 31:22 is rich in literary devices that amplify its profound message. The primary device is Contrast, setting David's momentary, human Hyperbole of despair ("I am cut off from before thine eyes") against the unchanging reality of God's attentiveness ("nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications"). This creates a powerful tension that is ultimately resolved by divine faithfulness. David employs Confession ("For I said in my haste") to admit his human frailty and impulsive reaction, which then serves to magnify God's steadfastness and grace. The phrase "cut off from before thine eyes" functions as a vivid Metaphor for spiritual abandonment and perceived divine absence, drawing on the imagery of God's watchful, caring presence. The entire verse functions as a Testimony, recounting a past experience of profound doubt and God's subsequent vindication, serving as an encouragement and source of hope for all who read it.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Psalm 31:22 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of God and the authentic human experience of faith. It teaches that while human faith can waver under duress, God's character remains constant and His commitment to His people unwavering. David's confession normalizes the experience of doubt and feelings of abandonment, assuring believers that such moments do not disqualify them from God's love or attention. Rather, God's faithfulness is magnified precisely in those instances when our perception of Him is clouded by fear or despair. The verse powerfully affirms the efficacy of prayer, demonstrating that God hears and responds to the cries of His children, even when those cries are uttered from the depths of perceived hopelessness. It underscores that God's presence and responsiveness are not contingent upon our perfect emotional state or unwavering confidence, but on His steadfast love and covenantal promises, inviting us to bring our whole, messy selves before Him.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalm 31:22 provides immense comfort and encouragement for contemporary believers navigating seasons of distress, doubt, or perceived abandonment. It validates the raw, honest expression of our deepest fears and anxieties before God, demonstrating that even a man after God's own heart, like David, experienced moments of profound despair where he felt utterly forsaken. This verse liberates us from the burden of pretending to have perfect faith, inviting us instead to bring our "haste" and our feelings of being "cut off" directly to the Lord. It serves as a powerful reminder that our feelings, while real and valid, do not dictate God's reality or His faithfulness. Even when our emotions scream that God is absent or indifferent, His ear remains open, and His heart is inclined to hear our supplications. The ultimate application is to persevere in prayer, to cry out to God even when we feel least like it, trusting that His steadfast love transcends our fleeting perceptions and that He will indeed hear and respond in His perfect timing and way, always for our good and His glory.

Questions for Reflection

  • Have you ever felt "cut off from before thine eyes" in a moment of crisis or despair? How did you respond, and what did you learn?
  • What does David's admission of speaking "in my haste" teach us about the honesty we can bring to God in prayer, even when our words are imperfect?
  • How does the "nevertheless" in this verse challenge your understanding of God's faithfulness in the face of your own doubts or struggles?
  • In what practical ways can you remind yourself that God hears your supplications, even when you feel abandoned or unseen?

FAQ

Is it wrong to doubt God's presence or feel abandoned by Him?

Answer: Psalm 31:22, along with many other laments in the Bible (e.g., Psalm 22:1), demonstrates that it is a common human experience, even for devout believers, to feel doubt or abandonment. David's confession of saying "in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes" normalizes this feeling. The verse does not condemn the feeling itself, but rather highlights God's faithful response despite it. It's not the presence of doubt that is problematic, but how we respond to it. The key is to bring those honest feelings to God in prayer, just as David did, trusting that He hears and remains faithful.

How can I know God hears my prayers when I feel "cut off" or abandoned?

Answer: This verse provides the answer through David's powerful testimony: "nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee." Our feelings are not the ultimate arbiter of God's reality. While we may feel cut off, God's character is unchanging and His nature is to hear. He is inherently a God who hears (e.g., Psalm 116:1-2). Trusting this truth, even when our emotions contradict it, is an act of faith. Continue to cry out to Him, knowing that His ear is always open, and His response is always in accordance with His perfect will and love, even if it's not immediately apparent.

What does "cut off from before thine eyes" mean for us today, and how does God's hearing address it?

Answer: "Cut off from before thine eyes" signifies a feeling of complete isolation, abandonment, and a perceived loss of divine favor or protection. For believers today, it can manifest as spiritual dryness, unanswered prayer, overwhelming circumstances that make God's presence seem distant, or even the pain of betrayal. God's act of "hearing" our supplications directly addresses this feeling by affirming His active engagement and intimate care. It means that even when we feel unseen or forgotten, God is intimately aware of our plight, His gaze is upon us, and He is profoundly attentive to our cries. His hearing is not passive; it implies a readiness to respond and intervene, reminding us that we are never truly cut off from His loving presence, regardless of our emotional state.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalm 31:22 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's cry of feeling "cut off from before thine eyes" prefigures the deepest anguish experienced by the Son of God on the cross. In that moment of ultimate sacrifice, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), a direct echo of Psalm 22:1. Here, the perfect Son, who knew no sin, became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), experiencing the true spiritual separation from the Father that our sins deserved. Yet, just as David's despair was met with God's hearing, Christ's cry on the cross, though seemingly unanswered in that moment of agony, was ultimately heard and vindicated by the resurrection (Acts 2:24), demonstrating God's ultimate acceptance of His Son's sacrifice. Through His perfect obedience and suffering, Jesus secured for us the promise that we, who are in Him, will never be "cut off" from God's presence. Indeed, He ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25), ensuring that our supplications are always heard by the Father, not on the basis of our fleeting faith or emotional state, but on the enduring faithfulness of the Lamb of God who has fully reconciled us to God.

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Commentary on Psalms 31 verses 19–24

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

We have three things in these verses: -

I. The believing acknowledgment which David makes of God's goodness to his people in general, Psa 31:19, Psa 31:20.

1.God is good to all, but he is, in a special manner, good to Israel. His goodness to them is wonderful, and will be, to eternity, matter of admiration: O how great is thy goodness! How profound are the counsels of it! how rich are the treasures of it! how free and extensive are the communications of it! Those very persons whom men load with slanders God loads with benefits and honours. Those who are interested in this goodness are described to be such as fear God and trust in him, as stand in awe of his greatness and rely on his grace. This goodness is said to be laid up for them and wrought for them. (1.) There is a goodness laid up for them in the other world, an inheritance reserved in heaven (Pe1 1:4), and there is a goodness wrought for them in this world, goodness wrought in them. There is enough in God's goodness both for the portion and inheritance of all his children when they come to their full age, and for their maintenance and education during their minority. There is enough in bank and enough in hand. (2.) This goodness is laid up in his promise for all that fear God, to whom assurance is given that they shall want no good thing. But it is wrought, in the actual performance of the promise, for those that trust in him - that by faith take hold of the promise, put it in suit, and draw out to themselves the benefit and comfort of it. If what is laid up for us in the treasures of the everlasting covenant be not wrought for us, it is our own fault, because we do not believe. But those that trust in God, as they have the comfort of his goodness in their own bosoms, so they have the credit of it (and the credit of an estate goes far with some); it is wrought for them before the sons of men. God's goodness to them puts an honour upon them and rolls away their reproach; for all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed, Isa 61:9.

2.God preserves man and beast; but he is, in a special manner, the protector of his own people (Psa 31:20): Thou shalt hide them. As his goodness is hid and reserved for them, so they are hid and preserved for it. The saints are God's hidden ones. See here, (1.) The danger they are in, which arises from the pride of man and from the strife of tongues; proud men insult over them and would trample on them and tread them down; contentious men pick quarrels with them; and, when tongues are at strife, good people often go by the worst. The pride of men endangers their liberty; the strife of tongues in perverse disputings endangers truth. But, (2.) See the defence they are under: Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence, in a pavilion. God's providence shall keep them safe form the malice of their enemies. He has many ways of sheltering them. When Baruch and Jeremiah were sought for the Lord hid them, Jer 36:26. God's grace shall keep them safe from the evil of the judgments that are abroad; to them they have no sting; and they shall hidden in the day of the Lord's anger, for there is no anger at them. His comforts shall keep them easy and cheerful; his sanctuary, where they have communion with him, shelters then from the fiery darts of terror and temptation; and the mansions in his house above shall be shortly, shall be eternally, their hiding-place from all danger and fear.

II. The thankful returns which David makes for God's goodness to him in particular, Psa 31:21, Psa 31:22. Having admired God's goodness to all the saints, he here owns how good he had found him. 1. Without were fightings; but God had wonderfully preserved his life: "He has shown me his marvellous loving-kindness, he has given me an instance of his care for me and favour to me, beyond what I could have expected." God's loving-kindness to his people, all things considered, is wonderful; but some instances of it, even in this world, are in a special manner marvelous in their eyes; as this here, when God preserved David from the sword of Saul, in caves and woods, as safe as if he had been in a strong city. In Keilah, that strong city, God showed him great mercy, both in making him an instrument to rescue the inhabitants out of the hands of the Philistines and then in rescuing him from the same men who would have ungratefully delivered him up into the hand of Saul, Sa1 23:5, Sa1 23:12. This was marvellous loving-kindness indeed, upon which he writes, with wonder and thankfulness, Blessed be the Lord. Special preservations call for particular thanksgivings. 2. Within were fears; but God was better to him than his fears, Psa 31:22. He here keeps an account, (1.) Of his own folly, in distrusting God, which he acknowledges, to his shame. Though he had express promises to build upon, and great experience of God's care concerning him in many straits, yet he had entertained this hard and jealous thought of God, and could not forbear telling it him to his face. "I am cut off before thy eyes; thou hast quite forsaken me, and I must not expect to be looked upon or regarded by thee any more. I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul, and so be cut off before thy eyes, be ruined while thou lookest on," Sa1 27:1. This he said in his flight (so some read it), which denotes the distress of his affairs. Saul was just at his back, and ready to seize him, which made the temptation strong. In my haste (so we read it), which denotes the disturbance and discomposure of his mind, which made the temptation surprising, so that it found him off his guard. Note, It is a common thing to speak amiss when we speak in haste and without consideration; but what we speak amiss in haste we must repent of at leisure, particularly that which we have spoken distrustfully of God. (2.) Of God's wonderful goodness to him notwithstanding. Though his faith failed, God's promise did not: Thou hearest the voice of my supplication, for all this. He mentions his own unbelief as a foil to God's fidelity, serving to make his loving-kindness the more marvellous, the more illustrious. When we have thus distrusted God he might justly take us at our word, and bring our fears upon us, as he did on Israel, Num 14:28; Isa 66:4. But he has pitied and pardoned us, and our unbelief has not made his promise and grace of no effect; for he knows our frame.

III. The exhortation and encouragement which he hereupon gives to all the saints, Psa 31:23, Psa 31:24. 1. He would have them set their love on God (Psa 31:23): O love the Lord! all you his saints. Those that have their own hearts full of love to God cannot but desire that others also may be in love with him; for in his favour there is no need to fear a rival. It is the character of the saints that they do love God; and yet they must still be called upon to love him, to love him more and love him better, and give proofs of their love. We must love him, not only for his goodness, because he preserves the faithful, but for his justice, because he plentifully rewards the proud doer (who would ruin those whom he preserves), according to their pride. Some take it in a good sense; he plentifully rewards the magnificent (or excellent) doer, that is daringly good, whose heart, like Jehoshaphat's, is lifted up in the ways of the Lord. He rewards him that does well, but plentifully rewards him that does excellently well. 2. He would have them set their hope in God (Psa 31:24): "Be of good courage; have a good heart on it; whatever difficulties or dangers you may meet with, the God you trust in shall by that trust strengthen your heart." Those that hope in God have reason to be of good courage, and let their hearts be strong, for, as nothing truly evil can befal them, so nothing truly good for them shall be wanting to them.

In singing this we should animate ourselves and one another to proceed and persevere in our Christian course, whatever threatens us, and whoever frowns upon us.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 19–24. Public domain.
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Hippolytus of RomeAD 235
Fragments from Commentaries on Various Books of Scripture - On Psalm XXXI. 22
The mercy of God is not so "marvellous" when it is shown in humbler cities as when it is shown in "a strong city," and for this reason "God is to be blessed."
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 31
"I said in my ecstasy" [Psalm 31:22]. Whence that people again speaking says, I said in my fear, when the heathen were raging horribly against me. "I have been cast forth from the sight of Your eyes." For if You had regard to me, You would not suffer me to endure these things. "Therefore You heard, O Lord, the voice of my prayer, when I cried unto You." Therefore putting a limit to correction, and showing that I have part in Your care, You heard, O Lord, the voice of my prayer, when I raised it high out of tribulation.
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 31:1, 11
This psalm is likely to have been spoken by blessed David at the time of being pursued by Absalom.… I thought that on falling into sin, he is saying, I was far from your care; but you took account of my humble words and did not despise me in my need. Now, he rightly called his sin “departure”: after treading the way of righteousness he left it and turned aside; but he stumbled and fell foul of bloodthirsty brigands. This very thing reveals David’s virtue: he was not in the habit of sinning, but departing a little from his chosen course he suffered that awful slide.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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