Psalms 38:9

KJV

Lord, all my desire [is] before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

Lord {H136}, all my desire {H8378} is before thee; and my groaning {H585} is not hid {H5641} from thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

Adonai, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.

Berean Standard Bible

O Lord, my every desire is before You; my groaning is not hidden from You.

American Standard Version

Lord, all my desire is before thee; And my groaning is not hid from thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 38:9 serves as a profound declaration of the psalmist's complete vulnerability and unwavering trust in God's intimate knowledge of his suffering. Amidst deep physical and emotional distress, the psalmist expresses his absolute confidence that every unspoken desire and inarticulate groan is fully perceived, understood, and acknowledged by the Lord, affirming God's compassionate omniscience even when human words fail. This verse pivots from a detailed lament to an affirmation of divine awareness, setting the stage for a plea rooted in God's perfect understanding.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 38 is a poignant "Michtam of David," often categorized among the seven penitential psalms (along with Psalms 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, and 143). These psalms are characterized by deep lament, confession of sin, and fervent pleas for divine intervention and healing. The verses immediately preceding Psalm 38:9 paint a vivid and distressing picture of the psalmist's physical decay and overwhelming suffering, which he attributes, at least in part, to God's displeasure over his sin. He describes himself as "bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long" ([Psalm 38:6](/psalms/38-6 "Psalm 38:6 - The Psalmist's Deep Distress")), with his "loins filled with a loathsome disease" ([Psalm 38:7](/psalms/38-7 "Psalm 38:7 - Physical Affliction")). Verse 9 marks a crucial shift in the psalm's emotional trajectory, moving from a detailed articulation of affliction to a profound affirmation of God's intimate awareness, thereby laying a theological foundation for the subsequent appeals for help and deliverance found in verses like [Psalm 38:15-22](/psalms/38-15-22 "Psalm 38:15-22 - The Psalmist's Hope and Plea for Deliverance").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While traditionally ascribed to King David, the specific historical circumstances that prompted Psalm 38 are not explicitly stated, allowing its themes of suffering, sin, and divine awareness to resonate across various historical periods and personal experiences. In ancient Israelite thought, there was often a perceived, though not always direct or exclusive, correlation between sin and physical affliction or misfortune (cf. [John 9:2-3](/john/9-2-3 "John 9:2-3 - Jesus on Suffering and Sin")). The psalmist's lament reflects a common cultural practice of bringing all aspects of life—including profound suffering, illness, and confession of wrongdoing—directly before God in prayer and supplication. The added dimension of social isolation, where "my lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore" ([Psalm 38:11](/psalms/38-11 "Psalm 38:11 - Friends and Kinsmen Stand Aloof")), underscores the severe social and emotional consequences of illness and perceived divine displeasure in that society, intensifying the psalmist's feeling of abandonment and making his direct appeal to God all the more poignant and necessary.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 38 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Omniscience and Immanence**, emphasizing that God's knowledge extends beyond spoken words to encompass the deepest, unarticulated desires and pains of the human heart, a truth beautifully elaborated in [Psalm 139](/psalms/139 "Psalm 139 - God's Omnipresence and Omniscience"). Secondly, it underscores the profound importance of **Radical Honesty and Vulnerability in Prayer**, modeling a relationship with God where complete transparency and the unburdening of one's innermost being are not only permitted but foundational to genuine communion. The psalmist holds nothing back, even his inarticulate "groaning." Thirdly, it offers immense **Comfort in God's Attentiveness**, assuring the suffering individual that even when words fail, their distress is fully known and acknowledged by a compassionate God. This theme of God's unwavering attentiveness to the cries of the afflicted is a pervasive source of hope throughout the psalms of lament, such as [Psalm 6](/psalms/6 "Psalm 6 - A Penitential Psalm of Lament") and [Psalm 130](/psalms/130 "Psalm 130 - Out of the Depths").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lord (Hebrew, _ʼĂdônây'_):** This term (אֲדֹנָי, H136) is an emphatic form of `אדון` (adon), meaning "lord" or "master." When used as `ʼĂdônây`, it functions as a proper name for God, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, divine authority, and personal relationship with His people. It signifies the psalmist's recognition of God as his ultimate Master and the one to whom he can appeal with complete trust and submission, even in his deepest distress.
* **Desire (Hebrew, _taʼăvâh'_):** The word (תַּאֲוָה, H8378) denotes a strong longing, craving, or yearning. While it can sometimes carry a negative connotation, referring to sinful lusts (e.g., [Numbers 11:4](/numbers/11-4 "Numbers 11:4 - The Craving of the Rabble")), in this context, it refers to the psalmist's deepest, legitimate aspirations and needs. It encompasses his entire inner yearning for healing, relief from suffering, vindication, and the restoration of his fellowship with God, signifying the totality of his inner being laid bare before the Almighty.
* **Groaning (Hebrew, _ʼănâchâh'_):** This term (אֲנָחָה, H585) refers to a sigh, moan, or lament. It describes an inarticulate sound of profound sorrow, anguish, or physical pain that is too deep or overwhelming to be expressed in coherent words. It signifies a visceral, unuttered cry from the depths of one's being, a spontaneous expression of distress that transcends verbal articulation, highlighting the extremity of the psalmist's suffering.
* **Hid (Hebrew, _çâthar'_):** The verb (סָתַר, H5641), from which "not hid" is derived, means "to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively; to be absent, keep close, conceal, or keep secret." The negative construction "is not hid" (לֹא נִכְחַד) powerfully emphasizes God's perfect, complete, and inescapable perception. It signifies that absolutely nothing, not even the most subtle or inarticulate expression of pain, is concealed from God's sight or understanding, underscoring His omniscience and omnipresence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Lord, all my desire [is] before thee":** The psalmist begins with a direct address to "Lord" (`ʼĂdônây`), acknowledging God's supreme authority and personal relationship. The phrase "all my desire" emphasizes the totality and completeness of the psalmist's inner longings, suggesting that every facet of his yearning—whether for relief, healing, or divine favor—is laid bare. "Before thee" signifies God's immediate, personal presence and perfect perception, implying that these desires are not merely known intellectually by God, but are fully exposed and acknowledged in His direct, intimate presence.
* **"and my groaning is not hid from thee":** This clause functions as a powerful parallel to the first, reiterating and intensifying the theme of divine awareness. "My groaning" refers to the inarticulate, often involuntary sounds of deep distress that words cannot capture, representing the raw, unedited expression of profound suffering. The declaration that it "is not hid from thee" provides immense comfort and assurance, communicating that even when articulate prayer fails, and only a sigh or moan escapes, God fully comprehends the depth of the anguish. This underscores God's compassionate understanding that transcends human language and fully embraces the inexpressible.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 38:9 masterfully employs **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second half of the verse reiterates and reinforces the meaning of the first half using different but closely related terms. "All my desire" is paralleled by "my groaning," both referring to the psalmist's inner state of profound longing and distress. Similarly, "is before thee" is paralleled by "is not hid from thee," both emphasizing God's complete, intimate, and inescapable knowledge. This repetition serves to intensify the core message: God knows the psalmist's deepest, unuttered pain with perfect clarity. The verse also utilizes **Hyperbole** or **Totality** through phrases like "all my desire" and "is not hid," further emphasizing the comprehensive nature of God's awareness and the psalmist's complete transparency. As part of a penitential psalm, the verse functions as a form of **Lament** and **Confession**, as the psalmist lays bare his inner turmoil and vulnerability before God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 38:9 profoundly speaks to the very nature of God's omniscience, His compassionate attentiveness, and His immanent presence in human suffering. It reveals a God who is not distant or unaware but intimately present and perfectly perceptive of the deepest recesses of the human heart—even those feelings and longings that defy articulation. This verse invites believers to a radical honesty and vulnerability in their prayer life, assuring them that no pain is too small, no desire too obscure, and no groan too inarticulate for God to comprehend fully. It underscores the biblical truth that God knows us more intimately than we know ourselves, offering immense comfort and validating the full spectrum of human emotion in His presence. This divine knowledge forms the bedrock of trust, encouraging us to cast all our anxieties upon Him, knowing He cares deeply and understands perfectly.

* [Psalm 139:2-4](/psalms/139-2-4 "God's Omniscience and Knowledge of Our Thoughts")
* [Romans 8:26-27](/romans/8-26-27 "The Spirit's Intercession with Groanings")
* [Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "Nothing Hidden from God's Sight")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 38:9 offers timeless encouragement and profound comfort for believers navigating the complexities of suffering, sin, and emotional distress. It provides a powerful assurance that our God is not only aware of our spoken prayers but is also intimately acquainted with our unspoken longings and the inarticulate cries of our hearts. In moments of overwhelming grief, anxiety, physical pain, or spiritual desolation, when words fail and all we can manage is a sigh, a tear, or a groan, this verse reminds us that we are still fully heard and understood by our compassionate Creator. It challenges us to cultivate a prayer life marked by radical honesty, where we lay bare our true selves—our deepest desires, fears, weaknesses, and even our despair—before God, trusting in His perfect knowledge and boundless empathy. This truth liberates us from the burden of having to articulate perfectly or perform in prayer, inviting us instead into a relationship of vulnerable authenticity with the One who truly sees, truly knows, and truly cares.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does knowing God sees "all your desire" impact your prayer life and your willingness to be fully transparent with Him?**
* **In what situations do you find yourself "groaning" rather than speaking, and how does this verse offer comfort and validation in those moments?**
* **What does Psalm 38:9 teach us about the nature of God's relationship with His people, particularly His compassion and attentiveness to suffering?**

### FAQ
**Is "desire" in this verse always positive, or can it refer to sinful cravings?**

Answer: The Hebrew word for "desire" (_ta'avah_) can indeed carry both positive and negative connotations in the Old Testament, referring to legitimate longings or sinful cravings. However, in the context of Psalm 38, a penitential psalm where the psalmist is confessing sin and seeking relief from profound suffering, "all my desire" most likely refers to his deepest, legitimate yearnings for healing, restoration, deliverance from his adversaries, and renewed fellowship with God. It encompasses his entire inner longing for alleviation from his distress and for God's merciful intervention, which are righteous desires. The psalmist is laying bare his entire inner being, including his profound need for God's intervention, not illicit cravings.

**How can God "know" my groaning if it's unspoken and inarticulate?**

Answer: God's knowledge is not limited by human forms of communication or articulation. As an omniscient and omnipresent being, God perceives not only our words but also our thoughts, intentions, and the deepest stirrings of our spirit. Our "groaning" represents an emotional or physical anguish so profound that words cannot adequately express it. God's omniscience means He understands the root cause and full depth of this inarticulate cry, even perceiving the spiritual burdens that lead to such expressions. This concept is beautifully echoed in the New Testament, where the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with "groanings which cannot be uttered" ([Romans 8:26](/romans/8-26 "The Spirit's Intercession with Groanings")), demonstrating that divine understanding transcends human language and reaches into the very depths of our being.

**Does this verse mean I don't need to pray verbally, since God already knows my desires and groanings?**

Answer: While Psalm 38:9 profoundly assures us of God's intimate knowledge of our unspoken states and inarticulate pains, it does not negate the importance of verbal prayer. Instead, it complements and enriches our understanding of prayer. Verbal prayer is an essential act of worship, submission, and active engagement with God. It is how we express our faith, align our wills with His, and participate in our covenant relationship. This verse offers immense comfort for those times when words fail—when our pain is too great to articulate, when we are overwhelmed, or when we simply don't know how to pray. It assures us that even in those moments of silence or inarticulate anguish, God is still fully present, hearing, and understanding. It encourages authenticity in prayer, whether spoken or unspoken, fostering a relationship where we can bring our whole selves before Him.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 38:9 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The psalmist's experience of profound suffering, the weight of sin, and the cries of his inarticulate groaning are all perfectly understood and ultimately addressed by our Savior. Jesus, being fully God, perfectly embodies the omniscience described in the verse; He "knew what was in man" ([John 2:24-25](/john/2-24-25 "John 2:24-25 - Jesus Knew What Was in Man")), discerning the deepest desires and hidden sorrows of those He encountered. More profoundly, as fully human, Jesus himself experienced the depths of human suffering and "groaning." In Gethsemane, He was "sorrowful and deeply distressed" ([Matthew 26:37](/matthew/26-37 "Matthew 26:37 - Jesus' Anguish in Gethsemane")), His anguish so great that He sweat drops of blood, a silent, visceral groan before His Father. At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus "groaned in the spirit and was troubled" ([John 11:33](/john/11-33 "John 11:33 - Jesus Groans at Lazarus' Tomb")), demonstrating His profound empathy for human grief and the effects of sin. He is our ultimate High Priest, one who can "sympathize with our weaknesses, having been in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of our sins, addressing the very root cause of the psalmist's distress and offering true healing, forgiveness, and restoration. Now, through Christ, we have bold access to the Father ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence")), and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with "groanings which cannot be uttered" ([Romans 8:26-27](/romans/8-26-27 "Romans 8:26-27 - The Spirit's Intercession with Groanings")), ensuring that our deepest desires and unarticulated pains are not only known but also perfectly presented before God according to His will. In Christ, the promise that our groaning is "not hid from thee" is eternally secured and compassionately fulfilled.

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 10:17

LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

Psalms 6:6

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

2 Corinthians 5:2

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

John 1:48

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Psalms 102:5

By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

Romans 8:26

¶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8:27

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.