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

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

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

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

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

Psalm 38:9 (KJV) stands as a poignant declaration of vulnerability and faith amidst profound suffering. In this verse, the psalmist, likely King David, expresses his deepest anguish and unspoken longings, affirming God's complete awareness of his inner state: "Lord, all my desire [is] before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee."

Context of Psalm 38

Psalm 38 is one of the seven penitential psalms, characterized by its deep lament over personal sin, physical illness, and social isolation. David describes himself as heavily afflicted, feeling the weight of God's hand upon him due to his iniquities (Psalm 38:3-5). His friends and companions have abandoned him, and his enemies seek his harm. Amidst this overwhelming distress, verse 9 serves as a pivot, revealing the psalmist's confidence that despite his outward suffering and internal turmoil, God is intimately aware of every aspect of his pain and longing.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Omniscience: The verse powerfully asserts God's all-knowing nature. It emphasizes that God not only hears spoken prayers but also perceives the unspoken desires and deepest sorrows of the human heart. Nothing is hidden from His sight.
  • Vulnerability and Honesty: The psalmist models profound transparency before God. He doesn't attempt to conceal his pain or his longing for relief, demonstrating a trusting relationship where complete openness is possible and welcomed.
  • Comfort in God's Awareness: For the suffering individual, this verse offers immense comfort. It assures believers that even when words fail, and their pain is so deep it can only be expressed through groans, God understands and acknowledges their distress. This echoes the sentiment found in Romans 8:26, where the Spirit intercedes with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "desire" is ta'avah (תַּאֲוָה), which can mean longing, craving, or yearning. Here, it signifies the psalmist's deepest aspirations, likely for healing, restoration, and deliverance from his plight.
  • "Groaning" comes from the Hebrew anachah (אֲנָחָה), referring to a sigh, moan, or lament. It describes an inarticulate sound of deep sorrow or anguish, too profound for words. The phrase "is not hid from thee" (לֹא נִכְחַד, *lo nikhchad*) underscores God's perfect perception, emphasizing that even the most subtle expressions of pain are fully known to Him.

Practical Application

Psalm 38:9 offers timeless encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that we can approach God with absolute honesty, laying bare our deepest desires, fears, and unexpressed pains. When words fail us in prayer, or when our burdens feel too heavy to articulate, we can find solace in knowing that God understands our every thought and groan. This verse invites us to trust in God's compassionate omniscience, knowing that He sees, He hears, and He cares about our every silent cry.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • 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.

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