Psalms 39:13

KJV

O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

KJV (with Strong's)

O spare {H8159} me, that I may recover strength {H1082}{H8686)}, before I go hence {H3212}{H8799)}, and be no more.

Complete Jewish Bible

Turn your gaze from me, so I can smile again before I depart and cease to exist.

Berean Standard Bible

Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”

American Standard Version

Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 39:13 presents the Psalmist's urgent and poignant plea to God for a reprieve from suffering and a restoration of strength and spiritual vitality before his inevitable death. It encapsulates a profound awareness of human mortality and the transient nature of life, expressing a deep desire for a period of peace and recovery to prepare for the end of his earthly existence, acknowledging God's sovereign power over life and death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 39 is a deeply introspective and personal lament, attributed to David, that grapples with the profound questions of human suffering, the brevity of life, and the apparent futility of human striving in the face of divine sovereignty. The psalm begins with the Psalmist's struggle to maintain silence and control his tongue amidst his affliction, fearing he might speak rashly against God or in the presence of the wicked, as seen in [Psalm 39:1-3](/psalms/39-1-3 "Psalm 39:1-3 - David's Vow of Silence"). This initial resolve gives way to an outpouring of his heart, as he requests God to show him the measure of his days, leading to a profound meditation on the fleeting nature of human existence, where even the most stable human life is but a "mere breath," as articulated in [Psalm 39:4-6](/psalms/39-4-6 "Psalm 39:4-6 - The Brevity of Life"). He then shifts to a posture of humble submission, acknowledging God's hand in his suffering and finding his hope solely in the Lord, a theme central to [Psalm 39:7-11](/psalms/39-7-11 "Psalm 39:7-11 - Hope in God Alone"). Verse 13 serves as the culminating, desperate cry for mercy and restoration, a final, urgent appeal before the curtain falls on his earthly life.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific historical occasion for Psalm 39 is not stated, it resonates with common experiences of severe illness, personal affliction, or the contemplation of old age and approaching death, which were frequently interpreted as divine chastisement in ancient Israel. The Psalmist's plea for "strength" and "recovery" reflects a worldview where a robust, vital life was highly valued, and weakness or illness was often seen as a sign of divine displeasure or the diminishing of life's essence. The concept of "going hence and being no more" reflects the common Old Testament understanding of death as a descent into Sheol, a shadowy realm where conscious interaction with God or vibrant life as experienced on earth ceased, as depicted in [Psalm 6:5](/psalms/6-5 "Psalm 6:5 - No Remembrance in Death"). This understanding imbued the plea for a reprieve with profound urgency, as the opportunity for praise, service, and experiencing God's favor was primarily associated with earthly life.
* **Key Themes:** This psalm, and particularly [Psalms 39:13](/psalms/39-13 "Psalm 39:13 - A Plea for Respite Before Death"), powerfully articulates several key themes. Firstly, the **brevity and fragility of human life** are central, emphasizing that humanity is but a "breath" before the eternal God, as highlighted in [Psalm 39:5](/psalms/39-5 "Psalm 39:5 - Man is but a Breath"). Secondly, the **sovereignty of God over life and death** is implicitly acknowledged, as the Psalmist appeals to God as the one who can "spare" or "chastise." Thirdly, the theme of **lament and honest prayer** is prominent, demonstrating that it is permissible and even necessary to voice one's deepest fears and vulnerabilities to God, including the fear of death and the desire for relief from suffering. Finally, there is a yearning for **restoration and spiritual vitality**, a holistic recovery that goes beyond mere physical healing to encompass renewed composure and purpose before the inevitable end.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Spare (Hebrew, _shâʻâh'_):** This verb (H8159) carries the sense of "to gaze at or about (properly, for help)," and by implication, "to inspect, consider, compassionate, or have respect." In this urgent plea, the Psalmist is imploring God to "look upon him with compassion," to "regard" his suffering, and effectively "turn away" or "desist" from the affliction that is leading to his demise. It is a cry for God to show mercy and withhold the full measure of His hand, granting a reprieve.
* **Recover strength (Hebrew, _bâlag'_):** The verb (H1082) means "to break off or loose," implying a cessation of grief or distress, leading to "comfort" or "recovery of strength." The Psalmist desires a period where the oppressive weight of his affliction is lifted, allowing him to "desist from grief" and regain his vitality. This is not merely a physical restoration but a comprehensive renewal of spirit and composure, enabling him to face his final moments with peace and dignity.
* **Go hence (Hebrew, _yâlak'_):** This verb (H3212), meaning "to walk" or "to go," is used here in the idiomatic sense of "to depart" or "to pass away," referring to death. The phrase "before I go hence, and be no more" powerfully conveys the Psalmist's acute awareness of his impending mortality. He desires a period of respite and recovery *before* he permanently departs from the land of the living, emphasizing the finality of his earthly existence and the urgency of his plea for divine intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O spare me":** This is a direct, urgent, and personal appeal to God for mercy and a cessation of the present affliction. It acknowledges God's sovereign power to inflict or withhold suffering and reflects a deep sense of desperation. The Psalmist is not demanding, but pleading for divine grace and a reprieve from the hand of judgment or severe trial.
* **"that I may recover strength":** This clause reveals the purpose of the plea for mercy. The Psalmist desires not merely a prolonged existence, but a period of renewed vitality, spiritual composure, and a return to a state of well-being. It is a yearning for a time to regain his footing, to "brighten up" and experience restoration before the ultimate end. This suggests a desire to live out his remaining days with purpose and peace, rather than in a state of weakness and despair.
* **"before I go hence, and be no more":** This phrase starkly confronts the reality of death. It is a poignant expression of mortality, emphasizing the finality of earthly life and the cessation of one's presence in the world. The urgency of the plea is underscored by the imminent prospect of his departure. The Psalmist desires this period of recovery *before* he passes into the realm where he will no longer be present among the living, highlighting the preciousness of the time he has left.

#### Literary Devices
[Psalm 39:13](/psalms/39-13 "Psalm 39:13 - A Plea for Respite Before Death") employs several potent literary devices that amplify its emotional and theological impact. The entire verse functions as a climactic **Lament**, a direct and desperate cry to God for intervention, characteristic of the genre of the psalm itself. The phrase "recover strength" uses **Metaphor** to describe a holistic restoration, not just physical healing, but a renewal of spirit and emotional composure, implying a return to a vibrant state of being. The expression "go hence, and be no more" is a powerful **Idiom** for death, a common biblical phrase that starkly conveys the finality of earthly existence without explicit reference to the afterlife. This idiom, combined with the urgent "before I go hence," creates a profound sense of **Urgency** and **Pathos**, underscoring the Psalmist's acute awareness of his mortality and the limited window for divine intervention. The direct address "O spare me" is an example of **Apostrophe**, speaking directly to God, which enhances the personal and intimate nature of the plea.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully articulates the human experience of mortality and the yearning for divine grace in the face of death. Theologically, it affirms God's absolute sovereignty over life and death, as the Psalmist appeals to Him as the ultimate arbiter of his days. It highlights the Old Testament understanding of life as a precious gift, with a strong emphasis on the present earthly existence as the primary arena for relationship with God and for service. The plea for "strength" and "recovery" before death underscores a desire to live out one's remaining days with dignity and purpose, rather than in a state of decline or despair. While the Old Testament's understanding of the afterlife was less developed than the New Testament's, this verse still points to a hope that God can provide comfort and peace even as life draws to a close. It is a testament to the human spirit's innate desire for vitality and meaning, even in the shadow of mortality.

* [Job 10:20-21](/job/10-20-21 "Job 10:20-21 - Job's Plea for Respite")
* [Psalm 90:12](/psalms/90-12 "Psalm 90:12 - Numbering Our Days")
* [James 4:14](/james/4-14 "James 4:14 - Life is a Vapor")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Psalms 39:13](/psalms/39-13 "Psalm 39:13 - A Plea for Respite Before Death") offers profound lessons for believers navigating the realities of suffering, mortality, and the brevity of life. It teaches us the importance of honest and vulnerable prayer, encouraging us to bring our deepest fears—including those concerning our own mortality and the pain of our afflictions—before God without reservation. Like the Psalmist, we are invited to express our longing for relief and restoration, trusting in God's compassion and sovereignty. This verse also serves as a poignant reminder of the preciousness and fleeting nature of our earthly days. It calls us to a mindful stewardship of the time we have, urging us to seek spiritual and emotional "strength" and "recovery" not just for the sake of comfort, but so that we might live out our remaining time with purpose, glorifying God and preparing our hearts for eternity. It compels us to cherish the present moment and to cultivate a deep reliance on God's grace, recognizing that true strength and peace come from Him, even as we face the inevitable end of our earthly journey.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What fears or anxieties about your own mortality or the brevity of life do you find difficult to express to God?**
* **In what areas of your life do you feel a need to "recover strength" or regain spiritual composure, and how might you seek God for that restoration?**
* **How does the Psalmist's urgent plea for a reprieve before death shape your perspective on the value and stewardship of your present time?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper sense of peace and purpose in light of life's brevity, rather than being consumed by despair?**

### FAQ

**Does "recover strength" only refer to physical healing?**

Answer: While physical healing might be part of the Psalmist's desire, the Hebrew word בָּלַג (_bâlag_) for "recover strength" (or "brighten up," "regain composure") suggests a more holistic restoration. It implies a return to spiritual, emotional, and mental vitality, a state of peace and well-being that allows one to face the end of life with dignity and purpose. The Psalmist is seeking a reprieve from the overwhelming distress that has depleted him, desiring a time to regain his inner equilibrium before his departure.

**How does the Old Testament view of death, "go hence, and be no more," compare with New Testament teachings?**

Answer: In the Old Testament, "go hence, and be no more" reflects the common understanding of death as a cessation of earthly existence and a descent into Sheol, a shadowy realm where the dead reside and where there is no active praise or remembrance of God as in life, as seen in [Psalm 6:5](/psalms/6-5 "Psalm 6:5 - No Remembrance in Death"). While there were nascent hopes of resurrection (e.g., [Job 19:25-27](/job/19-25-27 "Job 19:25-27 - Job's Hope of a Redeemer")), the primary focus was on the finality of earthly life. The New Testament, however, brings a much clearer and more robust revelation of the afterlife, centered on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It teaches that death is not the end of existence but a transition, and believers have the promise of eternal life, resurrection, and conscious fellowship with God in heaven, as proclaimed in [John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life") and [1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54-57 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory Over Death"). Thus, while the Old Testament expresses the sorrow and finality of earthly death, the New Testament transforms this understanding with the hope of resurrection and eternal life in Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Psalmist's poignant plea in [Psalms 39:13](/psalms/39-13 "Psalm 39:13 - A Plea for Respite Before Death"), "O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more," finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Psalmist yearns for a temporary reprieve from suffering and a fleeting restoration of strength before succumbing to the finality of death. However, Christ, through His atoning work and glorious resurrection, offers not merely a temporary respite but a definitive victory over death and the promise of eternal, unfading strength. Where the Psalmist faced the grim reality of "going hence, and being no more," Jesus entered death, conquered it, and rose again, becoming the "firstfruits of those who are asleep," as declared in [1 Corinthians 15:20](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ, the Firstfruits"). He is the one who gives true and lasting "strength" to the weary and life to the spiritually dead, as promised in [Isaiah 40:29](/isaiah/40-29 "Isaiah 40:29 - God Gives Strength") and [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"). In Him, believers are not merely spared from immediate demise, but are granted new life, an imperishable inheritance, and the assurance that even in physical death, they "shall live," as Jesus Himself stated in [John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life"). The Psalmist's cry for a moment of peace before the end is answered in Christ with the promise of eternal peace and a life where there is no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain, a glorious vision found in [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Pain"). Thus, Jesus fulfills the deep human longing expressed in this psalm by transforming the prospect of "no more" into the glorious reality of "forevermore" with 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

Job 14:10

But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he?

Job 14:12

So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

Job 10:20

[Are] not my days few? cease [then, and] let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

Job 10:21

Before I go [whence] I shall not return, [even] to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

Job 14:5

Seeing his days [are] determined, the number of his months [are] with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

Job 14:6

Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

Job 7:19

How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?