Psalms 69:3

KJV

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

KJV (with Strong's)

I am weary {H3021}{H8804)} of my crying {H7121}{H8800)}: my throat {H1627} is dried {H2787}{H8738)}: mine eyes {H5869} fail {H3615}{H8804)} while I wait {H3176}{H8764)} for my God {H430}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I am exhausted from crying, my throat is dry and sore, my eyes are worn out with looking for my God.

Berean Standard Bible

I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

American Standard Version

I am weary with my crying; my throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 69:3 is a profound lament expressing the psalmist's extreme physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from prolonged suffering and incessant prayer. Despite the debilitating weariness—manifested as a dried throat from crying and failing eyes from waiting—the verse powerfully underscores an unwavering, active hope and steadfast devotion to God, demonstrating a deep personal relationship and an expectation of divine intervention even in the depths of despair.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 69 is a deeply personal and poignant lament, traditionally attributed to David, though its themes resonate with the experiences of any righteous sufferer. It belongs to a category of psalms where an individual cries out to God from a place of intense persecution, false accusation, and seemingly unmerited affliction. Verse 3 appears early in the psalm, immediately following an initial outcry for deliverance (verse 1) and a description of being overwhelmed by troubles (verse 2). This verse sets the tone for the psalmist's profound distress, establishing the physical and emotional toll of his prolonged ordeal and fervent supplication before he delves into specific complaints against his adversaries and petitions for divine judgment and salvation. It highlights the sheer duration and intensity of his suffering and his persistent, vocal appeals to God.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While traditionally linked to David's experiences of betrayal and persecution, the psalm reflects a common human experience of suffering within the ancient Near Eastern context. In Israelite society, lament was a recognized and vital form of prayer, allowing individuals to express raw emotion and distress directly to God. Physical manifestations of grief and suffering, such as weeping, thirst, and failing sight, were culturally understood as signs of extreme affliction and deprivation. The act of "crying out" (Hebrew: _shava'_) was not merely weeping but a desperate, vocal plea for help, often performed publicly or with great intensity. The psalmist's "waiting for my God" reflects a covenantal understanding of God's faithfulness and a deep-seated hope in His ultimate intervention, even when circumstances seemed dire and immediate relief was absent.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Psalm 69 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it powerfully conveys the theme of **Profound Suffering and Exhaustion**, vividly illustrating the physical and emotional toll that intense hardship and prolonged distress can exact. The descriptions of a "dried throat" and "failing eyes" are visceral portrayals of depletion. Secondly, it highlights **Persistent Prayer and Lament**, demonstrating that despite overwhelming weariness, the psalmist continues to cry out to God, underscoring the discipline and desperation of continuous supplication in adversity. This resonates with the New Testament call to "pray without ceasing" ([1_thessalonians/5-17 "1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray Without Ceasing"]). Thirdly, and crucially, the phrase "while I wait for my God" introduces the theme of **Unwavering Hope and Steadfast Trust**. Even when physically and emotionally spent, the psalmist's spiritual focus remains anchored in a personal relationship with the divine. This patient, active waiting for the Lord is a recurring biblical motif, promising renewed strength to those who wait ([isaiah/40-31 "Isaiah 40:31 - Those Who Wait on the Lord"]). Finally, as one of the most significant **Messianic Psalms**, Psalm 69 foreshadows the suffering of a righteous individual who experiences intense persecution and rejection, a theme profoundly fulfilled in the life and passion of Jesus Christ, whose zeal for God's house consumed Him ([john/2-17 "John 2:17 - Zeal for God's House"]).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Weary (Hebrew, _yaga'_):** This term signifies a profound state of being utterly worn out, exhausted, or spent, often as a result of arduous labor, intense struggle, or deep distress. It implies a physical and emotional depletion that goes beyond simple tiredness, suggesting that the psalmist has reached the absolute limit of his endurance from the continuous act of crying out.
* **Crying (Hebrew, _shava'_):** Derived from the root meaning "to cry for help," this word denotes a desperate, vocal plea for deliverance rather than mere weeping or sorrowful tears. It implies an intense, often loud, and persistent supplication, indicating the urgency and depth of the psalmist's distress and his fervent appeal to God for intervention.
* **Wait (Hebrew, _qavah'_):** This is not a passive waiting, but an active, hopeful expectation. It often carries the nuance of "binding oneself to" or "clinging to" the object of hope. The psalmist is not resigned to his fate but is tenaciously clinging to God with steadfast anticipation, demonstrating a profound trust that God will ultimately act on his behalf.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I am weary of my crying":** This clause vividly portrays the psalmist's physical and emotional exhaustion. His constant, fervent appeals to God have taken a profound toll, leaving him utterly spent. It speaks to the sheer duration and intensity of his suffering and his vocal lament.
* **"my throat is dried":** This is a literal and metaphorical description of dehydration, likely caused by continuous vocal lamentation or an intense spiritual thirst for God's presence and intervention. It signifies extreme physical distress and perhaps a sense of spiritual desiccation.
* **"mine eyes fail":** This phrase suggests that the psalmist's vision is dimming or blurring, possibly from incessant weeping, straining to see signs of deliverance, or general physical debilitation due to prolonged suffering. It conveys a sense of physical capacity wasting away and perhaps a fading of immediate hope in the visible world.
* **"while I wait for my God":** This crucial concluding clause provides the powerful counterpoint to the preceding expressions of exhaustion. Despite the profound physical and emotional depletion, the psalmist's hope and focus remain steadfastly fixed on God. The possessive "my God" emphasizes a deep, personal, and covenantal relationship, highlighting that even in his lowest state, his faith is anchored in the Lord and his expectation of divine intervention remains active.

#### Literary Devices
The psalmist employs several potent literary devices to convey his profound distress and unwavering hope. **Hyperbole** is evident in the exaggerated descriptions of physical weariness ("throat is dried," "eyes fail"), which serve to underscore the extreme nature of his suffering and the intensity of his lament. These physical symptoms also function as **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche**, where the parts (throat, eyes) represent the whole person's overwhelming anguish and physical breakdown. The vivid imagery evokes strong **Pathos**, eliciting deep sympathy from the reader for the psalmist's plight. Furthermore, there is a subtle form of **Parallelism** in the progression of physical symptoms, each contributing to the cumulative effect of utter exhaustion, which is then powerfully contrasted by the concluding clause that anchors the psalmist's hope in God, creating a tension between human frailty and divine steadfastness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 69:3 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of human suffering and divine faithfulness. It validates the raw, unvarnished expression of pain and exhaustion before God, affirming that lament is a legitimate and necessary component of faith. The psalmist's experience underscores that even those who are righteous and devoted can endure prolonged, debilitating distress. The paradox lies in the psalmist's ability to maintain an active, hopeful "waiting" for God even when physical and emotional resources are completely depleted. This points to a faith that transcends circumstances, anchored not in fleeting feelings or visible evidence, but in the unchanging character of God and His covenant promises. It teaches that God is not distant from our suffering but hears the cries of the afflicted, even when those cries are weary and seemingly unheard. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that perseverance in prayer, even in weakness, is a testament to an enduring trust in God's ultimate deliverance and vindication.

* [Psalm 42:2](/psalms/42-2 "Psalm 42:2 - Soul Thirsts for God")
* [Lamentations 3:49-50](/lamentations/3-49-50 "Lamentations 3:49-50 - Eyes Weep Unceasingly")
* [Isaiah 40:31](/isaiah/40-31 "Isaiah 40:31 - Those Who Wait on the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 69:3 provides immense comfort and guidance for contemporary believers navigating prolonged distress, burnout, or spiritual dryness. It grants us "permission to lament," assuring us that expressing our deepest pain, exhaustion, and even despair to God is not a sign of weak faith but an authentic act of trust. The psalmist's experience validates the reality of feeling utterly spent—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—from life's burdens or persistent prayer that seems to go unanswered. Yet, the verse simultaneously calls us to perseverance. Even when our throats are dry from crying out and our eyes fail from waiting, the steadfast anchor of our hope must remain "my God." This teaches us to actively cling to God, to continue our supplication even when weary, and to trust that He hears and will act in His perfect timing. It reminds us that our ultimate strength and refuge are found not in our own resilience, but in our unwavering reliance on the Lord, who is faithful even when we are weak.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the psalmist's raw expression of exhaustion resonate with your own experiences of distress or prolonged difficulty?**
* **In what ways can we maintain active hope ("wait for my God") even when our physical and emotional resources are depleted?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the nature of prayer, especially during times of intense suffering and apparent silence from God?**

### FAQ
**Is Psalm 69 truly a "Messianic Psalm"?**

Answer: Yes, Psalm 69 is widely recognized as one of the most significant Messianic Psalms in the Old Testament, frequently quoted and alluded to in the New Testament to describe the suffering, zeal, and rejection of Jesus Christ. For example, the psalmist's zeal for God's house is applied directly to Jesus cleansing the temple in [John 2:17](/john/2-17 "John 2:17 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple"), which quotes [Psalm 69:9](/psalms/69-9 "Psalm 69:9 - Zeal for Your House"). Similarly, the reproach endured by the psalmist is applied to Christ in [Romans 15:3](/romans/15-3 "Romans 15:3 - Christ Did Not Please Himself"). The themes of innocent suffering, betrayal by friends, thirst, and being hated without cause all find their ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Christ's passion and sacrifice.

**What does "my eyes fail" imply beyond physical exhaustion?**

Answer: While "my eyes fail" certainly denotes physical weariness from constant weeping or straining to see God's deliverance, it also carries deeper spiritual and psychological implications. It can suggest a dimming of spiritual vision, a loss of clarity in perceiving God's presence or action in a difficult situation. In moments of profound distress, hope can feel distant, and the ability to "see" God's hand at work may be obscured by overwhelming circumstances. Yet, the psalmist's subsequent declaration that he continues to "wait for my God" indicates that despite the failing physical or even spiritual "sight," his faith and active expectation remain anchored in the Lord, demonstrating a trust that transcends immediate perception.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 69:3 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The psalmist's lament of being "weary of my crying," having a "throat dried," and "eyes fail" while "waiting for my God" perfectly foreshadows the immense suffering and unwavering devotion of the Son of God. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experienced an agony so profound that His sweat became like drops of blood, crying out to His Father with intense supplication, His soul "very sorrowful, even to death" ([matthew/26-38 "Matthew 26:38 - Jesus' Anguish in Gethsemane"]). On the cross, His physical suffering was extreme, culminating in the declaration "I thirst" ([john/19-28 "John 19:28 - Jesus Says 'I Thirst'"]), a direct echo of the psalmist's dried throat. Throughout His Passion, Jesus actively "waited for His God," submitting to the Father's will even unto death ([luke/22-42 "Luke 22:42 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane"]), trusting in the ultimate vindication through resurrection. Unlike the psalmist, whose suffering was for his own deliverance, Christ's exhaustion and cries were vicarious, endured for the salvation of humanity. He is the righteous sufferer par excellence, whose perfect endurance of physical and spiritual anguish, coupled with His unwavering trust in the Father, provides the ultimate answer to the human condition of distress and offers the power to persevere for all who believe in Him.

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 6:6

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

Psalms 119:82

Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

Psalms 119:123

¶ Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.

Isaiah 38:14

Like a crane [or] a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail [with looking] upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

Deuteronomy 28:32

Thy sons and thy daughters [shall be] given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail [with longing] for them all the day long: and [there shall be] no might in thine hand.

Psalms 25:21

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

Psalms 69:21

They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.