Psalms 86:6

Translation
King James Version
Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Give ear H238 H8685, O LORD H3068, unto my prayer H8605; and attend H7181 H8685 to the voice H6963 of my supplications H8469.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Listen, ADONAI, to my prayer; pay attention to my pleading cry.
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Berean Standard Bible
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and attend to my plea for mercy.
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American Standard Version
Give ear, O Jehovah, unto my prayer; And hearken unto the voice of my supplications.
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World English Bible Messianic
Hear, LORD, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Giue eare, Lord, vnto my prayer, and hearken to the voyce of my supplication.
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Young's Literal Translation
Hear, O Jehovah, my prayer, And attend to the voice of my supplications.
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See also
Psalms 5:1Psalms 5:2Psalms 17:1Psalms 130:2Psalms 55:1
In the KJVVerse 15,291 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalms 86:6 encapsulates a deeply earnest and profound plea from David to the LORD, imploring God not only to perceive his words but to actively incline His ear and attend to the very "voice" of his supplications. This verse articulates a foundational tenet of biblical prayer: the unwavering conviction that God is intimately present, willing, and able to engage with the sincere cries of His people, responding with divine compassion and intervention. It reflects a heart utterly dependent on God's attentive grace and unfailing mercy in a moment of personal distress and urgent need.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalm 86 is uniquely designated "A Prayer of David," signaling its deeply personal and devotional nature within the Psalter. It stands as a rich tapestry woven with elements of individual lament, fervent petition, communal confession, and heartfelt praise, often echoing themes and language found in other psalms and prophetic literature. Verse 6 marks a pivotal transition, following David's initial appeals grounded in God's character (verses 1-5), where he establishes his desperate need, his identity as God's servant, and his profound trust in God's goodness and readiness to forgive. With this verse, David initiates his specific and urgent requests for divine intervention. The preceding verses lay the groundwork of trust and dependence, making the plea for God's attentive ear a natural and necessary precursor to the subsequent outpouring of his heart, where he seeks deliverance from enemies, divine guidance, and vindication. The entire psalm serves as a powerful testament to the necessity and efficacy of direct, sincere, and persistent communication with the Almighty.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: While the precise historical setting for Psalm 86 remains unspecified, David's life was undeniably punctuated by numerous periods of intense personal anguish, relentless persecution (e.g., from King Saul, his son Absalom), and national crises. Throughout these tumultuous times, prayer served as David's primary and most vital recourse, reflecting a deeply ingrained and normative practice within ancient Israelite piety. Culturally, the act of a petitioner humbly approaching a king or sovereign with a plea was a common and well-understood practice. The expectation was that the ruler would "give ear" or "attend" to the request, signifying a willingness to genuinely consider and potentially act upon the petition. This human analogy is powerfully applied to God in the psalm, anthropomorphically depicting Him not as a distant or indifferent deity, but as a sovereign who is actively engaged with the cries of His subjects. The language of "supplications" further aligns with the cultural understanding of earnest, humble appeals for grace, typically made by those in a position of vulnerability or profound need, thereby underscoring the petitioner's complete reliance on the benevolence and mercy of the one being addressed.
  • Key Themes: Psalms 86:6 significantly contributes to several overarching themes prevalent throughout the Psalter and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the earnestness and sincerity in prayer. The emphatic and repeated calls for God to "give ear" and "attend" reveal the profound sincerity and urgent nature of David's appeal, transcending mere casual requests to become a desperate cry for divine intervention. Secondly, it highlights God's attentiveness and responsiveness. Implicit in David's fervent plea is an unwavering faith that God is not only capable of hearing but is also willing and eager to listen to His creation. This belief in God's active engagement with human prayers is a cornerstone of the covenant relationship, as powerfully articulated in passages like Psalm 116:1-2, where the psalmist declares, "I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live." Thirdly, the verse profoundly exemplifies profound dependence on God. By calling upon the LORD and expressing his "supplications," David demonstrates his absolute reliance on God as his ultimate source of help, salvation, and deliverance, echoing themes found consistently throughout David's psalms where he frequently seeks refuge in God during times of trouble, such as in Psalm 3:4.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Give ear (Hebrew, ʼâzan', H238): This Hebrew verb (H238) is derived from a root meaning "to expand" or "to broaden out the ear." It implies more than merely perceiving sound; it suggests a deliberate, active posture of paying close attention with the intent to understand, consider, and respond. It conveys the powerful image of God bending down, inclining His ear to listen intently, emphasizing His personal and engaged presence in response to the petitioner's cry.
  • Attend (Hebrew, qâshab', H7181): This verb (H7181) reinforces and intensifies the meaning of "give ear," carrying the sense of "to prick up the ears," "to pay close attention," or "to hearken diligently." The parallelism with ʼâzan' underscores David's desire for God's full, undivided, and responsive attention to his plight. It speaks to an active, engaged listening that is geared toward understanding and ultimately, toward action.
  • Supplications (Hebrew, tachănûwn', H8469): This noun (H8469), often found in the plural (tachănûwnîm), is derived from a root meaning "to be gracious" or "to show favor." It refers to earnest, humble pleas for grace, mercy, or favor. It frequently implies an appeal from a position of weakness, dire need, or unworthiness, highlighting the petitioner's complete dependence on the benevolence and unmerited favor of the one being addressed. It underscores the humble and desperate nature of David's prayer, acknowledging his reliance on God's compassion.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer;": This opening clause is a direct, urgent imperative addressed to Yahweh (H3068), the personal covenant name of God. "Give ear" (from ʼâzan') is a fervent and intimate plea for God's attentive listening, implying a deep desire for divine consideration and responsive action. The use of "O LORD" signifies a personal, intimate relationship, yet one imbued with profound reverence and trust in God's sovereign power and unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people. It is a bold expression of faith, rooted in the conviction that God is not only capable of hearing but is also willing to engage intimately with the petitioner's deepest concerns.
  • "and attend to the voice of my supplications.": This second clause functions in powerful synonymous parallelism with the first, intensifying the request and adding layers of meaning. "Attend" (from qâshab') reiterates the plea for active, focused listening, emphasizing God's full and undivided attention. "The voice of my supplications" suggests not merely the spoken words, but the deep emotional, spiritual, and even inarticulate cry that accompanies them. It highlights the humble, dependent, and earnest nature of David's appeal for grace and mercy, acknowledging that his plea is rooted in profound need and complete reliance on God's unmerited favor rather than any inherent personal merit.

Literary Devices

Psalms 86:6 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message and underscore the psalmist's earnest plea. The most prominent is Parallelism, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("and attend to the voice of my supplications") powerfully reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first ("Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer"). This deliberate repetition serves to emphasize the profound earnestness of David's plea and his deep, desperate desire for God's attentive presence and responsive action. Another significant device is Anthropomorphism, where human attributes or actions are ascribed to God (e.g., "give ear," "attend"). This device renders the infinite and transcendent God relatable and approachable, emphasizing His personal engagement with humanity without diminishing His divine nature. It vividly conveys the comforting truth that God truly listens, cares, and interacts with His creation. Furthermore, the use of the Imperative Mood ("Give ear," "attend") is crucial. While grammatically a command, it functions here as a fervent, faith-filled petition, reflecting the psalmist's boldness and confidence in approaching God, not dictating to Him, but expressing an intense longing and trust that God will indeed act on what He hears.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Psalms 86:6 stands as a profound theological statement on the very nature of prayer and the immutable character of God. It unequivocally affirms God as a prayer-hearing God, one who is neither distant nor indifferent, but actively inclines His ear to the cries of His people. This verse underscores the foundational biblical truth that prayer is not merely a psychological exercise or a ritualistic utterance, but a vital, effective, and transformative means of communication with the living God, who listens with compassion and responds with divine power. It highlights the indispensable importance of humility, sincerity, and earnestness in our approach to God, compelling us to recognize our utter dependence on His sovereign grace and boundless mercy. The psalmist's unwavering confidence in God's attentiveness serves as a powerful and enduring encouragement for believers across all generations to bring their burdens, fears, desires, and deepest supplications before the Almighty with unwavering assurance. This divine attentiveness is deeply rooted in God's covenant faithfulness and His compassionate nature, providing the ultimate assurance that our earnest prayers are never uttered into an empty void.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalms 86:6 serves as a timeless and profound anchor for our personal prayer lives, perpetually reminding us of the immense privilege and sacred responsibility of communicating directly with the Almighty God. It challenges us to transcend perfunctory recitations and to approach the Creator with the same profound earnestness, sincerity, and humble dependence that David so vividly displayed. When we ourselves "give ear" to God through diligent study of His Word and attentive listening to His Spirit, we can then confidently and boldly ask Him to "give ear" to our prayers, trusting implicitly that He is not only capable of hearing but is intimately concerned with every intricate detail of our lives. This verse fosters a vital posture of humble dependence, acknowledging that our "supplications" flow from a deep place of intrinsic need and complete reliance on His divine grace and mercy. In a world saturated with distractions and overwhelming noise, David's fervent plea reminds us to actively seek God's undivided attention, and in turn, to offer Him our own undivided hearts and minds in prayer. It cultivates a deep and abiding trust that our prayers, offered in genuine faith, are truly heard, deeply considered, and compassionately responded to by a God who cares beyond measure.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does David's profound earnestness in prayer, as expressed in this verse, challenge and reshape my own approach to God in prayer?
  • What does it truly mean for me to believe that God "attends" to my supplications, and how does this deeply held belief impact my persistence and confidence in prayer?
  • In what specific areas of my life am I most in need of pouring out humble and heartfelt "supplications" to the LORD, fully trusting in His attentive ear and compassionate response?

FAQ

Why does David need to ask God to "give ear" if God is omniscient and already knows everything?

Answer: David's fervent plea for God to "give ear" and "attend" is not an implication that God is unaware or lacks the capacity to hear. Rather, it is a deeply relational, anthropomorphic, and profoundly human expression of a desire for divine engagement, focused consideration, and responsive action. When we earnestly ask another person to "listen carefully" or "pay close attention," we are not questioning their auditory ability but seeking their focused consideration, active involvement, and empathetic understanding. Similarly, David's prayer is a heartfelt cry for God to incline Himself, to demonstrate His active and compassionate presence, and to intervene tangibly on his behalf. It reflects a profound longing for God's compassionate attention and His willingness to act in response to the "voice of his supplications," which are humble pleas for grace. It is an act of faith, acknowledging God's sovereignty and omniscience while simultaneously expressing a desperate need for His tangible help, much like a child earnestly seeks the full and undivided attention of a loving parent. This kind of prayer expresses the petitioner's deep longing for divine intervention and the comforting reassurance that their cries are not ignored but are deeply valued by God.

What is the difference between "prayer" and "supplications" in this verse, and why are both used?

Answer: In Psalms 86:6, "prayer" (Hebrew: tᵉphillâh, H8605) is a general and comprehensive term for addressing God, encompassing any form of communion, praise, confession, or request. It denotes the broad act of communication and fellowship with the divine. "Supplications" (Hebrew: tachănûwn, H8469), on the other hand, is a more specific and nuanced term. It refers to humble, earnest pleas for grace, mercy, or favor, often offered from a position of weakness, dire need, or distress. The root of tachănûwn is related to "grace" or "favor," emphasizing that the petitioner is appealing solely to God's unmerited kindness and compassion rather than any personal merit or right. The deliberate use of both terms in parallel serves to intensify David's plea. It highlights not only the general act of communication but specifically the earnest, humble, and deeply dependent nature of his requests for divine intervention and mercy. David is not merely praying; he is pouring out his soul with desperate pleas for grace, emphasizing his complete reliance on God's compassion and favor in his time of profound need.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalms 86:6 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest redemptive meaning in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While David earnestly implored God to "give ear" to his prayer, it is supremely through Christ that humanity gains unparalleled and confident access to the Father's attentive presence. Jesus Himself perfectly embodied the spirit of humble supplication, crying out to God with "loud cries and tears" during His earthly ministry, particularly in His agonizing prayer in Gethsemane, thereby demonstrating that even the Son of God relied utterly on the Father's attentive ear. More profoundly, Christ is the ultimate answer to David's plea. He is our great High Priest who, having suffered and been tempted in every conceivable way, is uniquely able to sympathize with our weaknesses, and through whom we can "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). Our prayers are heard and attended to by the Father not based on our inherent merit, but solely on the finished, atoning work of Christ, who is our sole mediator and advocate before God (1 Timothy 2:5). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit also intercedes for us with "groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8:26), ensuring that our "supplications" are perfectly aligned with God's sovereign will and presented acceptably before Him. Thus, the confident expectation that God "gives ear" to our prayers is fully and gloriously realized in the new covenant, where intimate access to the Father's attentive presence is eternally secured by the precious blood of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

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Commentary on Psalms 86 verses 1–7

This psalm was published under the title of a prayer of David; not as if David sung all his prayers, but into some of his songs he inserted prayers; for a psalm will admit the expressions of any pious and devout affections. But it is observable how very plain the language of this psalm is, and how little there is in it of poetic flights or figures, in comparison with some other psalms; for the flourishes of wit are not the proper ornaments of prayer. Now here we may observe,

I. The petitions he puts up to God. It is true, prayer accidentally may preach, but it is most fit that (as it is in this prayer) every passage should be directed to God, for such is the nature of prayer as it is here described (Psa 86:4): Unto thee, O Lord! do I lift up my soul, as he had said Psa 25:1. In all the parts of prayer the soul must ascend upon the wings of faith and holy desire, and be lifted up to God, to meet the communications of his grace, and in an expectation raised very high of great things from him. 1. He begs that God would give a gracious audience to his prayers (Psa 86:1): Bow down thy ear, O Lord! hear me. When God hears our prayers it is fitly said that he bows down his ear to them, for it is admirable condescension in God that he is pleased to take notice of such mean creatures as we are and such defective prayers as ours are. He repeats this again (Psa 86:6): "Give ear, O Lord! unto my prayer, a favourable ear, though it be whispered, though it be stammered; attend to the voice of my supplications." Not that God needs to have his affection stirred up by any thing that we can say; but thus we must express our desire of his favour. The Son of David spoke it with assurance and pleasure (Joh 11:41, Joh 11:42), Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me; and I know that thou hearest me always. 2. He begs that God would take him under his special protection, and so be the author of his salvation (Psa 86:2): Preserve my soul; save thy servant. It was David's soul that was God's servant; for those only serve God acceptably that serve him with their spirits. David's concern is about his soul; if we understand it of his natural life, it teaches us that the best self-preservation is to commit ourselves to God's keeping and by faith and prayer to make our Creator our preserver. But it may be understood of his spiritual life, the life of the soul as distinct from the body: "Preserve my soul from that one evil and dangerous thing to souls, even from sin; preserve my soul, and so save me." All those whom God will save he preserves, and will preserve them to his heavenly kingdom. 3. He begs that God would look upon him with an eye of pity and compassion (Psa 86:3): Be merciful to me, O Lord! It is mercy in God to pardon our sins and to help us out of our distresses; both these are included in this prayer, God be merciful to me. "Men show no mercy; we ourselves deserve no mercy, but, Lord, for mercy-sake, be merciful unto me." 4. He begs that God would fill him with inward comfort (Psa 86:4): Rejoice the soul of thy servant. It is God only that can put gladness into the heart and make the soul to rejoice, and then, and not till then, the joy is full; and, as it is the duty of those who are God's servants to serve him with gladness, so it is their privilege to be filled with joy and peace in believing, and they may in faith pray, not only that God will preserve their souls, but that he will rejoice their souls, and the joy of the Lord will be their strength. Observe, When he prays, Rejoice my soul, he adds, For unto thee do I lift up my soul. Then we may expect comfort from God when we take care to keep up our communion with God: prayer is the nurse of spiritual joy.

II. The pleas with which he enforces these petitions. 1. He pleads his relation to God and interest in him: "Thou art my God, to whom I have devoted myself, and on whom I depend, and I am thy servant (Psa 86:2), in subjection to thee, and therefore looking for protection from thee." 2. He pleads his distress: "Hear me, for I am poor and needy, therefore I want thy help, therefore none else will hear me." God is the poor man's King, whose glory it is to save the souls of the needy; those who are poor in spirit, who see themselves empty and necessitous, are most welcome to the God of all grace. 3. He pleads God's good will towards all that seek him (Psa 86:5): "To thee do I lift up my soul in desire and expectation; for thou, Lord, art good;" and whither should beggars go but to the door of the good house-keeper? The goodness of God's nature is a great encouragement to us in all our addresses to him. His goodness appears in two things, giving and forgiving. (1.) He is a sin-pardoning God; not only he can forgive, but he is ready to forgive, more ready to forgive than we are to repent. I said, I will confess, and thou forgavest, Psa 32:5. (2.) He is a prayer-hearing God; he is plenteous in mercy, very full, and very free, both rich and liberal unto all those that call upon him; he has wherewithal to supply all their needs and is openhanded in granting that supply. 4. He pleads God's good work in himself, by which he had qualified him for the tokens of his favour. Three things were wrought in him by divine grace, which he looked upon as earnests of all good: - (1.) A conformity to God (Psa 86:2): I am holy, therefore preserve my soul; for those whom the Spirit sanctifies he will preserve. He does not say this in pride and vain glory, but with humble thankfulness to God. I am one whom thou favourest (so the margin reads it), whom thou hast set apart for thyself. If God has begun a good work of grace in us, we must own that the time was a time of love. Then was I in his eyes as one that found favour, and whom God hath taken into his favour he will take under his protection. All his saints are in thy hand, Deu 33:3. Observe, I am needy (Psa 86:1), yet I am holy (Psa 86:2), holy and yet needy, poor in the world, but rich in faith. Those who preserve their purity in their greatest poverty may assure themselves that God will preserve their comforts, will preserve their souls. (2.) A confidence in God: Save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Those that are holy must nevertheless not trust in themselves, nor in their own righteousness, but only in God and his grace. Those that trust in God may expect salvation from him. (3.) A disposition to communion with God. He hopes God will answer his prayers, because he had inclined him to pray. [1.] To be constant in prayer: I cry unto thee daily, and all the day, Psa 86:3. It is thus our duty to pray always, without ceasing, and to continue instant in prayer; and then we may hope to have our prayers heard which we make in the time of trouble, if we have made conscience of the duty at other times, at all times. It is comfortable if an affliction finds the wheels of prayer a-going, and that hey are not then to be set a-going. [2.] To be inward with God in prayer, to lift up his soul to him, Psa 86:4. Then we may hope that God will meet us with his mercies, when we in our prayers send forth our souls as it were to meet him. [3.] To be in a special manner earnest with God in prayer when he was in affliction (Psa 86:7): "In the day of my trouble, whatever others do, I will call upon thee, and commit my case to thee, for thou wilt hear and answer me, and I shall not seek in vain, as those did who cried, O Baal! hear us; but there was no voice, nor any that regarded," Kg1 18:29.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–7. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 86
"Fix my prayer in Your ears, O Lord" [Psalm 86:6]. Great earnestness of him who prays! That is, let not my prayer go out of Your ears, fix it then in Your ears. How did he travail that he might fix his prayer in the ears of God? Let God answer and say to us; Would you that I fix your prayer in My ears? Fix My law in your heart; "and attend to the voice of my prayer."
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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