Psalms 102:2

Authorized King James Version

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Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

Original Language Analysis

אַל H408
אַל
Strong's: H408
Word #: 1 of 14
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תַּסְתֵּ֬ר Hide H5641
תַּסְתֵּ֬ר Hide
Strong's: H5641
Word #: 2 of 14
to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively
פָּנֶ֨יךָ׀ not thy face H6440
פָּנֶ֨יךָ׀ not thy face
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 3 of 14
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
מִמֶּנִּי֮ H4480
מִמֶּנִּי֮
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 4 of 14
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
בְּי֥וֹם from me in the day H3117
בְּי֥וֹם from me in the day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 5 of 14
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
צַ֫ר when I am in trouble H6862
צַ֫ר when I am in trouble
Strong's: H6862
Word #: 6 of 14
a pebble (as in h6864)
לִ֥י H0
לִ֥י
Strong's: H0
Word #: 7 of 14
הַטֵּֽה incline H5186
הַטֵּֽה incline
Strong's: H5186
Word #: 8 of 14
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
אֵלַ֥י H413
אֵלַ֥י
Strong's: H413
Word #: 9 of 14
near, with or among; often in general, to
אָזְנֶ֑ךָ thine ear H241
אָזְנֶ֑ךָ thine ear
Strong's: H241
Word #: 10 of 14
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
בְּי֥וֹם from me in the day H3117
בְּי֥וֹם from me in the day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 11 of 14
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אֶ֝קְרָ֗א when I call H7121
אֶ֝קְרָ֗א when I call
Strong's: H7121
Word #: 12 of 14
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
מַהֵ֥ר me speedily H4118
מַהֵ֥ר me speedily
Strong's: H4118
Word #: 13 of 14
properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry
עֲנֵֽנִי׃ answer H6030
עֲנֵֽנִי׃ answer
Strong's: H6030
Word #: 14 of 14
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,

Analysis & Commentary

The psalmist's desperate plea for God to hear and answer quickly reveals the intensity of his affliction. 'Hide not thy face' uses covenant language; God's face represents His favor and presence (Num 6:25-26). The urgency 'in the day when I call' emphasizes immediate need. This lament anticipates Christ's experience of divine abandonment on the cross (Matt 27:46), where He bore the full weight of God's hidden face so that believers might always experience His favorable presence.

Historical Context

Psalm 102 is titled 'A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.' Some scholars suggest it was written during the Babylonian exile, reflecting both personal and national distress.

Questions for Reflection