Psalms 38:21

Authorized King James Version

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Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

Original Language Analysis

אַל H408
אַל
Strong's: H408
Word #: 1 of 7
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תַּֽעַזְבֵ֥נִי Forsake H5800
תַּֽעַזְבֵ֥נִי Forsake
Strong's: H5800
Word #: 2 of 7
to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc
יְהוָ֑ה me not O LORD H3068
יְהוָ֑ה me not O LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 3 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י O my God H430
אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י O my God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 4 of 7
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
אַל H408
אַל
Strong's: H408
Word #: 5 of 7
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּרְחַ֥ק be not far H7368
תִּרְחַ֥ק be not far
Strong's: H7368
Word #: 6 of 7
to widen (in any direction), i.e., (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)
מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ H4480
מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 7 of 7
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

Analysis & Commentary

Forsake me not, O LORD (אַל־תַּעַזְבֵנִי יְהוָה, al-ta'azveni YHWH)—Azav means abandon, forsake. The negative particle al makes this urgent. O my God, be not far from me (אֱלֹהַי אַל־תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי, elohai al-tirchak mimmenni)—Rachak means be distant. David uses both divine names to appeal to covenant faithfulness and sovereign power.

Psalm 38 is the third penitential psalm, a raw cry of anguish under divine discipline. David feels sin's weight (vv. 3-8), friend abandonment (v. 11), and enemy pursuit (vv. 12, 19-20). This expresses the sufferer's deepest fear: that God might withdraw. Yet crying out proves God hasn't abandoned him. Jesus echoed this from the cross (Psalm 22:1, 38:21).

Historical Context

Written during illness and social isolation (possibly during Absalom's rebellion), David experiences compounding trauma. Ancient theology often viewed illness as divine punishment, making sickness a spiritual crisis. The early church recited penitential psalms during persecution.

Questions for Reflection