Psalms 35:17
Psalms 35:17 in Multiple Translations
How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, My darling from the lions.
Lord, how long will you be looking on? take my soul from their destruction, my life from the lions.
How long, Lord, will you sit by and just watch? Save me from their vicious attacks; defend the only life I have from these lions.
Lord, how long wilt thou beholde this? deliuer my soule from their tumult, euen my desolate soule from the lions.
Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.
Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.
LORD, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
Yahweh, how long will you only watch them doing this? Rescue me from their attacking me; Save me from being killed by these men who are attacking me like [MET] lions that are attacking other animals
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 35:17
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 35:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אֲדֹנָ/י֮
כַּ/מָּ֪ה
תִּ֫רְאֶ֥ה
הָשִׁ֣יבָ/ה
נַ֭פְשִׁ/י
מִ/שֹּׁאֵי/הֶ֑ם
מִ֝/כְּפִירִ֗ים
יְחִידָתִֽ/י
אֲדֹנָ/י֮
ʼĂdônây
H136
Lord
N-mp | Suff
כַּ/מָּ֪ה
mâh
H4100
what?
Prep | Part
תִּ֫רְאֶ֥ה
râʼâh
H7200
Provider
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
הָשִׁ֣יבָ/ה
shûwb
H7725
to return
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff
נַ֭פְשִׁ/י
nephesh
H5315
soul
N-cs | Suff
מִ/שֹּׁאֵי/הֶ֑ם
shôwʼ
H7722
ravage
Prep | N-mp | Suff
מִ֝/כְּפִירִ֗ים
kᵉphîyr
H3715
lion
Prep | N-mp
יְחִידָתִֽ/י
yâchîyd
H3173
only
Adj | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 35:17
אֲדֹנָ/י֮
ʼĂdônây
H136
"Lord"
N-mp | Suff
Adonay is a title used to refer to God, spoken in place of Yahweh as a sign of reverence and respect. It is used throughout the Bible to address God or refer to Him in a formal way. Adonay is a term of worship and devotion.
Definition: Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 430 OT verses. KJV: (my) Lord. See also: Genesis 15:2; Isaiah 3:17; Psalms 2:4.
כַּ/מָּ֪ה
mâh
H4100
"what?"
Prep | Part
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.
תִּ֫רְאֶ֥ה
râʼâh
H7200
"Provider"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Definition: (Lord will) Provide, cause to be seen. This name means to see, look at, inspect, look after
Usage: Occurs in 1206 OT verses. KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 41:41; Exodus 33:13.
הָשִׁ֣יבָ/ה
shûwb
H7725
"to return"
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Definition: : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back 1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment 1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore 1d3) to bring back, report to, answer 1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense) 1d5) to turn back or backward, repel, defeat, repulse, hinder, reject, refuse 1d6) to turn away (face), turn toward 1d7) to turn against 1d8) to bring back to mind 1d9) to show a turning away 1d10) to reverse, revoke 1e) (Hophal) to be returned, be restored, be brought back 1f) (Pulal) brought back
Usage: Occurs in 953 OT verses. KJV: ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. See also: Genesis 3:19; Numbers 8:25; Judges 8:13.
נַ֭פְשִׁ/י
nephesh
H5315
"soul"
N-cs | Suff
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Definition: 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain
Usage: Occurs in 683 OT verses. KJV: any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it. See also: Genesis 1:20; Leviticus 26:43; Judges 18:25.
מִ/שֹּׁאֵי/הֶ֑ם
shôwʼ
H7722
"ravage"
Prep | N-mp | Suff
Devastation or destruction, this word describes a place or thing that has been ruined or laid waste, like the desolate land described in Jeremiah 4:23, or the destruction caused by a storm, as in Psalm 107:25.
Definition: ravage
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: desolate(-ion), destroy, destruction, storm, wasteness. See also: Job 30:3; Proverbs 1:27; Psalms 35:8.
מִ֝/כְּפִירִ֗ים
kᵉphîyr
H3715
"lion"
Prep | N-mp
This word can mean either a village or a young lion. It is used in the Bible to describe a place or an animal, like a lion with a mane. The KJV translates it as lion or village.
Definition: young lion
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: (young) lion, village. Compare H3723 (כָּפָר). See also: Judges 14:5; Jeremiah 2:15; Psalms 17:12.
יְחִידָתִֽ/י
yâchîyd
H3173
"only"
Adj | Suff
The Hebrew word for only or solitary, describing something or someone unique or alone. It can also mean beloved or lonely, and is used to describe the only child or the only begotten son, emphasizing their special status.
Definition: adj 1) only, only one, solitary, one 1a) only, unique, one 1b) solitary 1c)(TWOT) only begotten son subst 2) one
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: darling, desolate, only (child, son), solitary. See also: Genesis 22:2; Psalms 35:17; Psalms 22:21.
Study Notes — Psalms 35:17
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 35:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 35:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 35:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 35:17
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 35:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 35:17
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 35:17
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 35:17
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 35:17
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 35:17
- Sermons on Psalms 35:17
Context — Contend with My Opponents, O LORD
15But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
16Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.
17How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
18Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people. 19Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Habakkuk 1:13 | Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? |
| 2 | Psalms 22:20–21 | Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs. Save me from the mouth of the lion; at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me! |
| 3 | Psalms 57:4 | My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. |
| 4 | Psalms 89:46 | How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath keep burning like fire? |
| 5 | Psalms 94:3–4 | How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult? They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast. |
| 6 | Psalms 74:9–10 | There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer any prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last. How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever? |
| 7 | Psalms 142:6–7 | Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me. Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me. |
| 8 | Psalms 69:14–15 | Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters. Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me. |
| 9 | Psalms 13:1–2 | How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle in my soul, with sorrow in my heart each day? How long will my enemy dominate me? |
| 10 | Psalms 10:14 | But You have regarded trouble and grief; You see to repay it by Your hand. The victim entrusts himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless. |
Psalms 35:17 Summary
In Psalms 35:17, the psalmist is crying out to God for rescue from his enemies, who are treating him cruelly and unfairly. He feels like God is taking too long to act, and is asking Him to intervene and save him from those who seek to harm him. This verse reminds us that we can always turn to God in times of trouble and ask for His help, just like the psalmist, and trust in His goodness and love, as seen in Psalms 23:4 and Jeremiah 29:11. By crying out to God and trusting in His sovereignty, we can find peace and comfort, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the context of the psalmist's plea for rescue in Psalms 35:17?
The psalmist is being slandered and attacked by enemies, and is calling out to God for rescue, as seen in the surrounding verses, Psalms 35:15-16 and Psalms 35:18-19, which describe the enemies' actions and the psalmist's desire for vindication.
Who are the 'lions' mentioned in Psalms 35:17?
The 'lions' are likely a metaphor for the psalmist's enemies, who are fierce and seeking to destroy him, similar to the way lions are described as fierce predators in Proverbs 30:30 and 1 Peter 5:8.
Why does the psalmist ask 'How long, O Lord, will You look on?' in Psalms 35:17?
The psalmist is expressing a sense of urgency and desperation, feeling that God has been slow to act on his behalf, and is crying out for God's intervention, similar to the cry of the psalmist in Psalms 13:1-2 and Psalms 22:1-2.
What is the psalmist's ultimate goal in seeking rescue from his enemies?
The psalmist's ultimate goal is to give thanks and praise to God in the great assembly, as stated in Psalms 35:18, and to see God's justice and vindication, as seen in Psalms 37:5-6 and Romans 12:19.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I feel like I am being 'ravaged' by enemies, and how can I cry out to God for rescue like the psalmist?
- How do I balance the desire for God's immediate rescue with the need to trust in His sovereignty and timing, as seen in Psalms 27:14 and Isaiah 40:31?
- In what ways can I identify with the psalmist's feelings of desperation and urgency, and how can I use those feelings to deepen my prayer life and trust in God?
- What are some ways I can 'give thanks' and 'praise' God, like the psalmist, even in the midst of difficult circumstances, as seen in Psalms 100:4-5 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 35:17
Lord, how long wilt thou look on?.... And behold these injuries and insults, and not arise to help and save?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 35:17
Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. Lord, how long wilt thou look on? - without interposing for me.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 35:17
Look on, like an idle spectator, without affording me any pity or help. My darling, to wit, my soul, as it is in the former clause. Heb. my only one; which is now left alone and forsaken by my friends, and hath none to trust to but God. See Poole "".
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 35:17
Psalms 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.Ver. 17. Lord, how long wilt thou look on?] i.e. Carry thyself as a spectator of my miseries and a tolerator of mine enemies, those architects of mine afflictions. Rescue my soul from their destructions] i.e. Their snares and ambushes, whereby they seek to destroy me. My darling from the lions]
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 35:17
(17) Darling . . . see margin and Note to Psalms 22:20. The lions is another suitable epithet for the hostile foreign party, so bitter against the genuine Israelite.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 35:17
Verse 17. My darling] יחידתי yechidathi, my only one, Psalms 22:20. My united one, or He that is alone. Perhaps this may relate to Christ. See Clarke on Psalms 22:20.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 35:17
11–18. The causelessness of the Psalmist’s persecution and the ingratitude of his persecutors are urged as reasons for God’s interference on his behalf.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 35:17
Lord, how long wilt thou look on? - How long wilt thou witness this without interposing to deliver me, and to punish those who treat me thus? God saw it all. He was able to save him that was thus persecuted and opposed.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 35:17
17. How long wilt thou look on—God seemed to “look on” as an indifferent spectator, and the “how long” is the wail of despair, and yet of hope in despair. My darling from the lions—See on Psalms 22:20
Sermons on Psalms 35:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Rev. 6:10. How Long? by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar explores the profound question 'How long?' as expressed in Revelation 6:10, emphasizing its significance in human experience and divine communication. He categorizes |
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Habakkuk by David Pawson | In this sermon, the speaker encourages the audience to broaden their perspective beyond their own country and see what God is doing globally. He shares a personal testimony of taki |
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Pray Along With Agonizing Prayer by Andrew Strom | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the need for revival and urges the audience to pray for it. They express concern that if people simply go back to their normal lives after a |
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(Through the Bible) Habakkuk by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker expresses sadness over the careless behavior of people who litter and leave debris on the ground. He reflects on the corruption that man has brought upo |
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God Is a Holy God by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the motives behind our actions. He highlights that even acts of fasting, prayer, and helping the poor can be |
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Are You on God's Side? by Rolfe Barnard | In this sermon, the preacher reflects on his forty years of preaching and the impact it has had on people's lives. He emphasizes that he cannot save anyone, but believes in the pow |
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The Character of God by Timothy Dwight | Timothy Dwight preaches on the story of Job, a righteous man who faced immense suffering and accusations from his friends. Despite his trials, Job maintained his integrity and even |