Psalms 6:9 — Word Study
WLCשָׁמַ֣ע יְ֭הוָה תְּחִנָּתִ֑י יְ֝הוָ֗ה תְּֽפִלָּתִ֥י יִקָּֽח׃
BSA◂The LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has heardshâmaʻ■ [listened with attention and obedience]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שָׁמַ֣ע | he has heard | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| יְ֭הוָה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| תְּחִנָּתִ֑י | supplication my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| יְ֝הוָ֗ה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| תְּֽפִלָּתִ֥י | prayer my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| יִקָּֽח׃ | he will accept | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. |
| KJV | The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. |
| ASV | Jehovah hath heard my supplication; Jehovah will receive my prayer. |
| YLT | Jehovah hath heard my supplication, Jehovah my prayer receiveth. |
| WEB | Yahweh has heard my supplication. Yahweh accepts my prayer. |
| BBE | The Lord has given ear to my request; the Lord has let my prayer come before him. |
The translations agree on the key phrases in this verse, affirming the psalmist's confidence in God's response.
The verse consists of two main clauses that affirm God's attentiveness and acceptance.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectמִן
verbסוּר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 6:9
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Cry for Helpgenerated
Psalm 6:9 expresses the psalmist's distress as he cries out to the LORD for mercy and help. This verse is part of a larger lament where the psalmist recounts his suffering and calls upon God to hear his pleas. The surrounding verses highlight the emotional turmoil he faces, emphasizing the urgency of his request for divine intervention.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 3:4 | To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah |
| 2 | Psalm 31:22 | In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from Your sight!” But You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help. |
| 3 | Psalm 40:1–2 | I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. |
| 4 | Psalm 66:19–20 | But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer. |
| 5 | Psalm 118:5 | In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered and set me free. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׁמַ֣ע, sha.Ma'generated
The verb שָׁמַע (sha.Ma') means 'to hear' and implies not just the act of hearing but also listening attentively and responding. It is often used in contexts where obedience and understanding are required, particularly in the relationship between God and His people.
In this verse, the psalmist asserts that the LORD has heard his cry, indicating a personal and responsive relationship. The perfect tense shows that this hearing is complete and effective, suggesting that God is actively engaged in the psalmist's plight.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse reads, "The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer." This is consistent across several translations, including the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is governed by two main clauses, both centered around the subject יְהוָה (Yahweh). The first clause states that the LORD has heard the psalmist's cry, while the second asserts that He accepts his prayer.
This parallelism emphasizes the psalmist's confidence in God's attentiveness and willingness to respond, a common feature in Hebrew poetry that reinforces the emotional weight of the plea.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew שָׁמַע is translated as ἀπόστητε (G868), which carries a similar meaning of hearing. This choice reflects the translators' intent to convey the active listening of God.
The translation maintains the focus on God's responsiveness, aligning with the original Hebrew's emphasis on divine attention to human cries for help.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 6:9 shows the psalmist calling out to the LORD, expressing his need for mercy and prayer. He believes that God hears him and will accept his requests for help.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God has listened attentively to the psalmist's plea for help and compassion.
The psalmist expresses his need through heartfelt cries and supplications, seeking God's mercy.
It signifies that God is responsive to the prayers of His people, assuring them of His attention and care.
This verse reassures that God hears our cries and is willing to accept our prayers, providing hope in times of trouble.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's listening ear in my own prayers?
- How can I cultivate a heart that cries out to God like the psalmist?
- What does it mean to me that God accepts my prayers?
- How can I support others in their times of distress, reflecting God's mercy?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers, including Augustine of Hippo, reference this verse to highlight God's response to human supplication.
"For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping; The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord has received my prayer" [Psalms 6:9].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 6 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 6:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe Lord hath heard my supplication,.... Which he had presented to him, Psalms 6:1; in which he deprecates his anger and hot displeasure; entreats his free favour, grace, and mercy; desires healing
Read John Gill on Psalms 6 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. Supplication - literally, 'cry for grace;' techinnathi, from a Hebrew root, 'to be gracious.' Prayer - from a Hebrew root, 'to urge a plea,' tªpilaatiy (H8605).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 6 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe Lord hath heard, and therefore will hear, as it follows. He draws an argument from his former experience.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 6 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 6:9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.Ver. 9. The Lord hath heard my supplication] And thereby sealed up sweetest love to my soul; as Ahasuerus afterwards did to his Esther, by granting her request. But how knew David, and how doth many another man in like sort know that God hath heard his prayer, though as yet no visible return appeareth? I answer, This he may know, 1. By a cast of God’ s pleased countenance. 2. By the testimony of his own conscience, Philippians 4:6-7, and by the assurance of faith, which saith to a man, as the angel once did to Cornelius, Thy prayers are heard and answered. Of Luther we read, that having been once wrestling hard…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 6 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9. Twice he repeats the confident assertion of faith, that Jehovah has heard his prayer, and with equal confidence adds the assurance that He will accept it favourably, and not reject it. Cp. 1 John 5:14-15.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 6 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe Lord hath heard my supplication - Repeating the sentiment in the previous verse, to express his assurance and his joy.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 6 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
Yahweh has heard my supplication. Yahweh accepts my prayer.
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy; the Lord has accepted my prayer.
Tyndale line
The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
Jehovah hath heard my supplication; Jehovah will receive my prayer.
The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
The Lord hath heard my petition: the Lord will receiue my prayer.
Strictly literal
Jehovah hath heard my supplication; Jehovah receiveth my prayer.
Jehovah hath heard my supplication, Jehovah my prayer receiveth.
YHWH has heard my supplication, || YHWH receives my prayer.
(6:10) The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will accept my prayer.
Yahweh has heard my appeal for mercy; Yahweh has accepted my prayer.
From the Latin
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Simplified
The Lord has heard me calling out for help; the Lord answers my prayer.
The Lord has given ear to my request; the Lord has let my prayer come before him.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of Psalm 6:9, with all six words matched. This indicates a strong consistency in the preservation of this verse across different textual traditions.
שָׁמַ֣ע יְ֭הוָה תְּחִנָּתִ֑י יְ֝הוָ֗ה תְּֽפִלָּתִ֥י יִקָּֽח׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 6:9
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear
Qal 1052
subj. pers. hum.
י׳ (God) subj.
Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound
be heard of
be regarded, obeyed
= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.
Pi. he caused the people to hear
Hiph. 63
of man
י׳ subj.
base
H8085 שָׁמַע hear
8085 shama` shaw-mah'
a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with
implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to
tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X
carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,
declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make
to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)
obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,
regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,
understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.
: hear
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
1a5) to understand (language)
1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)
1a7) to listen, give heed
1a7a) to consent, agree
1a7b) to grant request
1a8) to listen to, yield to
1a9) to obey, be obedient
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
1b2) to be heard of
1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed
1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)
1d3) to make proclamation, summon
1d4) to cause to be heard
n m
2) sound
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.
: obey
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
תְּחִנָּה (tchinnah) refers to a type of supplication or request for favor, emphasizing graciousness and entreaty. It is built from the root associated with grace and has a range that includes both favor and the act of supplication. The entries consistently highlight its meaning without significant disagreement.
תְּחִנָּה n.f. favour, supplication for favour
base
H8467 תְּחִנָּה favour, supplication for favour
8467 tchinnah tekh-in-naw'
from 2603; graciousness; causatively, entreaty:--favour,
grace, supplication.
see HEBREW for 02603
תְּחִנָּה (te.chin.nah) — supplication.
1) favour, supplication, supplication for favour
1a) favour
1b) supplication for favour
HNcfsc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
HNpt — Noun properHNpt
תְּפִלָּה (tefillah) means 'prayer' and is derived from the root meaning intercession or supplication. It encompasses various forms of prayer, including hymns and requests for divine attention. The term appears in contexts such as the titles of Psalms, emphasizing its liturgical significance.
תְּפִלָּה 77 n.f. prayer
base
H8605 תְּפִלָּה prayer
8605 tphillah tef-il-law'
from 6419; intercession, supplication; by implication, a
hymn:--prayer.
see HEBREW for 06419
תְּפִלָּה (te.phil.lah) — prayer.
1) prayer
1a) prayer
1b) pray a prayer
1c) house of prayer
1d) hear prayer
1e) in Ps titles (of poetic or liturgical prayer)
HNcfsc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.
לָקַח 965 vb. take
Qal
take, take in hand
take and carry along with oneself
take from, or out of
take, carry away
take away from, so as to deprive of
esp. take away life
take to or for a person
take up, upon = put upon
= fetch
take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
take = capture, seize
take = carry off
in phr. take vengeance
Niph.
be captured, of ark
be taken away, removed
be taken, brought unto
Pu.
be taken from, out of
= be stolen from
be taken captive
be taken away, removed
Hoph.
be taken, brought unto
be taken out of
be taken away from
Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
base
H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand
. take and carry along with oneself
. . take from, or out of
. take, carry away
. take away from, so as to deprive of
. esp. take away life
. take to or for a person
. take up, upon = put upon
. = fetch
. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
. take = capture, seize
. take = carry off
. in phr. take vengeance
. . be captured, of ark
. be taken away, removed
. be taken, brought unto
. . be taken from, out of
. = be stolen from
. be taken captive
. be taken away, removed
. . be taken, brought unto
. be taken out of
. be taken away from
. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
3947 laqach law-kakh'
a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of
applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,
get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,
seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.
: take
1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to take, take in the hand
1a2) to take and carry along
1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away
1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept
1a5) to take up or upon, put upon
1a6) to fetch
1a7) to take, lead, conduct
1a8) to take, capture, seize
1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be captured
1b2) to be taken away, be removed
1b3) to be taken, brought unto
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be taken from or out of
1c2) to be stolen from
1c3) to be taken captive
1c4) to be taken away, be removed
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto
1d2) to be taken out of
1d3) to be taken away
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to take hold of oneself
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms