Psalms 102:17 — Word Study
WLCפָּ֭נָה אֶל־ תְּפִלַּ֣ת הָעַרְעָ֑ר וְלֹֽא־ בָ֝זָ֗ה אֶת־ תְּפִלָּתָֽם׃
BSAforkîy to buildbânâh The LordYᵉhôvâh ZionTsîyôwn Providerrâʼâh glorykâbôwd
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| פָּ֭נָה | he has turned | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| אֶל־ | to | Preposition |
| תְּפִלַּ֣ת | [the] prayer of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| הָעַרְעָ֑ר | the destitute person | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְלֹֽא־ | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| בָ֝זָ֗ה | he has despised | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| תְּפִלָּתָֽם׃ | prayer their | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer. |
| KJV | He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. |
| ASV | He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, And hath not despised their prayer. |
| YLT | He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath not despised their prayer. |
| WEB | He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer. |
| BBE | When he has given ear to the prayer of the poor, and has not put his request on one side. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of בָזָה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence features a main clause followed by a conjunction and a subordinate clause, indicating a clear relationship between God's attentiveness and His refusal to disregard prayer.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbכִּי
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 8 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 102:17
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 Prayer of the Afflictedgenerated
Psalm 102:17 expresses a deep assurance that God listens to the prayers of those who are destitute and vulnerable. The psalmist emphasizes that God not only turns His attention to their pleas but also does not disregard them. This theme resonates throughout the psalm, which is a cry for help and a reminder of God's faithfulness to the afflicted, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 9:18 | For the needy will not always be forgotten; nor the hope of the oppressed forever dashed. |
| 2 | Psalm 72:12 | For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 4:29 | But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 32:36 | For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone and no one remains, slave or free. |
| 5 | Nehemiah 1:6–11 | let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — פָּ֭נָה, Pa.nahgenerated
פָּנָה (panah) is a verb meaning to turn or face something, indicating a physical or figurative change in direction or focus. In this verse, it shows God's active engagement with the prayers of the destitute, highlighting His willingness to listen and respond.
The verb is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action. This suggests that God has already turned His attention toward these prayers, reinforcing the idea of His ongoing concern for those in need.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree that God turns toward the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is פָּנָה, He will turn, which governs the action of the verse. It is followed by a prepositional phrase אֶל־ to and a noun phrase תְּפִלַּ֣ת the prayer of, indicating the direction of God's attention.
The structure emphasizes God's proactive stance towards the destitute, with the second clause וְלֹֽא־ and not בָזָ֗ה despise reinforcing the assurance that He will not disregard their pleas.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word פָּנָה is rendered with ὅτι, indicating a straightforward translation that maintains the original meaning of turning towards something.
This choice reflects a consistent understanding of God's attentiveness to prayer, aligning closely with the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 102:17 assures us that God pays attention to the prayers of those who are poor and in need. He does not ignore their requests, showing His compassion and care for the vulnerable.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God actively listens and responds to the pleas of those who are in need, showing His compassion.
This signifies that God values and respects the prayers of the destitute, affirming their worth and the importance of their requests.
We can find comfort in knowing that God hears our prayers, especially during difficult times, and we can also be encouraged to pray for those in need.
Verses like Psalm 9:18 and Psalm 72:12 also highlight God's attentiveness to the prayers of the poor and oppressed.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's attentiveness to my prayers?
- How can I better support those who are destitute and in need?
- What does it mean for me to pray with the assurance that God hears me?
- How can I encourage others to bring their prayers to God, especially those who feel overlooked?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo cites this verse in his exposition, illustrating God's attentiveness to the prayers of the destitute.
"He has turned Him unto the prayer of the poor destitute, and despised not their desire" [Psalms 102:17].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 102 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 102:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe will regard the prayer of the destitute,.... Of the destitute of human help and support, protection and defence; as the church in the wilderness; of the "poor", as the Syriac and Arabic versions,
Read John Gill on Psalms 102 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. He will regard the prayer of the destitute - the confident anticipation of the answer to Psalms 102:1.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 102 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOf the destitute, i.e. of his poor forsaken, despised people in Babylon. Not despise, i.e. will accept and answer.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 102 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 102:17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.Ver. 17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute] Heb. of the poor shrub that is in the wilderness, trod upon by beasts, unregarded, worthless; heath, juniper, wild tamarisk, Humilesque myricae (Virg.). Tremellius rendereth it Nudatissimi; others Excitantis se, the prayer of one that stirreth up himself to take hold of God, and thereby prevaileth with him. I came for thy prayer, saith the angel to Daniel, Psalms 10:12.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 102 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) The destitute.—Literally, the naked one. Here the exiled people, stripped of home and religious rites. The word is only found once more, in Jeremiah 17:6 (comp. Jeremiah 48:6 for a kindred form), where it is translated “heath,” and in Arabic it is to this day the name of a stunted bush that grows in Palestine.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 102 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 17. The prayer of the destitute] הערער haarar of him who is laid in utter ruin, who is entirely wasted.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 102 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12–22. From the thought of his own frailty and transitoriness he turns to the eternal sovereignty of Jehovah, which is the sure pledge for Zion’s restoration.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 102 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe will regard the prayer - literally, “He looks upon,” or “he ‘turns himself’ to their prayer.” He does not any longer seem to turn away from them and disregard them.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 102 →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
He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
when he responds to the prayer of the destitute, and does not reject their request.
Tyndale line
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, And hath not despised their prayer.
He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, and hath not despised their prayer.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
And shall turne vnto the prayer of the desolate, and not despise their prayer.
Strictly literal
He will regard the prayer of the destitute one, and not despise their prayer.
He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath not despised their prayer.
He turned to the prayer of the destitute, || And He has not despised their prayer.
(102:18) [When] he hath regarded the prayer of the forsaken, and doth not despise their prayer.
At that time, he will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not reject their prayer.
From the Latin
But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear him: And his justice unto children’s children,
Simplified
He will pay attention to the prayers of the homeless; he will not disregard their requests.
When he has given ear to the prayer of the poor, and has not put his request on one side.
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 exhibit a high degree of agreement, with six of the eight words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment 4Q84 contains six words from the verse, with one word supplied by an editor, indicating a strong textual tradition.
פָּ֭נָה אֶל־ תְּפִלַּ֣ת הָעַרְעָ֑ר וְלֹֽא־ בָ֝זָ֗ה אֶת־ תְּפִלָּתָֽם׃
6 of the 8 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.
[כי] בנה יהוה ציון נראה בכבוד
6 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 supplied entire by an editor.
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 102:17
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.
פָּנָה (panah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn, with various implications such as turning toward, away, or doing something. It can refer to both physical and figurative actions, like looking or regarding something. The entries indicate it can also mean to decline or approach, and it has different forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, each with specific nuances.
פָּנָה 135 vb. turn
Qal 117
turn toward
turn from
turn and do a thing
turn, decline
turn toward, approach
turn and look, look
of inanimate things, face
esp. fig. look at, regard
look for = expect
fig. look at = consider
Hiph.
turn
make a turn, shew (signs of) turning
Hoph. be ye turned back!
base
H6437 פָּנָה turn .. . turn toward
. turn from
. turn and do a thing
. turn, decline
. turn toward, approach
. . turn and look, look
. of inanimate things, face
. esp. fig. look at, regard
. look for = expect
. fig. look at = consider
. . turn
. make a turn, shew (signs of) turning
. be ye turned back!
6437 panah paw-naw'
a primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e.
appear, look, etc.:--appear, at (even-)tide, behold, cast
out, come on, X corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look,
mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to),
(re-)turn (aside, away, back, face, self), X right (early).
פָּנָה (pa.nah) — to turn.
1) to turn
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn toward or from or away
1a2) to turn and do
1a3) to turn, decline (of day)
1a4) to turn toward, approach (of evening)
1a5) to turn and look, look, look back or at or after or for
1b) (Piel) to turn away, put out of the way, make clear, clear away
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to turn
1c2) to make a turn, show signs of turning, turn back
1d) (Hophal) to be turned back
פָּנָה (pa.nah) — Corner (Gate).
This name means corner, to turn, to turn back
Another spelling of pin.nah (פִּנָּה "Corner( Gate)" H6438)
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
HR — PrepositionHR
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 — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
עַרְעָר (ar`ar) is an adjective meaning 'stripped' or 'destitute.' It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being naked or poor. The entries consistently emphasize its figurative use to describe poverty or lack.
עַרְעָר adj. stripped, destitute
base
H6199 עַרְעָר
6199 `ar`ar ar-awr'
from 6209; naked, i.e. (figuratively) poor:--destitute. See
also 6176.
see HEBREW for 06209
see HEBREW for 06176
עַרְעָר (a.r.ar) — destitute.
stripped, destitute
HTd/Ncmsa — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
HC/Tn — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
בָזָה (bazah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to despise or hold in contempt. It can be used in different forms: Qal for direct action, Niphal for being despised, and Hiphil for causing someone to despise. The entries emphasize a sense of disdain and worthlessness associated with the term.
בָזָה vb. despise
Qal despise, regard with contempt
Niph.
despised
vile, worthless
despicable, contemptible
Hiph. so as to cause to despise their lords
base
H959 בָזָה despise
959 bazah baw-zaw'
a primitive root; to disesteem:--despise, disdain,
contemn(-ptible), + think to scorn, vile person.
בָּזָה (ba.zah) — to despise.
1) to despise, hold in contempt, disdain
1a) (Qal) to despise, regard with contempt
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be despised
1b2) to be despicable
1b3) to be vile, worthless
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to despise
Also means: ba.zoh (בָּזֹה "to despise" H0960)
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
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/Sp3mp — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3mp
