Psalms 25:16 — Word Study
WLCפְּנֵה־ אֵלַ֥י וְחָנֵּ֑נִי כִּֽי־ יָחִ֖יד וְעָנִ֣י אָֽנִי׃
BSATurnpânâh [face towards, look to] to meʼêl and be graciouschânan [show kindness, have mercy upon me] forkîy Iʼănîy am lonelyyâchîyd [in a state of being, desolate, alone, beloved] and afflictedʻânîy [troubled, depressed, humble]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| פְּנֵה־ | turn | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine singular |
| אֵלַ֥י | to me | Preposition, suffix |
| וְחָנֵּ֑נִי | and show favor to me | Conjunction, verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| כִּֽי־ | for | Particle |
| יָחִ֖יד | [am] solitary | Adj |
| וְעָנִ֣י | and afflicted | Conjunction |
| אָֽנִי׃ | I | Pronoun |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Turn to me and be gracious, for I am lonely and afflicted. |
| KJV | Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. |
| ASV | Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; For I am desolate and afflicted. |
| YLT | Turn Thou unto me, and favour me, For lonely and afflicted [am] I. |
| WEB | Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. |
| BBE | Be turned to me, and have mercy on me; for I am troubled and have no helper. |
Where they part company is יָחִיד — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main request followed by a reason, clearly linking the psalmist's plea for grace to his state of being.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֲנִי
verbפָּנָה
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 25:16
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 Plea for Helpgenerated
Psalm 25:16 is part of a heartfelt prayer where the psalmist seeks God's attention and mercy. This verse highlights the psalmist's deep sense of isolation and need for divine grace, as he acknowledges his affliction and loneliness. It reflects a common theme in the Psalms where the faithful cry out to God in their distress, seeking comfort and deliverance from their troubles.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 60:1 | You have rejected us, O God; You have broken us; You have been angry; restore us! |
| 2 | Psalm 69:16 | Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion. |
| 3 | Psalm 86:16 | Turn to me and have mercy; grant Your strength to Your servant; save the son of Your maidservant. |
| 4 | Micah 7:19 | He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea. |
| 5 | Psalm 69:14–20 | Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָחִיד, ya.Chidgenerated
The Hebrew word יָחִיד (ya.Chid) means 'only' or 'solitary,' describing a state of being unique or alone. It emphasizes the psalmist's feeling of isolation, suggesting a deeper emotional and spiritual significance beyond mere loneliness.
This adjective is used to convey a sense of being beloved or cherished, as it often refers to an only child. In this context, it highlights the psalmist's vulnerability and need for God's attention.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB uses lonely to translate יָחִיד, while the KJV and others opt for desolate.
Where others part company with the BSB, they do so over the translation of יָחִיד: desolate (ASV, KJV) versus alone (NETB, ULB). This reflects different nuances of the Hebrew term.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb פְּנֵה (turn) governs the entire verse, with a prepositional phrase indicating direction and two clauses explaining the reason for the plea. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's request for God to focus on him amidst his struggles.
The use of the conjunction וְ (and) connects the request for grace to the psalmist's state of being, illustrating the relationship between his need and his condition.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates פְּנֵה as ἐπίβλεψον (look upon), which conveys a similar sense of turning attention toward someone. This choice underscores the psalmist's plea for God to notice his plight.
For יָחִיד, the LXX uses μονογενὴς (only begotten), which adds a layer of meaning related to uniqueness and preciousness, aligning with the psalmist's expression of solitude.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 25:16 is a plea where the psalmist asks God to turn toward him and be gracious because he feels lonely and afflicted. This prayer reflects a deep need for God's mercy and attention during difficult times.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It is a request for God to focus His attention on the psalmist, indicating a desire for divine help and intervention.
The term 'lonely' emphasizes the psalmist's feeling of isolation and vulnerability, highlighting his need for companionship and support from God.
Being 'afflicted' suggests that the psalmist is experiencing distress or suffering, which could be physical, emotional, or spiritual.
This verse is similar to many psalms where the writers express their struggles and seek God's mercy, reflecting a common theme of reliance on God in times of trouble.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced loneliness, and how can I seek God's presence during those times?
- How can I show kindness to others who may feel lonely or afflicted?
- What does it mean to me to ask God for grace in my life?
- How can I support someone who is going through a difficult time, as the psalmist does in this verse?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers often referenced the Psalms in their writings. Here, Augustine of Hippo quotes this verse to emphasize the psalmist's plea for mercy in his state of loneliness.
"Look upon me, and have mercy upon me; for I am single and poor" [Psalms 25:16].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 25 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 25:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleTurn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me,.... Or "look unto me", or "upon me" (f); which suggests that the Lord had turned himself, and hid his face from him; and expresses a desire that he would
Read John Gill on Psalms 25 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryTurn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. Turn thee unto me ... for I am desolate - literally, 'solitary' (Psalms 68:6).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 25 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleTurn thee unto me; turn thy face and favour to me, O thou who now hast turned thy back upon me, and forsaken me. I am desolate; destitute of all other hopes and succours; persecuted by mine enemies, and forsaken by the most of my friends; as he was in Absalom’ s rebellion.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 25 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 25:16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I [am] desolate and afflicted.Ver. 16. Turn thee unto me] Heb. Face about towards me. And have mercy upon me] There being no such mercy as to have thy favour. This is a voluminous mercy. For I am desolate and afflicted] As all creatures flag and hang the head when the sun is eclipsed. Misery is an object of mercy; as it was to the compassionate Samaritan.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 25 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 16. Turn thee unto me] Probably the prayer of the poor captives in Babylon, which is continued through this and the remaining verses.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 25 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. Turn thee] Or, look: the opposite of ‘hiding the face’ (Psalms 22:24). Cp. Psalms 86:16; Psalms 119:132. have mercy upon me] Be gracious unto me. See Psalms 4:1, note. desolate] Solitary; without other friend or helper.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 25 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleTurn thee unto me - Rather, the Hebrew means: “look upon me.” The idea, however, is that the face of God was, as it were, turned in another direction, or that He was not attentive to him; and he
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 25 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible15-21. The psalmist returns to agonizing prayer, mingled with confession of sin, a special reference to the cruel hatred and violence of his enemies, the depth of his distress, and his sole reliance
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 25 →The verse in English, compared — 16 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
Turn to me and be gracious, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.
Turn to me and be gracious, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Turn toward me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and oppressed!
Tyndale line
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; For I am desolate and afflicted.
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
Turn thee to me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
Turne thy face vnto mee, and haue mercie vpon me: for I am desolate and poore.
Strictly literal
Turn toward me, and be gracious unto me; for I am solitary and afflicted.
Turn Thou unto me, and favour me, For lonely and afflicted [am] I.
Turn to me, and favor me, || For I [am] lonely and afflicted.
Turn unto me, and be gracious unto me; for I am solitary and afflicted.
Turn toward me and have mercy on me; for I am alone and afflicted.
Simplified
Watch over me and be good to me, because I am all alone and suffering.
Be turned to me, and have mercy on me; for I am troubled and have no helper.
Word by word, the decisions they made
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 their wording for this verse, with all seven words matched. This consistency suggests a strong preservation of the text across these traditions.
פְּנֵה־ אֵלַ֥י וְחָנֵּ֑נִי כִּֽי־ יָחִ֖יד וְעָנִ֣י אָֽנִי׃
7 of the 7 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 25:16
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)
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singularHVqv2ms
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)
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
חָנַן (chanan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to show favor or be gracious. It encompasses various forms, including being pitied, directing favor, and seeking favor through imploration. The word can also mean to be loathsome, as noted in Job 19:17. The lexicons provide a range of uses, primarily focusing on kindness and mercy.
חָנַן vb. shew favour, be gracious
Qal favour, shew favour
Niph. be pitied
Po‛el direct favour to
Hoph. be shewn favour, consideration
H2603a חָנַן shew favour, be gracious .favour, shew favour
. be pitied
.direct favour to
. be shewn favour, consideration
. seek or implore favour
H2603b חָנַן be loathsome
2603 chanan khaw-nan'
a primitive root (compare 2583); properly, to bend or stoop
in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to
implore (i.e. move to favor by petition):--beseech, X fair,
(be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant
(gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on,
upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very.
see HEBREW for 02583
חָנַן (cha.nan) — be gracious.
1) to be gracious, show favour, pity
1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious
1b) (Niphal) to be pitied
1c) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious
1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on
1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration
1f) (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour
חָנַן (cha.nan) — be loathsome.
to be loathsome
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHC/Vqv2ms/Sp1bs
כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'
כִּי conj. that, for, when
that
Of time, when, of the past
elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
Because, since
base
כִּי אם־
each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
that if
for if
(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
limiting the prec. clause, except
the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
after an oath, surely
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that
. . Of time, when, of the past
. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
. Because, since
H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if
. for if
. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except
. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
. after an oath, surely
H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
3588 kiy kee
a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional
prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent
or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative
conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by
other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,
where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,
even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +
nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,
therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,
whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
כִּי (ki) — for.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if
1f) but rather, but
1g) except that
1h) only, nevertheless
1i) surely
1j) that is
1k) but if
1l) for though
1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.
1) except if
1a) but if
1b) even though
כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
Conj — ParticleHTc
for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.
In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…
The Hebrew word יָחִיד (*yachiyd*) means 'only,' 'only one,' or 'solitary.' It is derived from a root meaning 'united' and can imply being beloved or lonely. The entries describe it as an adjective and noun, often referring to a unique or solitary entity, such as an only child. The term is linked to the concept of being irreplaceable.
יָחִיד adj. and subst. only, only one, solitary
base
H3173 יָחִיד only, only one, solitary
3173 yachiyd yaw-kheed'
from 3161; properly, united, i.e. sole; by implication,
beloved; also lonely; (feminine) the life (as not to be
replaced):--darling, desolate, only (child, son), solitary.
see HEBREW for 03161
יָחִיד (ya.chid) — only.
adj
1) only, only one, solitary, one
1a) only, unique, one
1b) solitary
1c)(TWOT) only begotten son
subst
2) one
Adj — AdjHAamsa
עָנִי (aniy) describes a state of being poor, afflicted, or humble. It is built from the root meaning to be depressed in mind or circumstances. The entries indicate it covers a range of meanings including needy, lowly, and wretched. There is a noted disagreement regarding its relationship to another word, עָנָה (anah), with some lexicons viewing one as subjective and the other as objective.
עָנִי adj. poor, afflicted, humble
base
H6041 עָנִי poor, afflicted, humble
6041 `aniy aw-nee'
from 6031; depressed, in mind or circumstances (practically
the same as 6035, although the margin constantly disputes
this, making 6035 subjective and 6041 objective):--afflicted,
humble, lowly, needy, poor.
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 06035
see HEBREW for 06035
see HEBREW for 06041
עָנִי (a.ni) — afflicted.
1) poor, afflicted, humble, wretched
1a) poor, needy
1b) poor and weak
1c) poor, weak, afflicted, wretched
1d) humble, lowly
Conj | Adj — ConjunctionHC/Aamsa
→ DUTY TO THE Job 6:14; 22:29; Isa 58:6,7,10; Mt 25:34-45; Lu 10:30-37; Php 2:1,2; 1Ti 5:10; Jas 5:13-15
אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I
base
H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I
589 'aniy an-ee'
contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X
which, X who.
see HEBREW for 0595
אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.
I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Pron — PronounHPp1bs
