Psalms 88:2 — Word Study
WLCתָּב֣וֹא לְ֭פָנֶיךָ תְּפִלָּתִ֑י הַטֵּֽה־ אָ֝זְנְךָ֗ לְרִנָּתִֽי׃
BSAThe LordYᵉhôvâh Godʼĕlôhîym salvationyᵉshûwʻâh dayyôwm to crytsâʻaq [loud cry, plea for help] nightlayil beforeneged
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| תָּב֣וֹא | may it come | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| לְ֭פָנֶיךָ | before you | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| תְּפִלָּתִ֑י | prayer my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| הַטֵּֽה־ | incline | Verb, Hiphil, imperative second person masculine singular |
| אָ֝זְנְךָ֗ | ear your | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| לְרִנָּתִֽי׃ | to cry of entreaty my | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. |
| KJV | Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; |
| ASV | Let my prayer enter into thy presence; Incline thine ear unto my cry. |
| YLT | My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry, |
| WEB | Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry. |
| BBE | Let my prayer come before you; give ear to my cry: |
All translations agree on the essence of the verse, with no significant differences.
The structure consists of two main clauses, each with their own components, emphasizing the psalmist's direct appeal to God.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
verbיהוה
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 88:2
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
Psalms 88:2 is a plea from the psalmist, who is overwhelmed by troubles and seeks God's intervention. This verse highlights the importance of prayer and the desire for God's attentive ear amidst suffering. The surrounding verses describe the psalmist's deep distress and longing for salvation, making this a poignant moment of desperation and faith.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 79:11 | May the groans of the captives reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death. |
| 2 | Psalm 141:1–2 | I call upon You, O LORD; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 8:31 | When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple, |
| 4 | Lamentations 3:8 | Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תָּב֣וֹא, ta.Vo'generated
The verb בּוֹא (bo) means to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering and arriving. In this context, it emphasizes the psalmist's hope that his prayer will reach God's presence.
The imperfect tense indicates an ongoing action or desire, showing the psalmist's earnest wish for his prayer to be accepted and heard by God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the essence of the verse, conveying the psalmist's plea for his prayer to reach God and for God to listen to his cries.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb תָּב֣וֹא, may it come, governs the main clause, with a prepositional phrase and a noun phrase following it. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's direct appeal to God.
The second verb הַטֵּֽה, incline, is an imperative, showing urgency in the psalmist's request for God to listen attentively.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תָּב֣וֹא as κύριε, using a direct address to God, which emphasizes the personal relationship and urgency in the psalmist's plea.
This choice highlights the psalmist's appeal not just for attention, but for a response from the Lord, which aligns with the overall theme of seeking divine help.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 88:2 expresses a deep plea for God to hear the psalmist's prayer and listen to his cries for help. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by troubles and is reaching out to God for support and intervention.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist is asking for his prayer to be accepted by God, indicating a desire for divine attention and intervention in his distress.
This request emphasizes the urgency and importance of the psalmist's cries, showing a deep need for God to listen and respond to his pleas.
The cry represents both a physical and emotional expression of distress, highlighting the importance of vocalizing one's struggles and seeking help from God.
This verse sets the tone for the entire psalm, which is a lament expressing deep sorrow and a longing for God's presence and assistance in times of trouble.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I express my prayers to God when I feel overwhelmed?
- How can I remind myself to seek God's ear in times of distress?
- What does it mean to me to have my prayers come before God?
- How can I encourage others to cry out to God in their times of need?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, have commented on this verse, highlighting its significance in prayer and supplication.
"O let my prayer enter into Your presence, incline Your ear unto my calling" [Psalms 88:2].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 88 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 88:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet my prayer come before thee,.... Not before men, as hypocrites desire, but before the Lord; let it not be shut out, but be admitted; and let it come with acceptance, as it does when it ascends
Read John Gill on Psalms 88 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 88 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 88:2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;Ver. 2. Let my prayer come before thee] He did not cast out brutish and wild complaints and moans in misery, as it is natural for people to do, but poured forth his soul into God’ s blessed bosom, and now prayeth an answer.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 88 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. Let my prayer come before thee] It is weak and helpless, though fervent and sincere: take all hinderances out of its way, and let it have a free passage to thy throne. One of the finest thoughts in the Iliad of Homer concerns prayer; I shall transcribe a principal part of this incomparable passage-incomparable when we consider its origin: - ΚαιγαρτεΛιταιεισιΔιοςκουραιμεγαλοιο, Χωλαιτε, ῥυσσαιτε, παραβλωπεςτ' οφθαλμω· Αἱῥατεκαιμετοπισθ' Ατηςαλεγουσικιουσαι· Ἡδ' Ατησθεναρητεκαιαρτιπος·οὑνεκαπασας Πολλονὑπεκπροθεει, φθανειδετεπασανεπ' αιαν, Βλαπτους' ανθρωπους·αἱδ' εξακεονταιποισσω· Ὁςμεντ' αιδεσεταικουραςΔιος, ασσονιουσας, Τονδεμεγ' ωνησαν, καιτ' εκλυονευξαμενοιο. Ὁςδεκ'…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 88 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. come before thee] Enter into thy presence (R.V. from P.B.V.). Cp. Psalms 18:6; Psalms 79:11. my prayer … my cry] Cp. Psalms 17:1; Psalms 61:1. The word for ‘cry’ denotes a shrill piercing cry, frequently of joy, but sometimes, as here, of supplication, “expressive of emotional excitement such as an Eastern scruples not to use in prayer” (Cheyne).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 88 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLet my prayer come before thee - As if there were something which hindered it, or which had obstructed the way to the throne of grace; as if God repelled it from him, and turned away his ear, and would not hear.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 88 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible2. Let my prayer come before thee—My prayer shall come before thee. The future tense and declarative form of the verb indicate faith and purpose in the suppliant to seek help only and continually in God.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 88 →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
May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.
Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.
Listen to my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help!
Tyndale line
Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
Let my prayer enter into thy presence; Incline thine ear unto my cry.
Let my prayer enter into thy presence; incline thine ear unto my cry:
Let my prayer come before thee: incline thy ear to my cry;
Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine eare vnto my cry.
Strictly literal
Let my prayer come before thee; incline thine ear unto my cry.
My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
My prayer comes in before You, || Incline Your ear to my loud cry,
(88:3) Let my prayer come unto thy presence; incline thy ear unto my entreaty.
Listen to my prayer; pay attention to my cry.
From the Latin
The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation.
Simplified
Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
Let my prayer come before you; give ear to my cry:
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 closely, with all six words matched in the Hebrew and Greek. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide partial agreement, with some words supplied by an editor, indicating a similar plea for divine attention.
תָּב֣וֹא לְ֭פָנֶיךָ תְּפִלָּתִ֑י הַטֵּֽה־ אָ֝זְנְךָ֗ לְרִנָּתִֽי׃
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.
[יהוה] [אלוהי] [ישועת׳י] [יום] [צעקתי] [בלילה] נגד׳כה
1 word on the leather — 6 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 88:2
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.
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
HVqi3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singularHVqi3fs
kum: The translation of many Hebrew and Greek words. In the phrase "The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon him" (Jud 14:6,19; 15:14; 1Sa 10:10; 11:6; 16:13), the word is tsaleah; Jud 14:6; 15:14 "came mightily," which is the uniform translation of the Revised Version (British and American) (compare Jud 13:25 "to move," i.e. to disturb or stir up). In Jud 6:34; 1Ch 12:18; 2Ch 24:20, it is labhesh, "to clothe"; the Revised Version, margin "The Spirit .... clothed itself with Gideon" and .... "with Zechariah,"…
The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
face, faces
presence, person
technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
face of seraphim
face of animals
face (= surface) of ground
as adv.loc. before
for other phrases
with prepositions
base
H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces
. . presence, person
. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
. face of seraphim
. face of animals
. face (= surface) of ground
. as adv. loc. before
. for other phrases
. with prepositions
6440 paniym paw-neem'
plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh
{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);
used in a great variety of applications (literally and
figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a
preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),
against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),
+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,
face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er
time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +
honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +
meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,
open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,
presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right
forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,
X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.
: before/to/front
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.
: face
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…
HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms
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
נָטָה (natah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out, spread out, or extend. It encompasses a wide range of actions, including bending, inclining, and pitching a tent. The word can also imply moral deflection or turning aside. The entries suggest various applications, from physical actions to metaphorical uses, but do not indicate significant disagreement among the lexicons.
נָטָה 215 vb. stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
Qal
stretch out, extend, hand, rod
stretch line and plummet
= offer
Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
Bend, turn, incline
Niph. be stretched out
Hiph.
rarely stretch out, hand
rarely spread out cloth on rock
usu. turn, incline
base
H5186 נָטָה stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend .. . stretch out, extend, hand, rod
. stretch line and plummet
. = offer
. Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
. Bend, turn, incline
. be stretched out
. . rarely stretch out, hand
. rarely spread out cloth on rock
. usu. turn, incline
5186 natah naw-taw'
a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication,
to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great
variety of application (as follows):--+ afternoon, apply, bow
(down, - ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down,
be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched,
overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread
(out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away),
wrest, cause to yield.
נָטָה (na.tah) — to stretch.
1) to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer
1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent)
1a3) to bend, turn, incline
1a3a) to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down
1a3b) to bend, bow
1a3c) to hold out, extend (fig.)
1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to stretch out
1c2) to spread out
1c3) to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away
HVhv2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine singularHVhv2ms
The Hebrew word אֹ֫זֶן (*ozen*) means 'ear' and is derived from a root that suggests broadness. It refers to the physical ear as well as the organ of hearing, and can also imply the act of revealing or receiving divine revelation. The term appears in contexts such as Exodus 29:20.
אֹ֫זֶן 188 n.f. Ex 29:20 ear
ear, as part of body
especially as organ of hearing
open ears of, reveal to
base
H241 אֹ֫זֶן ear
241 'ozen o'-zen
from 238; broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form
in man):--+ advertise, audience, + displease, ear, hearing, +
show.
see HEBREW for 0238
אֹ֫זֶן (o.zen) — ear.
: ear
1) ear, as part of the body
2) ear, as organ of hearing
3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation
אֹ֫זֶן (o.zen) — ear: hearing.
: hearing
1) ear, as part of the body
2) ear, as organ of hearing
3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation
אֹ֫זֶן (o.zen) — ear: to ears.
: to[ears_of](PERSON)
1) ear, as part of the body
2) ear, as organ of hearing
3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation
HNcfsc/Sp2ms — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp2ms
רִנָּה (rinnah) refers to a ringing cry, often associated with joy, grief, or proclamation. It is derived from the root meaning to creak or make a shrill sound. The term encompasses various expressions of emotion, including gladness and triumph, and can denote both joyful singing and cries of supplication.
רִנָּה n.f. ringing cry
base
H7440 רִנָּה ringing cry
7440 rinnah rin-naw'
from 7442; properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout
(of joy or grief):--cry, gladness, joy, proclamation,
rejoicing, shouting, sing(-ing), triumph.
see HEBREW for 07442
רִנָּה (rin.nah) — cry.
1) ringing cry
1a) of entreaty, supplication
1b) in proclamation, joy, praise
HR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs