What Does Psalm 102:13 Mean in the King James?

Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

Psalm 102:13 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Compassion and favor arrive at a named hour: the one addressed rises toward Zion when her appointed time comes.

THE MEANING

When you stand in a long wait, this verse names the moment as still appointed: the one addressed rises with compassion toward Zion, and the time to favor her arrives. Favor is presented as an act arriving at its hour, not merely a feeling. The next verse places even Zion’s stones and dust within its reach.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that a long wait proves Zion is forgotten: her appointed time is still named, and it arrives.

THE ROOT

תְּרַחֵם

terachem

GROWS FROM

רחם

To show compassion, to cherish with deep tenderness.

“have mercy” in this verse is terachem. The root ⁨רחם⁩ also names the womb, ⁨רֶחֶם⁩ (rechem). The verse’s compassion carries the image of life held and protected, giving “mercy” a tenderness that English can leave hidden.

ALSO GROWS

rechem: Womb

רֶחֶם

The shared root gives compassion the image of care that holds and protects life.

rachamim: Compassion

רַחֲמִים

This noun carries the same root into the word for compassion, aligning with the verse’s tender movement toward Zion.

לְחָנְנָהּ

leḥonenah

GROWS FROM

חנן

To show favor or be gracious.

“to favour” in this verse is leḥonenah. The verse gives favor a verb: it is something extended toward Zion. The same root appears in the next verse, where favor reaches her dust, carrying the idea from promise into the smallest details of a place.

ALSO GROWS

chen: Favor

חֵן

This noun names the favor that the verse says is now due to reach Zion.

ḥannun: Gracious

חַנּוּן

This describes one who extends favor, echoing the one who rises toward Zion.

teḥinnah: A plea for favor

תְּחִנָּה

The same root links favor received with the appeal for it.

מוֹעֵד

moʿed

GROWS FROM

יעד

To appoint, designate, or set a meeting.

The “set time” comes from a root of appointment and meeting. The verse presents the moment as an appointment now reached, rather than an undifferentiated point on a clock.

ALSO GROWS

yaʿad: To appoint or designate

יָעַד

This verb gives the appointed time its sense of being deliberately set.

noʿad: To meet by appointment; to assemble

נוֹעַד

This branch brings the idea of a set time toward encounter and arrival.

THE PATTERN

An appointed time gives waiting a horizon and marks when the promised act arrives.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Habakkuk 2:3 · KJVThe vision has an appointed time, and its arrival gives the waiting a clear horizon.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 · KJVThe verse places every purpose within a season, showing that timing belongs to the shape of what unfolds.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Galatians 4:4 · KJVWhen the appointed fullness arrives, the promised sending takes place.

THE THREAD

For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

Psalm 102:14 · KJV

The word translated “favour” comes from the same root ⁨חנן⁩ as “to favour” in this verse. The shared root makes the promise concrete: favor reaches Zion down to her stones and dust.

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