What Does Psalm 25:16 Mean in the King James?
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
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
The word translated “desolate” names a person alone, so the request for favor rises from inside isolation instead of waiting for it to end.
THE MEANING
When you are alone and pressed down, this verse gives that state words without making it the end of the conversation. It holds the request for God to turn toward you and grant favor inside the very condition it names.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that isolation means abandonment: aloneness is named here, yet the appeal still reaches toward God’s regard.
THE ROOT
יָחִיד
yachid
GROWS FROM
יחד
To be one or joined; in יָחִיד, to be the only one, alone, or solitary.
The Hebrew word rendered “desolate” names the person as one alone, the only one. Its root family also gives יַחְדָּו (yachdav, together), bringing the ache of isolation and the possibility of shared presence into the same word-family as the verse asks God to turn toward the solitary one.
ALSO GROWS
yachid: Only one; solitary, alone.
יָחִיד
This is the word in the verse: the speaker’s condition is personal isolation, not merely a desolate setting.
yachdav: Together; altogether.
יַחְדָּו
Its shared root consonants place aloneness beside togetherness, sharpening the request for someone to turn toward the one who is alone.
חָנֵּנִי
channeni
GROWS FROM
חנן
To show favor or act favorably toward someone.
The plea translated “have mercy” also carries the language of favor granted to the one who asks. Here, that favor is sought by someone who is alone and afflicted now, not after the condition has changed.
ALSO GROWS
chen: Favor; gracious acceptance.
חֵן
The related noun makes the petition concrete: the speaker asks to receive God’s favor.
channun: Gracious; one who shows favor.
חַנּוּן
This related description of God echoes the appeal for favor in the verse.
עָנִי
ani
GROWS FROM
ענה
To be bowed down, oppressed, or afflicted.
“afflicted” in this verse is ani. The word for the speaker’s affliction belongs to a family that also describes being bowed down. The verse keeps that pressure audible; it does not rename hardship as virtue while the speaker asks for favor.
ALSO GROWS
anah: To be afflicted or bowed down.
עָנָה
This verbal form carries the downward pressure named by “afflicted.”
anavah: Humility; lowliness.
עֲנָוָה
This related word gives another shade of the low position associated with the afflicted person in the verse.
THE PATTERN
God’s regard reaches the person in low estate while that condition is still openly named.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.THE THREAD
O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.This verse repeats the same paired plea to turn and show favor. Then it names strength and deliverance, opening the request for favor into a request to be strengthened and brought out.
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