What Does Psalm 86:16 Mean in the King James?
O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
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
Mercy, strength, and rescue form one movement: favor meets the speaker’s weakness and carries him toward deliverance.
THE MEANING
The verse gives your need direct words: turn toward me, show me favor, give me strength, deliver me. The speaker names a dependent place, servant, child of a handmaid, without hiding it from God. Strength and deliverance are asked for as gifts received.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that weakness makes you unworthy to ask: the speaker asks for strength precisely as a servant in need.
THE ROOT
וְהוֹשִׁיעָה
wəhôšîʿāh
GROWS FROM
ישע
Deliver; bring out into safety and spaciousness.
The verb translated “save” names being brought out of constriction into safety and room. In this plea, deliverance follows the requests for favor and strength: the speaker asks to be brought out through help received.
ALSO GROWS
yeshuʿah: Deliverance.
יְשׁוּעָה
This noun names the deliverance the speaker asks to receive.
moshīaʿ: Deliverer.
מוֹשִׁיעַ
This branch names the one who brings another out, making the verse’s request relational.
וְחָנֵּנִי
wəḥonnēnî
GROWS FROM
חנן
Show favor; act generously toward someone.
The word behind “have mercy” is חָנֵּנִי (ḥonnēnî, show me favor), from חנן (ḥanan, show favor). This family names both favor itself and the gracious one, joining what the speaker asks for with the nature of the one addressed.
ALSO GROWS
ḥēn: Favor.
חֵן
This noun names the favor the speaker asks to receive.
ḥannūn: Gracious; favor-giving.
חַנּוּן
This branch describes one who shows favor, giving the request for mercy a personal source.
עֻזְּךָ
ʿuzzekha
GROWS FROM
עזז
Be strong or mighty; the related noun names strength and might.
עֹז (ʿoz, strength) belongs to the word family of עזז (ʿazaz, be strong). The speaker does not claim strength as something already possessed: it is asked for and given to the dependent one. Might becomes part of the appeal for deliverance.
ALSO GROWS
ʿoz: Strength; might.
עֹז
This is the noun used in the verse for the strength the servant asks to receive.
ʿazaz: Be strong; be mighty.
עָזַז
This verb names the state behind the requested strength.
THE PATTERN
Need is voiced directly, and favor is sought as concrete help and strength.
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.THE THREAD
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.Psalm 86:3 uses חָנֵּנִי (ḥonnēnî, show me favor), from חנן (ḥanan, show favor), the same root as “have mercy” here. The psalm repeats its request for favor before asking for strength and deliverance, carrying the plea forward.
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