What Does Psalm 86:3 Mean in the King James?
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
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 plea translated “be merciful” asks for חֵן (ḥēn, favor), while “daily” is “all the day”, a cry that keeps returning.
THE MEANING
The verse gives voice to you calling toward God through the whole day and asking to receive favor. Your cry is directed toward someone you can keep addressing; the request remains open in each return.
THE ROOT
חָנֵּנִי
ḥonnēnî
GROWS FROM
חנן
to show favor, to be gracious
“merciful” in this verse is ḥonnēnî. The Hebrew asks for favor: a welcome extended to the one who calls. The related word חֵן (ḥēn, favor) shows the same root from another angle, the favor being sought is received as an open welcome.
ALSO GROWS
ḥēn: favor
חֵן
It names the favor the speaker asks to receive.
ḥannûn: gracious
חַנּוּן
This related form describes the one who shows favor, placing the request within a relationship of graciousness.
אֶקְרָא
ʾeqrāʾ
GROWS FROM
קרא
to call, summon, or proclaim
“cry” in this verse is ʾeqrāʾ. The Hebrew verb is “I call”: the verse names not only distress, but a voice directed toward God. Its “all the day” phrase keeps that call present through the whole day.
ALSO GROWS
miqrāʾ: a convocation or called assembly
מִקְרָא
This branch shows the root extending from an individual call to people gathered by a call.
qerîʾāh: a calling or reading aloud
קְרִיאָה
It preserves the sense of a voice making something heard, as the speaker does here.
THE PATTERN
Calling toward God in need is shown as an ongoing reach for hearing and favor.
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.THE THREAD
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.Psalm 4:1 repeats both movements: the speaker calls from קרא (qara, to call) and asks for favor from חנן (ḥanan, to show favor). It adds that distress gives way to being enlarged, narrowness opening into room.
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