King James Version

What Does Psalms 143:7 Mean?

Psalms 143:7 in the King James Version says “Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the p...” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 143 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. lest: or, for I am become like, etc”

Psalms 143:7 · KJV

Holy Spirit

Context

5

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

6

I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

7

Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. lest: or, for I am become like, etc

8

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

9

Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. flee: Heb. hide me with thee

Read Psalms 143 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. David's petition expresses urgency: "Hear me speedily" (maher aneni, מַהֵר עֲנֵנִי) literally means "hurry, answer me." The verb maher (מַהֵר) conveys haste—David cannot wait long; his situation is desperate. "My spirit faileth" uses kalah (כָּלָה), meaning to be finished, spent, consumed, or exhausted. David's ruach (spirit/life-force) is giving out.

"Hide not thy face from me" expresses the terror of divine withdrawal. God's "face" (panim, פָּנִים) represents His presence, favor, and attention. To hide the face is to withdraw blessing and protection (Deuteronomy 31:17-18; Psalm 27:9; 30:7). The Aaronic benediction's climax is "The LORD make his face shine upon thee" (Numbers 6:25). Without God's face, humans descend to the pit.

"Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit" (pen-emshal im-yordei vor, פֶּן־אֶמְשַׁל עִם־יֹרְדֵי בוֹר) expresses dread of death. Bor (בּוֹר) means pit, cistern, or grave—Sheol, the realm of the dead. David fears not just physical death but existence without God's presence, which would be indistinguishable from the death of the godless. This anticipates Christ's cry of dereliction: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)—the ultimate experience of God hiding His face.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

In Israelite theology, Sheol was not originally conceived as a place of punishment but as the shadowy underworld where all the dead went—a realm of darkness, silence, and separation from active participation in life and worship (Psalm 6:5; 88:10-12; 115:17; Isaiah 38:18). The dread of Sheol wasn't eternal torment (a later development) but cessation of relationship with God and community. Resurrection hope emerged gradually through Israel's history, with clearer articulation in later prophets (Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2) and full revelation in Christ's resurrection.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does it mean to experience God 'hiding His face,' and how do believers navigate seasons of divine silence?
  2. How does Christ's experience of the Father hiding His face (on the cross) guarantee believers need never ultimately experience it?
  3. When your spirit 'fails,' what spiritual practices help you seek God's face with urgency rather than despair?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
מַ֘הֵ֤ר1 of 13

“me speedily”

H4118

properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry

עֲנֵ֨נִי׀2 of 13

“Hear”

H6030

properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,

יְהוָה֮3 of 13

“O LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

כָּלְתָ֪ה4 of 13

“faileth”

H3615

to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)

ר֫וּחִ֥י5 of 13

“my spirit”

H7307

wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the

אַל6 of 13
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תַּסְתֵּ֣ר7 of 13

“hide”

H5641

to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively

פָּנֶ֣יךָ8 of 13

“not thy face”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

מִמֶּ֑נִּי9 of 13
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

וְ֝נִמְשַׁ֗לְתִּי10 of 13

“from me lest I be like”

H4911

to liken, i.e., (transitively) to use figurative language (an allegory, adage, song or the like); intransitively, to resemble

עִם11 of 13
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

יֹ֥רְדֵי12 of 13

“unto them that go down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

בֽוֹר׃13 of 13

“into the pit”

H953

a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 143:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Psalms 143:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 69:17Psalms 28:1Psalms 27:9Psalms 71:12Psalms 102:2Isaiah 38:18

Test Your Knowledge

Psalms 143 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterPsalms Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Psalms 143 with CommentaryAll Psalms ChaptersComplete Psalms QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes