Psalms 116:2

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses the LORD directly, responding to the divine hearing described in the preceding verse. This declaration occurs within a personal lament that transitions from recounting past deliverance to committing to future prayer.

The words — The Hebrew verb הִטָּה (hi.Tah) translates literally as "he has inclined," describing the LORD bending His attention toward the speaker. The noun אָזְנ֣/וֹ ('a.ze.N/o) means "his ear," forming the phrase "inclined His ear" to signify focused, personal listening.

The thread — The motif of divine attention meeting human invocation appears in Psalms 40:1, where waiting precedes God inclining His ear and hearing a cry. The reciprocal action of calling and being met by God is echoed in Psalms 145:18 and Psalms 55:16.

Why it lands — The verse requires a sustained posture of invocation rooted in prior divine response. It frames the believer’s entire lifespan as a period of continuous appeal rather than a single petition.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.