Bible Strands
Psalms 35:22
O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh and Adonai immediately after noting his enemies gloating over his distress (Psalm 35:21) and just before commanding God to awaken for his legal defense (Psalm 35:23).
The words — The Hebrew verbs רָאִ֣יתָה (ra'itah, "you have seen") and תִּרְחַ֥ק (tirchak, "you be distant") frame the appeal, while the negative imperative אַֽל־תֶּחֱרַ֑שׁ (al-techrash, "do not be silent") directly counters divine inaction.
The thread — The request for God to cease remaining distant parallels Psalm 10:1, and the command against divine silence aligns with Psalm 28:1, both echoing the Lord’s pattern of observing affliction as recorded in Exodus 3:7.
Why it lands — The text demands that God shift from passive observation to active intervention, requiring the reader to present specific grievances and expect direct divine engagement rather than abstract comfort.
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.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
Cross-references
- Exodus 3:7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.
- Psalms 10:1 Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
- Psalms 28:1 Of David. To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit.
- Psalms 22:11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
- Psalms 38:21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; be not far from me, O my God.
- Psalms 71:12 Be not far from me, O God. Hurry, O my God, to help me.
- Isaiah 65:6 Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will pay it back into their laps,
- Psalms 22:19 But You, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
- Psalms 39:12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.
- Psalms 50:21 You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.