Psalms 13:3 · Bible study
Psalms 13:3 Commentary: Light for Eyes, Life from God
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
David's plea 'lighten my eyes' is a prayer for God's favor to restore vitality and prevent death in the Old Testament context of divine presence as life.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A prayer for God to restore vitality and favor, preventing death.
- Key words: Consider (look), hear, lighten, eyes, sleep, death.
- Main debate: Whether 'sleep of death' refers only to physical death or also to spiritual separation from God.
- Theological theme: God as the source of life and light; covenant relationship; honest lament as a pathway to trust.
- Best use: Preaching on prayer in distress; counseling those in despair; teaching on God's presence as life.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,
WEB World English Bible 2000
Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
KJV King James Version 1769
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Considerand answer me, O Jehovah my God: Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Look attentively; Answer me, O Jehovah, my God, Enlighten mine eyes, lest I sleep in death,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Consider, answer me, O Jehovah my God! lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the [sleep of] death;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
They are all gone aside, they are become unprofitable together: there is none that doth good: no not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they acted deceitfully: the poison of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and unhappiness in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mira, óyeme, Jehová Dios mío: alumbra mis ojos, porque no duerma en muerte;
Olha para mim, e ouve-me, SENHOR meu Deus; ilumina os meus olhos, para que eu não adormeça na morte.
Jusques à quand aurai-je des soucis dans mon âme,
Schaue doch und erhöre mich, HERR, mein Gott! Erleuchte meine Augen, daß ich nicht dem Tode entschlafe,
Hoe lang zal ik raadslagen voornemen in mijn ziel, droefenis in mijn hart bij dag? Hoe lang zal mijn vijand over mij verhoogd zijn?
Riguarda, rispondimi, o Eterno, Iddio mio! Illumina gli occhi miei che talora io non m’addormenti del sonno della morte,
Dokądże się będę radził w duszy swojej, a trapił w sercu mojem przez cały dzień? Dokądże się będzie wywyższał nieprzyjaciel mój nademną?
Все уклонились, сделались равно непотребными; нет делающего добро, нет ни одного.
耶和華─我的 神啊，求你看顧我，應允我！使我眼目 光明，免得 我沉睡 至死；
Let my voice come before you, and give me an answer, O Lord my God; let your light be shining on me, so that the sleep of death may not overtake me;
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Diverse commentators agree that this verse marks the turning point in David's lament. After four agonizing questions ('How long?'), David prays with direct urgency: 'Consider and hear me, O Lord my God.' Barnes notes that the verb 'consider' (literally 'look') asks God to stop averting his face, the very action David complained of in verse 1. 'Lighten mine eyes' is the central petition. Keil and Delitzsch explain that dim eyes signal failing life; to lighten them is to impart new vitality. The Cambridge Bible connects this to the 'light of God's face' as the source of life (Psalm 4:6, 36:9). The request is urgent: 'lest I sleep the sleep of death.' JFB and Barnes both observe that death approaches like a sleep that would end David's ability to trust and praise. Matthew Henry emphasizes that David claims God as 'my God' even in darkness, a covenant anchor. The consensus is clear: this prayer asks for the restoration of physical and spiritual vigor through God's favorable presence, to prevent both literal death and the enemy's triumph.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: David prays for God to restore his vitality and favor, asking that he not die—a plea rooted in the Old Testament conviction that God's presence is the source of life.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'lighten mine eyes' | It refers to restoration of vitality, whether physical strength or spiritual comfort. | Some see it primarily as physical renewal (Barnes, JFB) while others include spiritual illumination (Gill, Matthew Henry). Both interpretations are grounded in the text. |
| 'Sleep of death', literal or figurative? | It is a metaphor for death, common across cultures. | Some traditions (e.g., those emphasizing 'soul sleep') take the sleep as a description of the intermediate state. Others see it simply as poetic language for dying, without implications for postmortem consciousness. |
| Historical setting of the psalm | Attributed to David, reflecting a time of prolonged persecution. | Theodoret thought Absalom's rebellion; Delitzsch prefers Saul's pursuit. The setting is not essential for the prayer's meaning. |
| Christological interpretation | The psalm is often used typologically for Christ's suffering and cry to the Father. | Some read it as directly messianic (especially in the Septuagint tradition), while others treat it as David's own experience later applied to Christ. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The psalm is attributed to David, likely during a period of intense persecution. Theodoret (cited in Calvin) suggests Absalom's conspiracy, while Delitzsch inclines toward Saul's pursuit. Both scenarios fit the prolonged sense of God's absence. In ancient Israel, God's 'face' represented his active presence and favor. To 'hide the face' (v.1) was to withdraw blessing, leaving the sufferer exposed.
Eyes were understood as a barometer of life. Dim eyes meant exhaustion, grief, or approaching death (Psalm 6:7; 38:10). To 'lighten' them, as when Jonathan tasted honey and his eyes brightened (1 Sam 14:27, 29), was to restore strength and alertness. Ezra 9:8 uses the same phrase for revival after exile. David's prayer thus targets both physical survival and the spiritual renewal that comes through God's cheerful countenance.
The 'sleep of death' draws on a universal metaphor, but in the Old Testament it carried theological weight. Death was not merely biological cessation; it was separation from the covenant community and from the opportunity to praise God (Psalm 6:5; 88:10-12). Moreover, if David died, his enemy would claim victory, and God's promises to the anointed king would seem empty. The plea for light is therefore a plea for God to prove faithful to his covenant, reversing the path toward the grave.
Literarily, this verse pivots from lament (vv.1-2) to trust (vv.5-6). It mirrors the opening complaint: God had hidden his face; now David asks him to look. The urgency ('lest I sleep') shows that for David, the loss of God's favor was a matter of life and death, quite literally.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Psalm 13:3. The verse is stable across Hebrew manuscripts, the Septuagint, and the major ancient versions. The reading 'lighten mine eyes' (האירה עיני) is consistent, and the variations in English translation (e.g., 'consider' vs. 'behold') reflect different renderings of the same Hebrew verb.
Reception History
Psalm 13:3 has been a resource for Christians in times of desperate prayer. The fourth-century bishop Theodoret connected it to David's anguish after his sin with Bathsheba, seeing in it a pattern of repentance. Luther, as noted in Lange's commentary, found here the 'anguish of spirit that feels it has to do with a God alienated and hostile', yet still dares to pray. The verse has been woven into the Church's prayers for the sick and dying, asking God to 'lighten the eyes' before the final sleep. Its metaphor of light restored echoes in hymns that plead for revival and spiritual awakening.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Cry for Divine Attention: 'Consider and hear me', David asks God to turn from hiding to hearing. This is the foundation of prayer: God's attentive presence.
- The Prayer for Vitality: 'Lighten mine eyes', A request for the restoration that only God can give, renewing body and spirit together.
- The Urgency of Faith: 'Lest I sleep the death', David names the stakes. Without God's intervention, life ends and the enemy triumphs. Faith prays honestly about consequences.
Five-point outline
- Honest lament opens the door for prayer (vv.1-2 prepare for v.3).
- Claiming covenant relationship even in darkness ('my God').
- The metaphor of light as life (eyes dim = death; lightened = revived).
- The stakes: death and enemy triumph (v.4).
- From plea to trust: the pivot that leads to rejoicing (vv.5-6).
Illustration hooks
- The feeling of exhaustion when your eyes are heavy and you cannot stay awake, multiply that by grief and fear.
- A family gathered at a hospital bedside, praying for the doctor to find improvement. Their prayer: 'Give light to his eyes.'
- The moment in a long trial when you finally say, 'God, if you don't act now, I will not survive this.' That is the honesty of verse 3.
Questions your congregation is asking
- 'How do I pray when God seems distant?' (David models transparency and persistence.)
- 'Is it acceptable to tell God I am afraid of dying?' (Yes; the psalm does not hide that fear.)
- 'What does it mean for God to lighten my eyes today?' (It can mean renewed strength, clarity of purpose, or a tangible sense of his presence.)
Leading a Discussion
This verse is the heart of the psalm, the moment David stops asking 'How long?' and starts asking 'Please act.' It shows us how lament can turn into specific petition. The group can explore the metaphors of light, eyes, and sleep, and what they reveal about the link between God's favor and our vitality.
Discussion questions
- Read verses 1-2. What does David complain about? How does verse 3 directly answer each of those complaints?
- How does the phrase 'my God' change the tone of the prayer? Why does David claim this relationship even when he feels forgotten?
- What does the metaphor 'lighten mine eyes' suggest about the connection between physical health and spiritual well-being in the Old Testament?
- Look up 1 Samuel 14:27 and Ezra 9:8. How do these parallels help you understand what David is asking?
- What does 'lest I sleep the death' reveal about David's fear? Is it only physical death, or more?
- How does this verse set up the transition to trust in verses 5-6? What can we learn about moving from prayer to praise?
- In what situations might you pray this verse for yourself or for someone else? What would 'lightened eyes' look like in that context?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 14:27 | But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. |
| I Samuel 14:29 | Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. |
| Ezra 9:8 | Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage. |
| Psalms 5:1 | For the Chief Musician, with the flutes. A Psalm by David. Give ear to my words, Yahweh. Consider my meditation. |
| Psalms 9:13 | Have mercy on me, Yahweh. See my affliction by those who hate me, and lift me up from the gates of death, |
| Psalms 18:28 | For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness. |
| Psalms 25:19 | Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred. |
| Psalms 31:7 | I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities. |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Consider and hear me - Rather, answer me. I have prayed; I am seeking thy face I am lost without thee; I am in darkness; my life draws nigh to destruction; if I die unforgiven, I die eternally. O Lord my God, consider this; hear and answer, for thy name's sake.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes interprets the psalmist's plea for God to lighten his eyes as a cry to avert imminent death, since dimming sight signals life fading. He then highlights that the metaphor of death as sleep only finds its full meaning in Christianity, where the resurrection transforms death from unbroken slumber into the hope of a new day.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that David's complaint of being forgotten by God comes from his own painful feelings, not from any loss of faith. Though David still trusted God's promises, the long stretch of suffering forced the thought of neglect upon him. His words reflect the anguish of waiting, not a doubt about grace.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator explains that "lighten my eyes" is a prayer for revival and restored strength, since the eyes reflect a person’s vitality and can grow dim with sorrow or illness. This renewal comes from the light of God’s favor, which is the true source of life.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Beholde, and heare mee, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, that I sleepe not in death:
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill sees the psalmist clinging to his covenant relationship with God even while in deep distress. He interprets the plea to lighten the eyes as either physical refreshment or spiritual enlightenment, and the sleep of death as either natural death or the fear of eternal death that can grip a believer under darkness.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB observes that the phrase "lighten mine eyes" refers to eyes growing dim from weakness, a condition that signals approaching death. He supports this by pointing to similar language in other passages where failing eyesight indicates mortal danger or the end of life.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch shows that each line of the psalmist's prayer directly counters a specific crisis: "look" against God's seeming forgetfulness, "answer me" against his helpless perplexity, and "lighten my eyes" against the foe's triumph. To lighten dim eyes means to impart new life, since in Scripture light, love, and life are closely linked. The foe's claim "I am able for him" expresses a boast of total mastery.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry notes that David's complaint that God has forgotten him is an infirmity, a misreading of God's temporary withdrawal. Yet the afflicted have freedom to pour out their griefs at the throne of grace, where God shares his people's afflictions and welcomes their honest cries.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that asking God to lighten one's eyes means more than a simple request for brightness. It is a cry for revival, comfort, and rescue from the darkness of death that is about to overwhelm the person.