Psalms 39:13 · Bible study
Psalms 39:13 Commentary: Spare Me
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine Psalm 39:13, the psalmist's plea for strength before death. Understand 'be no more' in its OT context of mortality and trust in God.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A plea for God to turn his chastening gaze away so the psalmist may find cheer before leaving the land of the living.
- Key words: Spare me (look away), recover strength (brighten up), go hence and be no more (departure from this world).
- Main debate: Whether 'be no more' implies annihilation or simply ceasing to be on earth. Most commentators hold the latter.
- Theological theme: Human frailty and trust in God's mercy in the face of death.
- Best use: Funerals, hospital visitations, personal preparation for death, sermons on mortality and hope.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away and exist no more.”
KJV King James Version 1769
O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Look from me, and I brighten up before I go and am not!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Look away from me, and let me recover strength, before I go hence and be no more.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Déjame, y tomaré fuerzas, antes que vaya y perezca.
Não prestes atenção em mim em tua ira , antes que eu vá, e pereça.
Écoute ma prière, Éternel, et prête l’ oreille à mes cris!
Laß ab von mir, daß ich mich erquicke, ehe ich den hinfahre und nicht mehr hier sei.
Hoor, HEERE! mijn gebed, en neem mijn geroep ter ore; zwijg niet tot mijn tranen; want ik ben een vreemdeling bij U, een bijwoner, gelijk al mijn vaders. Wend U van mij af, dat ik mij verkwikke, eer dat ik heenga, en ik niet meer zij.
Distogli da me il tuo sguardo ond’io mi rianimi, prima che me ne vada, e non sia più.
Wysłuchajże modlitwę moję, Panie! a wołanie moje przyjmij w uszy swoje, nie milcz na łzy moje; bomci ja przychodniem u ciebie, i komornikiem, jako wszyscy ojcowie moi. Sfolguj mi, abym się posilił, pierwej niżeli odejdę, a nie będzie mię.
ибо окружили меня беды неисчислимые; постигли меня беззакония мои, так что видеть не могу: их более, нежели волос на голове моей; сердце мое оставило меня.
求你寬容 我，使我在去 而不返 之先 可以力量復原。
Let your wrath be turned away from me, so that I may be comforted, before I go away from here, and become nothing.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse is a plea for God to turn away his chastening hand so the psalmist can find cheer before death. The Hebrew verb translated 'spare me' means 'look away from me,' as Barnes notes, suggesting God's gaze is fixed on the psalmist in judgment (compare Job 7:19). 'Recover strength' means 'brighten up,' like the sky clearing after a storm (Cambridge Bible). Calvin sees this as David's struggle with excessive sorrow, while Keil and Delitzsch emphasize the heroic character of Old Testament faith: even in the deep gloom of death's mystery, the psalmist throws himself on God. The petition acknowledges life's brevity. He will soon go hence and be no more, a phrase most commentators take not as annihilation but as departure from the land of the living (Barnes, Gill). The prayer is thus for a final season of consolation and strength before the end. In this cry, believers across ages have found permission to voice their own desire for peace before death, trusting not in full knowledge of the afterlife but in the God who holds it.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Annihilation or cessation of existence: A literal reading of 'be no more' as absolute non-existence; some Jewish and Christian traditions have entertained this view.
- Departure from the land of the living: Supported by parallels in Job (10:21, 14:10) and the consistent OT language of death as going to Sheol, not annihilation.
- Rhetorical expression of finality: The phrase may be a poetic way of saying 'I will die' without making a metaphysical statement about the state of the dead.
What is clear: The psalmist is about to die and desperately seeks God's mercy and consolation before that event.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'spare me' (v.13a) | The word implies asking God to turn his gaze of judgment aside. It is a plea for respite from chastening. | Some emphasize the sharpness of God's look (Barnes), while others stress the need for God to cease his activity of discipline (Gill). Both agree it is a request for mercy. |
| Meaning of 'recover strength' | The Hebrew root bâlag means 'to be bright, cheerful.' The psalmist asks for emotional and spiritual brightening. | Whether this is primarily physical recovery (Clarke) or internal consolation (Barnes). The context of nearing death suggests the latter. |
| Meaning of 'be no more' | Refers to death. The psalmist will depart from the land of the living. | Some traditions read this as simple cessation of earthly existence (Wesley: 'no more among the living'). Others argue it reflects the OT Sheol view without implying complete annihilation (Calvin, Keil). There is no developed resurrection hope explicitly stated here. |
| Overall tone of the petition | The psalmist is earnest and sincere, bringing his distress to God. | Calvin sees here an element of excessive sorrow and weakness of faith. Keil and Delitzsch see heroic faith that clings to God despite unanswered questions. Neither denies the reality of the psalmist's trust. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The psalm is attributed to David and bears the title 'To the chief musician, Jeduthun.' Jeduthun was one of David's three chief musicians (1 Chronicles 16:41-42), indicating this psalm was used in tabernacle worship. The historical setting is the psalmist's affliction; many commentators associate it with David's illness or chastisement for sin, though the exact occasion is uncertain.
The cultural context of the Old Testament view of death is crucial here. Death was conceived as going to Sheol, a shadowy underworld where there is no memory or praise of God (Psalm 6:5, 30:9). The phrase 'be no more' does not necessarily imply annihilation but rather ceasing to be among the living on earth. This is supported by the parallel wording in Job 10:21 where Job speaks of going to the land of darkness and shadow of death. The psalmist describes himself as a 'stranger and sojourner' with God (v.12), echoing the language of the patriarchs (Gen 47:9, 1 Chron 29:15). Life is a handbreadth, a breath (v.5,11). In this context, the plea for strength before death is not a cry of despair but an act of faith. As Keil and Delitzsch note, the Old Testament faith throws itself unconditionally into the arms of God even when the future is shrouded in gloom. The prayer is urgent because death is imminent; there is no time left for prolonged suffering. The psalmist desires to shine forth (bālag) to have his countenance brighten with God's consolation before he departs. This reflects a deep pastoral need: to face death not with terror but with the comfort of God's presence. The early church, and later interpreters, have found in this verse a model for petitioning God for mercy in the shadow of death. It speaks to the universal human experience of wanting to finish well, to be cheered before the end.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Masoretic Text is stable, and the language is consistent with Hebrew poetic idiom found also in Job.
Reception History
This verse has been read across church history as an honest cry of mortality. In the early church, it was sometimes quoted in funeral contexts, emphasizing the brevity of life and the need for God's mercy before death. Medieval writers used it in meditations on the art of dying well. Reformers like Calvin and Luther saw it as expressing the struggle of the saint in severe trial. In modern times, it appears in many funeral liturgies and has comforted countless believers facing terminal illness. While interpretations of the afterlife have differed, the prayer for strength before death has remained a staple of Christian devotional practice.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Look Away from Me: The Cry for Relief. The psalmist begs God to turn his gaze of judgment aside (v.13a). This is not a request to be abandoned but to be spared the intensity of divine discipline. Compare Job 7:19. In suffering, it is right to ask for respite, even when death is near.
- Let Me Brighten Up: The Need for Consolation. 'Recover strength' literally means to become cheerful or bright. The need is not just physical but spiritual and emotional. The psalmist wants a clear countenance before God. He asks not for more time but for renewed strength in the time left.
- Before I Am No More: The Reality of Mortality. The departure is certain. 'Be no more' does not mean annihilation but leaving this world. This urgent plea recognizes that death ends the opportunity for present joy and fellowship with God in this life. It is a cry from the edge of existence.
Five-point outline
- The Mute Sufferer: The psalmist had been silent (v.9), but now he breaks into prayer. Silence has its place, but honest petition is better.
- The Chastening Hand: He acknowledges that his suffering is from God (v.10). The prayer is not against enemies but for God's mercy.
- The Breath of Life: Man is a breath (v.5,11). The plea is grounded in the fragility of human existence.
- The Sojourner's Status: He is a stranger and sojourner with God (v.12), owning that earth is not his home.
- The Final Shine: Before he goes hence, he asks for strength and brightness. This is a prayer for a good death.
Illustration hooks
- A farmer who has worked all season but wants to see the harvest before he dies.
- A person battling a long illness who prays for one more day of lucidity and peace, not healing.
- The experience of final reconciliation with a family member before death, the desire for things to be right.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it okay to ask God to spare me from suffering when I know I will die anyway?
- What does the Old Testament really teach about life after death? Is there any hope?
- How can I find strength and cheer when I am facing the end of my life?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is a raw, honest prayer from someone facing death. It invites us to bring our fears and desires before God, trusting that he hears our cry for mercy and strength. Use the questions below to reflect on the passage as a group.
Discussion questions
- What does the psalmist ask for in this verse? Describe his situation in your own words.
- The verb 'spare me' literally means 'look away from me.' Why would the psalmist want God to look away? What does this tell us about his understanding of his suffering?
- How does the phrase 'recover strength' (or 'brighten up') shape your understanding of what the psalmist needs most? Is it physical, emotional, or spiritual?
- The psalmist says he will 'go hence and be no more.' What does this phrase mean in the context of the Old Testament view of death? Compare Job 10:20-21 and Psalm 6:5.
- This psalm echoes Job frequently. Why do you think the language of Job is fitting for this prayer? What does it reveal about the shared experience of suffering and mortality?
- How can this verse be a model for our own prayers in times of serious illness or approaching death? What is it that we ultimately long for in those moments?
- How does the psalmist's trust in God, even without a full understanding of the afterlife, encourage you in your own faith journey?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 5:24 | Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took him. |
| Genesis 42:36 | Jacob, their father, said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin away. All these things are against me.” |
| Job 7:19 | How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle? |
| Job 10:20 | Aren’t my days few? Stop! Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort, |
| Job 10:21 | before I go where I will not return from, to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death; |
| Job 14:5 | Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass. |
| Job 14:6 | Look away from him, that he may rest, until he accomplishes, as a hireling, his day. |
| Job 14:10 | But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he? |
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
Clarke sees this verse as a prayer for more time on earth as a probationary period. He explains that "recovering strength" means being restored to God's image and favor, which humanity has lost. This plea for full preparation before entering blessedness should be every person's daily cry.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that the psalmist's plea "spare me" literally means "look away from me," as if God were staring at him in displeasure. His request to "recover strength" means to be cheered and invigorated before death. He wants to leave the world with bright hope, not gloom, for the honor of religion.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that David is not presenting himself as a model of patient faith. Instead, David confesses his own sinful weakness: his grief drove him to immoderate, vehement complaints. The psalm records his struggle and his honesty about this failure of faith, not his virtue.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator’s distinctive insight is that the Hebrew behind “spare me” actually means “look away” or “avert your frown,” and “recover strength” literally means to “brighten up” like clearing clouds. This reveals, as Delitzsch noted, the heroic faith of Old Testament believers who threw themselves unconditionally into God’s arms even when life and the future seemed utterly dark.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
David pleads with God to withdraw His anger so he might recover his strength before death overtakes him. The note stresses the urgency: once gone from this life, there is no further opportunity for restoration.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that the plea "be no more" does not mean ceasing to exist. It means departing from this world at death, since the believer still lives on in heaven. He also notes the Hebrew phrase for "spare me" means "look away from me" or "cease from me," a request to recover strength before leaving this life.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch draw a sharp contrast between David and Job. David cannot separate suffering from sin and divine wrath, but Job advances by holding suffering and love together, seeing that even death can serve the highest good of those who love God. The psalm leaves this riddle unresolved.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues the prayer here is not a complaint born of ill humor but a present petition for God to make the sufferer spiritually grasp life’s brevity. The goal is that he would stop making a fuss about himself and his sufferings and instead lay hold of God by faith as the only true support.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry observes that David, after meditating on life's brevity and uncertainty, abandons all hope in worldly things. David declares he expects nothing from earth, and this realization drives him to place his entire dependence on God alone. The vanity of everything here makes God the only proper object of hope.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
No more - Among the living, or in this world.