The Meaning of Psalms 10:1 Explained

Psalms 10:1

KJV: Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

YLT: Why, Jehovah, dost Thou stand at a distance? Thou dost hide in times of adversity,

Darby: Why, Jehovah, standest thou afar off? Why hidest thou thyself in times of distress?

ASV: Why standest thou afar off, O Jehovah? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Why standest  thou afar off,  O LORD?  [why] hidest  thou [thyself] in times  of trouble? 

What does Psalms 10:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The psalm begins with two questions that voice the psalmist"s frustration as much as his ignorance. David could not understand why God did not act for His afflicted people. The word "why" occurs four times in this Psalm , twice here and twice in Psalm 10:13 (as reflected in the NIV translation).

Context Summary

Psalms 10:1-18 - God Will Not Forget The Lowly
The malice of our foes, and especially of Satan, is powerfully described, Psalms 10:1-11. Now it is the venom beneath the serpent's tongue, Psalms 10:7; now the bandit in ambush, Psalms 10:8; now the lion in his den, and again the hunter snaring his unsuspecting prey, Psalms 10:9. And all the while God is so quiet that it seems as if He has abdicated His throne.
Then the oppressed begin to pray, committing themselves to Him, Psalms 10:12-15. May we not rise above the spirit of the Old Covenant and ask that the venomous evil which is in the heart of our foes may be exterminated, so that it leave no vestiges? And such prayer must be answered. Compare Psalms 9:19 with Psalms 10:16-17. True prayer begins with God and returns to Him. When He prepares the heart, Psalms 9:17, He prepares the answer, which exceeds all, 1 Corinthians 2:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 10

1  David complains of the wicked
12  He prays for remedy
16  He professes his confidence

What do the individual words in Psalms 10:1 mean?

Why Yahweh do You stand afar off [Why] do You hide in times of trouble
לָמָ֣ה ؟ יְ֭הוָה תַּעֲמֹ֣ד בְּרָח֑וֹק תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים לְעִתּ֥וֹת ؟ בַּצָּרָֽה

לָמָ֣ה  Why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
؟ יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
תַּעֲמֹ֣ד  do  You  stand 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
בְּרָח֑וֹק  afar  off 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָחֹוק  
Sense: remote, far, distant, distant lands, distant ones.
תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים  [Why]  do  You  hide 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָלַם  
Sense: to conceal, hide, be hidden, be concealed, be secret.
לְעִתּ֥וֹת  in  times 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
؟ בַּצָּרָֽה  of  trouble 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָרָה 
Sense: straits, distress, trouble.