The Meaning of Psalms 13:3 Explained

Psalms 13:3

KJV: Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

YLT: Look attentively; Answer me, O Jehovah, my God, Enlighten mine eyes, lest I sleep in death,

Darby: Consider, answer me, O Jehovah my God! lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

ASV: Consider and answer me, O Jehovah my God: Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the'sleep of death;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Consider  [and] hear  me, O LORD  my God:  lighten  mine eyes,  lest I sleep  the [sleep of] death; 

What does Psalms 13:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 13:1-6 - The Bounty Of God And The Folly Of Men
The first of these psalms evidently dates from the Sauline persecutions, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-1036. Four times the persecuted soul cries, How long! The psalm begins in deepest dejection, but clears as it proceeds. Prayer often proves to be the ladder from the deepest dungeon to the more radiant day. We find here depression, Psalms 13:1-2; supplication, Psalms 13:3-4; assurance, Psalms 13:5-6. Do not carry your anxieties in your heart. Remember that Christ is by your side, and leading you through all to the Kingdom. Faith begins praise for victory before the fight has reached its worst.
The creed, character, and doom of the atheist are set forth in the next psalm, and the psalm is so important as to demand repetition. See Psalms 53:1-6. The root of atheism is in the heart, Romans 1:21. Its effect on character, speech, and action is disastrous, and it ends in great fear, Psalms 14:5. The best answer to atheism is the light and liberty of the children of God, Psalms 14:7; Hebrews 9:28; 1714137253_3. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 13

1  David complains of delay
3  He prays for preventing grace
5  He boasts of divine mercy

What do the individual words in Psalms 13:3 mean?

Consider [and] hear me Yahweh my God Enlighten my eyes lest I sleep the [sleep of] death
הַבִּ֣יטָֽה עֲ֭נֵנִי יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י הָאִ֥ירָה עֵ֝ינַ֗י פֶּן־ אִישַׁ֥ן הַמָּֽוֶת

הַבִּ֣יטָֽה  Consider 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: נָבַט  
Sense: to look, regard.
עֲ֭נֵנִי  [and]  hear  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהָ֑י  my  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הָאִ֥ירָה  Enlighten 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֹור  
Sense: to be or become light, shine.
עֵ֝ינַ֗י  my  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
פֶּן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
אִישַׁ֥ן  I  sleep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָשֵׁן 
Sense: to sleep, be asleep.
הַמָּֽוֶת  the  [sleep  of]  death 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָוֶת  
Sense: death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead.