The Meaning of Psalms 27:8 Explained

Psalms 27:8

KJV: When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

YLT: To Thee said my heart 'They sought my face, Thy face, O Jehovah, I seek.'

Darby: My heart said for thee, Seek ye my face. Thy face, O Jehovah, will I seek.

ASV: When thou saidst , Seek ye my face; My heart said unto thee, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[When thou saidst], Seek  ye my face;  my heart  said  unto thee, Thy face,  LORD,  will I seek. 

What does Psalms 27:8 Mean?

Study Notes

when thou
Or, My heart said unto thee, Let my face seek thy face.

Context Summary

Psalms 27:1-14 - The Song Of Fearless Trust In God
This psalm probably dates from the time when the exiled king, surrounded by unscrupulous foes, looked from his hiding-place beyond the Jordan to the Holy City, where the Ark abode. One thing he desired above all else. The "one thing" people are irresistible, Philippians 3:13-14.
Here we have assurance, Psalms 27:1-6. God's house for us is His presence. We may live day by day in the New Jerusalem, which needs no light of sun or candle. We are in it, though we know it not. Oh, that our eyes might be opened to see where we are! 2 Kings 6:20. How beautiful must God be, who has made the world so fair!
Next we have supplication, Psalms 27:7-14. The triumphant note changes to sadness. Did the writer look from his Redeemer to the winds and waves? But sometimes God seems to hide His face only to draw us to a point of trust and abandonment which otherwise the soul had never dared to adopt, Mark 7:28. The dearest may forsake, but the Lord gathers, Isaiah 40:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 27

1  David sustains his faith by prayer

What do the individual words in Psalms 27:8 mean?

To You said My heart [When You said] Seek My face - Your face Yahweh I will seek
לְךָ֤ ׀ אָמַ֣ר לִ֭בִּי בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י אֶת־ פָּנֶ֖יךָ יְהוָ֣ה אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ

לְךָ֤ ׀  To  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֹבֵד  
Sense: destruction.
אָמַ֣ר  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לִ֭בִּי  My  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ  [When  You  said]  Seek 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
פָנָ֑י  My  face 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
פָּנֶ֖יךָ  Your  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ  I  will  seek 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.