Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When David cries out, "I am lonely and afflicted," the Hebrew word for "lonely" often implies being the "only one" or feeling utterly solitary. This isn't just about feeling a bit down; it speaks to a profound sense of isolation where it feels like there's no one else to turn to, making God's turning toward him the ultimate act of rescue.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a prayer from someone in deep distress, possibly King David during Absalom's rebellion, feeling abandoned by God and surrounded by enemies. He's pleading for God's favor and guidance, reflecting on past sins and present troubles. The verses immediately following continue this plea, detailing his afflictions, increasing enemies, and desperate need for deliverance and forgiveness, all while affirming his trust in God.
Ever felt like God's face is turned away, leaving you utterly alone? This verse captures that raw feeling of isolation.
When David cries, "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted," he's not just describing a bad day. The Hebrew word for 'lonely' or 'desolate' (yaḥîd) emphasizes being the 'only one' or solitary.
This isn't necessarily about being physically alone. Even in a crowd, you can feel profoundly isolated. David, though king, felt abandoned, facing enemies and inner turmoil. He felt like there was no one else to turn to, not even humanly speaking. This deep sense of being forsaken is what drives his plea for God's attention.
What does it mean to ask God to 'turn to you'? It's more than just a glance; it's the source of all hope.
David's request, "Turn to me," is a plea for God to shift His gaze from indifference or judgment to favor and mercy. The commentaries highlight that this implies God might have seemed to 'turn away His face' or 'hide His face.'
For David, God's attention wasn't just comforting – it was salvation itself. To be 'looked upon' by God meant to be seen, acknowledged, and acted upon. It was the catalyst for mercy and help. In our own moments of feeling unseen or forgotten, this verse reminds us that God's attentive gaze is the very thing that brings grace and deliverance.
Understand the original words
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panah · Hebrew Verb
To incline toward someone with favor, mercy, and kindness, especially in response to a plea. It implies an unmerited movement of compassion from a superior to an inferior.
chanan · Hebrew Verb
Unmerited favor and kindness granted by God to those who are unworthy, often resulting in deliverance, provision, or spiritual blessing.
yachid · Hebrew Adjective
A state of being forsaken, solitary, or abandoned by others. In the Psalms, it often highlights the psalmist’s dependence on God alone when human support fails.
oni · Hebrew Noun
A state of suffering, misery, or oppression, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, often caused by circumstances or the actions of others.
This psalm likely reflects David's intense personal anguish during Absalom's rebellion, a time when his own son turned against him, causing him to flee his own capital and feel utterly abandoned. The plea 'for I am lonely and afflicted' speaks volumes to anyone who has experienced betrayal or profound personal loss.
c. 1030 BC
Saul's Rise and David's Early Life
David experiences intense pressure and persecution from King Saul, who fears David's rising popularity and military success. This period is marked by Saul's attempts to kill David, forcing David to flee and live in hiding.
c. 1020 BC
David in Hiding and Exile
David spends years as a fugitive, living in wilderness areas and even seeking refuge with enemies of Israel. He faces constant danger, loneliness, and hardship, deepening his reliance on God.
c. 1010 BC
David's Reign Begins
After Saul's death, David is eventually crowned king, first over Judah and then over all Israel. This marks a significant shift, but ongoing challenges and internal strife persist.
c. 1015-975 BC— this verse
Absalom's Rebellion
David's own son, Absalom, leads a widespread rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. This immense personal betrayal and political crisis cause David deep sorrow and a profound sense of isolation.
This verse echoes the plea for God to 'turn' and 'look' with mercy, highlighting a consistent theme of seeking God's attention in times of distress and affliction.
Psalms 51:1This psalm, also attributed to David, directly links the plea for mercy and God's favor to the acknowledgment of sin, similar to how David expresses his deep personal need in Psalm 25:16 amidst his troubles.
Matthew 9:2Jesus' healing of the paralytic demonstrates God's direct response to faith expressed through a plea for mercy, showing that God indeed 'looks' upon those who are afflicted and calls out to Him.
Luke 15:20The parable of the prodigal son illustrates God's graciousness towards the one who feels lost and alone, mirroring David's desperate cry for God to 'turn' and show compassion.
Isaiah 49:14This passage describes God's people feeling abandoned ('Zion said, 'The LORD has forsaken me,'), which resonates deeply with the psalmist's feeling of being 'desolate and afflicted,' and the need for God to turn His attention back to them.
gillPsalms 25:16: "Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted."
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me,.... Or "look unto me", or "upon me" (f); which suggests that the Lord had turned himself, and hid his face from him; and expresses a desire that he would look upon him with a look of love and mercy, and arise to help and deliver him out of the hands of his enemies; he pleads no merits nor works of righteousness of his, but casts himself upon the mercy of God; fo…
pulpitPsalms 25:16: "Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted."
Verse 16. - Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me. The approach of peril is regarded as a sign that God has "turned away his face." He is besought, therefore, to turn towards one who needs his aid. For I am desolate and afflicted (comp. vers. 17, 18). The affliction evidently comes from enemies, either foreign or domestic (vers. 2, 19); but its nature is not further indicated.
When David cries out, "I am lonely and afflicted," the Hebrew word for "lonely" often implies being the "only one" or feeling utterly solitary. This isn't just about feeling a bit down; it speaks to a profound sense of isolation where it feels like there's no one else to turn to, making God's turning toward him the ultimate act of rescue.
This psalm is a prayer from someone in deep distress, possibly King David during Absalom's rebellion, feeling abandoned by God and surrounded by enemies. He's pleading for God's favor and guidance, reflecting on past sins and present troubles. The verses immediately following continue this plea, detailing his afflictions, increasing enemies, and desperate need for deliverance and forgiveness, all while affirming his trust in God.
This psalm is a prayer from someone in deep distress, possibly King David during Absalom's rebellion, feeling abandoned by God and surrounded by enemies. He's pleading for God's favor and guidance, reflecting on past sins and present troubles. The verses immediately following continue this plea, detailing his afflictions, increasing enemies, and desperate need for deliverance and forgiveness, all while affirming his trust in God.
"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted." — When David cries out, "I am lonely and afflicted," the Hebrew word for "lonely" often implies being the "only one" or feeling utterly solitary. This isn't just about feeling a bit down; it speaks to…
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Last reviewed October 2026