Psalm 27:8
New International Version
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.

New Living Translation
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

English Standard Version
You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”

Berean Standard Bible
My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.

King James Bible
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

New King James Version
When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

New American Standard Bible
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “I shall seek Your face, LORD.”

NASB 1995
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.”

NASB 1977
When Thou didst say, “Seek My face,” my heart said to Thee, “Thy face, O LORD, I shall seek.”

Legacy Standard Bible
On Your behalf my heart says, “Seek My face,” “Your face, O Yahweh, I shall seek.”

Amplified Bible
When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”

Christian Standard Bible
My heart says this about you: “Seek his face.” LORD, I will seek your face.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
My heart says this about You,” You are to seek My face.” LORD, I will seek Your face.

American Standard Version
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek.

Contemporary English Version
My heart tells me to pray. I am eager to see your face,

English Revised Version
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[When you said,] "Seek my face," my heart said to you, "O LORD, I will seek your face."

Good News Translation
When you said, "Come worship me," I answered, "I will come, LORD."

International Standard Version
My mind recalls your word, "Seek my face," so your face, LORD, I will seek.

Majority Standard Bible
My heart said, ?Seek His face.? Your face, O LORD, I will seek.

NET Bible
My heart tells me to pray to you, and I do pray to you, O LORD.

New Heart English Bible
Psa 27:8 My heart said to you, "I have sought your face." Your face, LORD, I will seek.

Webster's Bible Translation
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said to thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

World English Bible
When you said, “Seek my face,” my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Yahweh.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
My heart said to You, “They sought my face, "" Your face, O YHWH, I seek.”

Young's Literal Translation
To Thee said my heart 'They sought my face, Thy face, O Jehovah, I seek.'

Smith's Literal Translation
My heart said to thee, Seek ye my face; thy face, O Jehovah, I will seek.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
My heart hath said to thee: My face hath sought thee: thy face, O Lord, will I still seek.

Catholic Public Domain Version
My heart has spoken to you; my face has sought you. I yearn for your face, O Lord.

New American Bible
“Come,” says my heart, “seek his face”; your face, LORD, do I seek!

New Revised Standard Version
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, LORD, do I seek.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
My heart said unto thee, Let my face seek thy face.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
My heart said to you: "My face seeks your face; be my helper LORD JEHOVAH!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
In Thy behalf my heart hath said: 'Seek ye My face'; Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My heart said to thee, I have diligently sought thy face: thy face, O Lord, I will seek.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD is My Salvation
7Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me. 8My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek. 9Hide not Your face from me, nor turn away Your servant in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or forsake me, O God of my salvation.…

Cross References
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

2 Chronicles 7:14
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Psalm 105:4
Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

Luke 11:9-10
So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Amos 5:4
For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live!

Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

Isaiah 45:19
I have not spoken in secret, from a place in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right.

Hosea 5:15
Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”


Treasury of Scripture

When you said, Seek you my face; my heart said to you, Your face, LORD, will I seek.

When.

Psalm 24:6
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

Psalm 105:4
Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Isaiah 45:19
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Thy

Psalm 63:1,2
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; …

Psalm 119:58
I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

Jeremiah 29:12,13
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you…

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Psalm 27
1. David sustains his faith by prayer














My heart said, “Seek His face.”
This phrase reflects an internal prompting or conviction, suggesting a deep, personal relationship with God. The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one's being, including emotions, will, and intellect. This internal dialogue indicates a sincere desire to pursue God, aligning with the biblical theme of seeking God earnestly (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13). The concept of seeking God's face implies a desire for His presence and favor, as seen in the cultural context of seeking an audience with a king. In ancient Near Eastern culture, to seek the face of a king was to seek his attention and favor, which parallels the believer's pursuit of God's presence. This phrase also echoes the call to worship and intimacy with God, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Moses, who spoke with God face to face (Exodus 33:11).

Your face, O LORD, I will seek.
This declaration of intent emphasizes the psalmist's commitment to pursuing God. The repetition of "seek" underscores the importance of this pursuit. In the historical context of Israel, seeking God's face was often associated with prayer, worship, and obedience to His commandments. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) highlights the covenant relationship between God and His people, reminding readers of God's faithfulness and the psalmist's trust in Him. This pursuit of God's face is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, encouraging believers to prioritize their relationship with God above all else (Psalm 105:4, Matthew 6:33). Theologically, this reflects the believer's journey towards sanctification and deeper communion with God, ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, who provides access to the Father (John 14:6).

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 27, David is expressing his deep desire to seek God's presence amidst trials and adversities.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal presence and faithfulness to His people.

3. The Heart
Represents the inner being or soul of a person, often seen as the seat of emotions and will in Hebrew thought.

4. Seeking God's Face
A metaphor for pursuing a close, personal relationship with God, desiring His presence and favor.

5. The Context of Worship
The psalm reflects a setting of worship and prayer, where seeking God is central to the believer's life.
Teaching Points
The Call to Seek God
Recognize that seeking God is a response to His invitation. Our hearts should be attuned to His call, prompting us to pursue Him diligently.

The Importance of Intentionality
Seeking God's face requires intentional effort and prioritization in our daily lives. It is not a passive activity but an active pursuit.

The Role of the Heart
Understand that seeking God is not merely an intellectual exercise but involves the whole heart, reflecting a deep, personal commitment.

The Assurance of God's Presence
Be encouraged that God desires to be found and is accessible to those who seek Him with sincerity and faith.

The Transformative Power of Seeking God
As we seek God's face, we are transformed by His presence, gaining strength, guidance, and peace in our lives.(8) When thou saidst.--The margin rightly rejects these words, and restores the order of the Hebrew; but the text of the Authorised Version really gives its meaning.

The thought seems borrowed from seeking admission to a royal personage to ask a favour.

Verse 8. - When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. The order of the words in the original is as follows: "To thee said my heart - Seek ye my face - thy face, Lord, will I seek." And the full meaning seems to he, "To thee said my heart - Hast thou said unto men, Seek ye my face? I for one will obey thee - Thy face, Lord, will I seek." The command, "Seek ye my face," had been given by David to the people on the day that he set up the ark upon Mount Zion (1 Chronicles 16:11). It was probably regarded as implied in Deuteronomy 4:29.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
My heart
לִ֭בִּי (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

said,
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Seek
בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ (baq·qə·šū)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

His face.”
פָנָ֑י (p̄ā·nāy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

Your face,
פָּנֶ֖יךָ (pā·ne·ḵā)
Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

O LORD,
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

I will seek.
אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ (’ă·ḇaq·qêš)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after


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OT Poetry: Psalm 27:8 When you said Seek my face my (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 27:7
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