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Selected Verse: Psalms 102:17 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 102:17	Strong Concordance	He will regard [06437] the prayer [08605] of the destitute [06199], and not despise [0959] their prayer [08605].
	King James	He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
He will regard the prayer - literally, "He looks upon," or "he 'turns himself' to their prayer." He does not any longer seem to turn away from them and disregard them. He shows by thus building up Zion that he does regard prayer; that he hears the supplications of his people. There is no higher proof that prayer is heard than that which is often furnished in a revival of pure religion. All such revivals, like that on the day of Pentecost (Act 2:1 ff), are usually preceded, as that was Act 1:13-14, by special prayer; in those revivals there are often most manifest and clear answers to prayer for the conversion of individuals; to prayer for a blessing on a preached gospel; to prayer for particular relatives and friends. Of the destitute - literally, "of the poor." The word - ערער ‛ar‛âr - occurs only here and in Jer 17:6, where it is rendered "heath:" "He shall be like the 'heath' in the desert." The word, according to its etymology, means "naked;" then, poor, stripped of everything, impoverished, wholly destitute. It would thus be eminently applicable to the poor exiles in Babylon; it is as applicable to sinners pleading with God, and to the people of God themselves, destitute of everything like self-righteousness, and feeling that they have nothing in themselves, but that they are wholly dependent on the mercy of God. Compare Rev 3:17. And not despise their prayer - Not treat it with contempt; not pass it by unheard. This is stated as one of the reasons why the nations would be struck with awe - that God, the infinite God, would hear the prayers of those who were so poor, so powerless, so friendless. There is, in fact, nothing more suited to excite wonder than that God does hear the prayer of poor, lost, sinful man.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

He will regard the prayer - literally, "He looks upon," or "he 'turns himself' to their prayer." He does not any longer seem to turn away from them and disregard them. He shows by thus building up Zion that he does regard prayer; that he hears the supplications of his people. There is no higher proof that prayer is heard than that which is often furnished in a revival of pure religion. All such revivals, like that on the day of Pentecost (Act 2:1 ff), are usually preceded, as that was Act 1:13-14, by special prayer; in those revivals there are often most manifest and clear answers to prayer for the conversion of individuals; to prayer for a blessing on a preached gospel; to prayer for particular relatives and friends.

Of the destitute - literally, "of the poor." The word - ערער ‛ar‛âr - occurs only here and in Jer 17:6, where it is rendered "heath:" "He shall be like the 'heath' in the desert." The word, according to its etymology, means "naked;" then, poor, stripped of everything, impoverished, wholly destitute. It would thus be eminently applicable to the poor exiles in Babylon; it is as applicable to sinners pleading with God, and to the people of God themselves, destitute of everything like self-righteousness, and feeling that they have nothing in themselves, but that they are wholly dependent on the mercy of God. Compare Rev 3:17.

And not despise their prayer - Not treat it with contempt; not pass it by unheard. This is stated as one of the reasons why the nations would be struck with awe - that God, the infinite God, would hear the prayers of those who were so poor, so powerless, so friendless. There is, in fact, nothing more suited to excite wonder than that God does hear the prayer of poor, lost, sinful man.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The prayer of the destitute - הערער haarar of him who is laid in utter ruin, who is entirely wasted.

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¹⁷ Because [3754] thou sayest [3004], [3754] I am [1510] rich [4145], and [2532] increased with goods [4147], and [2532] have [2192] need [5532] of nothing [3762]; and [2532] knowest [1492] not [3756] that [3754] thou [4771] art [1488] wretched [5005], and [2532] miserable [1652], and [2532] poor [4434], and [2532] blind [5185], and [2532] naked [1131]:

⁶ For he shall be like the heath [06199] in the desert [06160], and shall not see [07200] when good [02896] cometh [0935]; but shall inhabit [07931] the parched places [02788] in the wilderness [04057], in a salt [04420] land [0776] and not inhabited [03427].

¹³ And [2532] when [3753] they were come in [1525], they went up [305] into [1519] an upper room [5253], where [3757] abode [2258] [2650] both [5037] Peter [4074], and [2532] James [2385], and [2532] John [2491], and [2532] Andrew [406], Philip [5376], and [2532] Thomas [2381], Bartholomew [918], and [2532] Matthew [3156], James [2385] the son of Alphaeus [256], and [2532] Simon [4613] Zelotes [2208], and [2532] Judas [2455] the brother of James [2385].
¹⁴ These [3778] all [3956] continued [2258] [4342] with one accord [3661] in prayer [4335] and [2532] supplication [1162], with [4862] the women [1135], and [2532] Mary [3137] the mother [3384] of Jesus [2424], and [2532] with [4862] his [846] brethren [80].

¹ And [2532] when [1722] the day [2250] of Pentecost [4005] was fully come [4845], they were [2258] all [537] with one accord [3661] in [1909] one place [846].