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Psalms 42

BSB·11 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1As the deerכְּאַיָּ֗לkə·’ay·yāl — Male deer; hart; stagH354 — Full Word Study → pantsתַּעֲרֹ֥גta·‘ă·rōḡ — to long for, yearn after, pant forH6165 — Full Word Study → forעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → streamsאֲפִֽיקֵי־’ă·p̄î·qê- — stream, channel, watercourseH650 — Full Word Study → of waterמָ֑יִםmā·yim — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study →, soכֵּ֤ןkên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → my soulנַפְשִׁ֨יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → longsתַעֲרֹ֖גṯa·‘ă·rōḡ — to long for, yearn after, pant forH6165 — Full Word Study → after Youאֵלֶ֣יךָ’ê·le·ḵā — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. 2My soulנַפְשִׁ֨י׀nap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → thirstsצָמְאָ֬הṣā·mə·’āh — to thirst; to be thirstyH6770 — Full Word Study → for Godלֵאלֹהִים֮lê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, the livingחָ֥יḥāy — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study → Godלְאֵ֪לlə·’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →. Whenמָתַ֥יmā·ṯay — when, how long, until whenH4970 — Full Word Study → shall I comeאָב֑וֹא’ā·ḇō·w — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → and appearוְ֝אֵרָאֶ֗הwə·’ê·rā·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → inפְּנֵ֣יpə·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → God’s presenceאֱלֹהִֽים׃’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →? 3My tearsדִמְעָתִ֣יḏim·‘ā·ṯî — tears, weepingH1832 — Full Word Study → have beenהָֽיְתָה־hā·yə·ṯāh- — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → my foodלֶ֭חֶםle·ḥem — Bread; food; sustenanceH3899 — Full Word Study → both day and nightוָלָ֑יְלָהwā·lā·yə·lāh — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study →, while men askבֶּאֱמֹ֥רbe·’ĕ·mōr — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → meאֵלַ֥י’ê·lay — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → all day longכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study →, “Whereאַיֵּ֥ה’ay·yêh — where; in what placeH346 — Full Word Study → is your Godאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →?” 4These thingsאֵ֤לֶּה’êl·leh — These; those; the onesH428 — Full Word Study → come to mindאֶזְכְּרָ֨ה׀’ez·kə·rāh — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → as I pour outוְאֶשְׁפְּכָ֬הwə·’eš·pə·ḵāh — to pour out, shed, spillH8210 — Full Word Study → my soulנַפְשִׁ֗יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →: howכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → I walkedאֶֽעֱבֹ֨ר׀’e·‘ĕ·ḇōr — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → with the multitudeבַּסָּךְ֮bas·sāḵ — A crowd or multitude of peopleH5519 — Full Word Study →, leadingאֶדַּדֵּ֗ם’ed·dad·dêm — to move slowly, proceed gently, go softlyH1718 — Full Word Study → the processionחוֹגֵֽג׃ḥō·w·ḡêḡ — To celebrate, keep feast, danceH2287 — Full Word Study → toעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → the houseבֵּ֥יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of Godאֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → with shoutsבְּקוֹל־bə·qō·wl- — voice, sound, or cryH6963 — Full Word Study → of joyרִנָּ֥הrin·nāh — joyful cry, shout of rejoicingH7440 — Full Word Study → and praiseוְתוֹדָ֗הwə·ṯō·w·ḏāh — Thanksgiving; grateful praise and acknowledgment to GodH8426 — Full Word Study →. 5Whyמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → are you downcastתִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י׀tiš·tō·w·ḥă·ḥî — to bow down, bend, stoop, humble oneselfH7817 — Full Word Study →, O my soulנַפְשִׁי֮nap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →? Why the uneaseוַתֶּהֱמִ֪יwat·te·hĕ·mî — to roar, murmur, or sound with tumultH1993 — Full Word Study → within meעָ֫לָ֥י‘ā·lāy — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →? Put your hopeהוֹחִ֣ילִיhō·w·ḥî·lî — To wait; to hope; to expect with patienceH3176 — Full Word Study → in Godלֵֽ֭אלֹהִיםlê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, forכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → I will yetע֥וֹד‘ō·wḏ — still, yet, again, continuing or additional occurrenceH5750 — Full Word Study → praise Himאוֹדֶ֗נּוּ’ō·w·ḏen·nū — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study → for the salvationיְשׁוּע֥וֹתyə·šū·‘ō·wṯ — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study → of His presenceפָּנָֽיו׃pā·nāw — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →. 6O my Godאֱ‍ֽלֹהַ֗י’ĕlō·hay — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, my soulנַפְשִׁ֪יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → despairsתִשְׁתּ֫וֹחָ֥חṯiš·tō·w·ḥāḥ — to bow down, bend, stoop, humble oneselfH7817 — Full Word Study → within meעָלַי֮‘ā·lay — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →. Thereforeעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → I remember Youאֶ֭זְכָּרְךָ’ez·kā·rə·ḵā — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → from the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץmê·’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → of Jordanיַרְדֵּ֑ןyar·dên — The flowing riverH3383 — Full Word Study → and the peaks of Hermonוְ֝חֶרְמוֹנִ֗יםwə·ḥer·mō·w·nîm — Mountain of snowH2769 — Full Word Study →— even from Mount Mizarמִצְעָֽר׃miṣ·‘ār — Mizar, a small mountain peakH4706 — Full Word Study →. 7Deepתְּהֽוֹם־tə·hō·wm- — the deep, abyss, primordial watersH8415 — Full Word Study → callsק֭וֹרֵאqō·w·rê — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → deepתְּה֣וֹםtə·hō·wm — the deep, abyss, primordial watersH8415 — Full Word Study → in the roarלְק֣וֹלlə·qō·wl — voice, sound, or cryH6963 — Full Word Study → of Your waterfallsצִנּוֹרֶ֑יךָṣin·nō·w·re·ḵā — Water channel, gutter, or conduitH6794 — Full Word Study →; allכָּֽל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → Your breakersמִשְׁבָּרֶ֥יךָmiš·bā·re·ḵā — Wave, billow, or surge of waterH4867 — Full Word Study → and wavesוְ֝גַלֶּ֗יךָwə·ḡal·le·ḵā — wave, billow, surge of waterH1530 — Full Word Study → have rolledעָבָֽרוּ׃‘ā·ḇā·rū — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → over meעָלַ֥י‘ā·lay — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →. 8The LORDיְהוָ֨ה׀Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → decreesיְצַוֶּ֬הyə·ṣaw·weh — to command, order, or appoint with authorityH6680 — Full Word Study → His loving devotionחַסְדּ֗וֹḥas·dōw — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study → by dayיוֹמָ֤ם׀yō·w·mām — During the day; daytime; by dayH3119 — Full Word Study →, and at nightוּ֭בַלַּיְלָהū·ḇal·lay·lāh — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study → His songשִׁירָהּšī·rå̄h — Song; singing; musical compositionH7892 — Full Word Study → is with meעִמִּ֑י‘im·mî — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → as a prayer to the Godלְאֵ֣לlə·’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study → of my lifeחַיָּֽי׃ḥay·yāy — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study →. 9I sayאוֹמְרָ֤ה׀’ō·wm·rāh — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → to Godלְאֵ֥לlə·’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study → my Rockסַלְעִי֮sal·‘î — Rock; cliff; stone fortressH5553 — Full Word Study →, “Whyלָמָ֪הlā·māh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → have You forgotten meשְׁכַ֫חְתָּ֥נִיšə·ḵaḥ·tā·nî — to forget, neglect, lose memory ofH7911 — Full Word Study →? Whyלָֽמָּה־lām·māh- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → must I walkאֵלֵ֗ךְ’ê·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → in sorrowקֹדֵ֥רqō·ḏêr — to be dark; to mourn; to grow gloomyH6937 — Full Word Study → because of the enemy’sאוֹיֵֽב׃’ō·w·yêḇ — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → oppressionבְּלַ֣חַץbə·la·ḥaṣ — Oppression, pressure, or afflictionH3906 — Full Word Study →?” 10Like the crushingבְּרֶ֤צַח׀bə·re·ṣaḥ — violent slaughter, bloodshed, carnageH7524 — Full Word Study → of my bonesבְּֽעַצְמוֹתַ֗יbə·‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯay — bone; body; substance; strengthH6106 — Full Word Study →, my enemiesצוֹרְרָ֑יṣō·wr·rāy — to bind, squeeze, or oppress; to distress or afflictH6887 — Full Word Study → taunt meחֵרְפ֥וּנִיḥê·rə·p̄ū·nî — to reproach, defy, or insult; to blasphemeH2778 — Full Word Study →, while they sayבְּאָמְרָ֥םbə·’ā·mə·rām — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → to meאֵלַ֥י’ê·lay — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → day longהַ֝יּ֗וֹםhay·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →, “Whereאַיֵּ֥ה’ay·yêh — where; in what placeH346 — Full Word Study → is your Godאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →?” 11Whyמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → are you downcastתִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י׀tiš·tō·w·ḥă·ḥî — to bow down, bend, stoop, humble oneselfH7817 — Full Word Study →, O my soulנַפְשִׁי֮nap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →? Whyוּֽמַה־ū·mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → the uneaseתֶּהֱמִ֪יte·hĕ·mî — to roar, murmur, or sound with tumultH1993 — Full Word Study → within meעָ֫לָ֥י‘ā·lāy — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →? Put your hopeהוֹחִ֣ילִיhō·w·ḥî·lî — To wait; to hope; to expect with patienceH3176 — Full Word Study → in Godלֵֽ֭אלֹהִיםlê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, forכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → I will yetע֣וֹד‘ō·wḏ — still, yet, again, continuing or additional occurrenceH5750 — Full Word Study → praise Himאוֹדֶ֑נּוּ’ō·w·ḏen·nū — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study →, my Saviorיְשׁוּעֹ֥תyə·šū·‘ōṯ — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study → and my Godוֵֽאלֹהָֽי׃wê·lō·hāy — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 42
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 42 is a deeply honest cry of the human soul in spiritual distress. The psalmist expresses intense longing for God's presence while simultaneously wrestling with doubt and the mockery of enemies who taunt him with the question, "Where is thy God?" This psalm doesn't offer quick comfort; instead, it models biblical authenticity—bringing our deepest pain and confusion before the Lord. Throughout, we see the psalmist wrestling between despair and faith, ultimately returning to hope in God's character and the promise of future praise.

Verses 1–4: Deep Longing and Present Sorrow

The psalm opens with one of Scripture's most beautiful images: the hart (deer) panting desperately for water in a dry land, and the psalmist's soul thirsting for God in the same way. This is spiritual thirst—a recognition that only God can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts. Verse 2 intensifies this with an explicit longing to "appear before God," suggesting the psalmist longs for God's manifest presence and perhaps temple worship.

Yet verses 3–4 reveal the dark reality: tears are his daily diet, enemies mock him relentlessly, and he remembers better days—times of joyful worship "with the multitude" in God's house. The contrast is devastating: once he knew joy in community worship; now he's isolated, weeping, and questioned. This teaches us that spiritual thirst and present sorrow are not contradictory; they coexist in the believer's experience.

Verses 5–6: Self-Exhortation and Disquiet

Here begins a recurring refrain (repeated again in verse 11): "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" The psalmist addresses his own soul, commanding it to hope in God despite the despair. This is not denial of pain; it's an act of will—deliberately turning inward to preach the gospel to himself. He grounds his hope in God as his "help" and the lifter of his countenance (the One whose favor restores dignity and peace).

Verse 6 shows the psalmist remembering God while in geographic exile, far from Jerusalem, in the northern regions of Jordan and Mount Hermon. Distance from the place of worship deepens his pain, yet even there, he determines to remember the Lord. Application: We too must learn to preach hope to our own souls, and to remember God's faithfulness even when circumstances seem to contradict His care.

Verses 7–11: Overwhelming Trials and Renewed Hope

Verses 7–9 express the intensity of the psalmist's suffering through water imagery: "deep calleth unto deep," "waterspouts," and "waves and billows gone over me." These are not literal drownings but spiritual metaphors for overwhelming crisis and enemy oppression. The enemies taunt him daily, and their reproach cuts "as with a sword in [his] bones"—a picture of internal, piercing pain.

Yet even in this darkness, verse 8 declares faith: "the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me." The psalmist affirms that God's loyal love and the ability to sing will return. Verse 11 repeats the refrain of exhortation, ending with the firm declaration that God is "the health of my countenance, and my God"—a personal, possessive claim on God even amid suffering.

Application for Today

Psalm 42 grants us permission to be honest about spiritual pain while maintaining faith in God's goodness. If you are weeping, doubted, or questioning God's presence, know that your experience is biblical and not faithless. Like the psalmist, command your own soul to hope, remember God's past faithfulness, and trust that His loving-kindness will be commanded anew. Your current waves do not define your eternal destiny; your God does.

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