Psalms 40:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Psalms 40:1 in other translations
| BSB | For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. |
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| WEB | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry. |
| ASV | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for Jehovah; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. |
| YLT | To the Overseer. --A Psalm of David. I have diligently expected Jehovah, And He inclineth to me, and heareth my cry, |
| DARBY | To the chief Musician. Of David. A Psalm. I waited patiently for Jehovah; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. |
| BBE | When I was waiting quietly for the Lord, his heart was turned to me, and he gave ear to my cry. |
| Webster | To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined to me, and heard my cry. |
What does Psalms 40:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 40:1-3
Psa 40:1-17. In this Psalm a celebration of God's deliverance is followed by a profession of devotion to His service. Then follows a prayer for relief from imminent dangers, involving the overthrow of enemies and the rejoicing of sympathizing friends. In He 10:5, &c., Paul quotes Psa 40:6-8 as the words of Christ, offering Himself as a better sacrifice. Some suppose Paul thus accommodated David's words to express Christ's sentiments. But the value of his quotation would be thus destroyed, as it would have no force in his argument, unless regarded by his readers as the original sense of the passage in the Old Testament. Others suppose the Psalm describes David's feelings in suffering and joy; but the language quoted by Paul, in the sense given by him, could not apply to David in any of his relations, for as a type the language is not adapted to describe any event or condition of David's career, and as an individual representing the pious generally, neither he nor they could properly use it (see on Psa 40:7, below). The Psalm must be taken then, as the sixteenth, to express the feelings of Christ's human nature. The difficulties pertinent to this view will be considered as they occur.
1-3. The figures for deep distress are illustrated in Jeremiah's history (Jr 38:6-12). Patience and trust manifested in distress, deliverance in answer to prayer, and the blessed effect of it in eliciting praise from God's true worshippers, teach us that Christ's suffering is our example, and His deliverance our encouragement (He 5:7, 8; 12:3; 1Pe 4:12-16). inclined--(the ear, Psa 17:6), as if to catch the faintest sigh.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
The benefit of confidence in God, Psa 40:1-3. The blessedness of those who trust in God, Psa 40:4, Psa 40:5. The termination of the Jewish sacrifices in that of Christ, Psa 40:6-8. The psalmist's resolution to publish God's goodness, Psa 40:9, Psa 40:10 : he prays to be delivered from evils, Psa 40:11-13; against his enemies, Psa 40:14, Psa 40:15; and in behalf of those who are destitute, Psa 40:16, Psa 40:17. The Title, "To the chief Musician," we have already seen, and it contains nothing worthy of particular remark. Concerning the occasion and author of this Psalm there has been a strange and numerous diversity of opinions. I shall not trouble the reader with sentiments which I believe to be ill founded; as I am satisfied the Psalm was composed by David and about the same time and on the same occasion as the two preceding; with this difference, that here he magnifies God for having bestowed the mercy which he sought there. It is, therefore, a thanksgiving for his recovery from the sore disease by which he was afflicted in his body, and for his restoration to the Divine favor. The sixth, seventh, and eighth verses contain a remarkable prophecy of the incarnation and sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ. From the eleventh to the end contains a new subject and appears to have belonged to another Psalm. It is the same as the seventieth Psalm; only it wants the two first verses. Verse 1 I waited patiently for the Lord - The two preceding Psalms are proofs of the patience and resignation with which David waited for the mercy of God. The reader is requested to consult the notes on them. And heard my cry - The two preceding Psalms show how he prayed and waited; this shows how he succeeded.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 40:1-5
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Psalms 40:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 40:1
- Psalms 27:13-14
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
- Psalms 37:7
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
- James 5:7-11
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. …
- Psalms 34:15
The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
- Psalms 116:2
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
- Daniel 9:18
O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
- Psalms 130:2
Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6 Obedience is the best sacrifice.
11 The sense of David's evils inflames his prayer.
A.M. 2970. B.C. 1034. (Title.)This psalm is supposed to have been composed by David about the same time, and on the same occasion, as the two preceding; with this difference, that here he magnifies God for have obtained the mercy which he sought there. It also contains a remarkable prophecy of the incarnation and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
I waited. Heb. In waiting I waited.
27:13,14; 37:7; Jas 5:7-11
inclined.
116:2; 130:2; Da 9:18
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Psalms 40:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
- Psalms 40:2
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psalms 40:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Al Músico principal: Salmo de David. RESIGNADAMENTE esperé á Jehová, é inclinóse á mí, y oyó mi clamor. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | *Au chef de musique. De David. Psaume. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Beharrlich habe ich auf Jehova geharrt, und er hat sich zu mir geneigt und mein Schreien gehört. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | In finem. Psalmus ipsi David. |