Psalms 42:1
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Psalms 42:1 in other translations
| BSB | For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. |
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| WEB | For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God. |
| ASV | For the Chief Musician. Maschil of the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. |
| YLT | To the Overseer. --An Instruction. By sons of Korah. As a hart doth pant for streams of water, So my soul panteth toward Thee, O God. |
| DARBY | To the chief Musician. An instruction; of the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, OGod. |
| BBE | Like the desire of the roe for the water-streams, so is my soul's desire for you, O God. |
| Webster | To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so my soul panteth after thee, O God. |
What does Psalms 42:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 42:1-2
Psa 42:1-11. Maschil--(See on Psa 32:1, title). For, or of (see Introduction) the sons of Korah. The writer, perhaps one of this Levitical family of singers accompanying David in exile, mourns his absence from the sanctuary, a cause of grief aggravated by the taunts of enemies, and is comforted in hopes of relief. This course of thought is repeated with some variety of detail, but closing with the same refrain.
1-2. Compare (Psa 63:1). panteth--desires in a state of exhaustion.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
The psalmist earnestly longs for the ordinances of the Lord's house, Psa 42:1-4; describes his deep distress, Psa 42:5-7; endeavors to take comfort from the consideration that the Lord would appear in his behalf, Psa 42:8, Psa 42:9; speaks of the insults of his enemies, Psa 42:10; and again takes encouragement, Psa 42:11. The title, To the chief Musician giving instruction to the sons of Korah. This is the first of the Psalms that has this title prefixed, and it is probable that such Psalms were composed by the descendants of Korah during the Babylonish captivity, or by some eminent person among those descendants, and that they were used by the Israelites during their long captivity, as means of consolation: and, indeed, most of the Psalms which bear this inscription are of the consoling kind and the sentiments appear to belong to that period of the Jewish history, and to none other. The word משכיל maskil, from שכל sakal, signifies to make wise, to direct wisely, to give instruction; and here is so understood by our translators, who have left this signification in the margin; and so the Versions in general. The Syriac says, "It is a Psalm which David sung when he was an exile, and desired to return to Jerusalem." The Arabic says: "A Psalm for the backsliding Jews." Verse 1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks - The hart is not only fond of feeding near some water for the benefit of drinking, "but when he is hard hunted, and nearly spent, he will take to some river or brook, in which," says Tuberville, "he will keep as long as his breath will suffer him. Understand that when a hart is spent and sore run, his last refuge is to the water; and he will commonly descend down the streame and swimme in the very middest thereof; for he will take as good heede as he can to touch no boughes or twygges that grow upon the sides of the river, for feare lest the hounds should there take sent of him. And sometimes the hart will lye under the water, all but his very nose; and I have seene divers lye so until the hounds have been upon them, before they would rise; for they are constrayned to take the water as their last refuge." - Tuberville's Art of Venerie, chapter 40: Lond. 4th., 1611. The above extracts will give a fine illustration of this passage. The hart feels himself almost entirely spent; he is nearly hunted down; the dogs are in full pursuit; he is parched with thirst; and in a burning heat pants after the water, and when he comes to the river, plunges in as his last refuge. Thus pursued, spent, and nearly ready to give up the ghost, the psalmist pants for God, for the living God! for him who can give life, and save from death.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 42:1-5
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Psalms 42:1 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 42:1
- Psalms 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; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
- Psalms 143:6-7
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
- Psalms 119:131
I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
- Isaiah 26:8-9
Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
- Psalms 84:1-2
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
- Psalms 48:1
A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
- Psalms 46:1
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
- Psalms 85:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
- Psalms 45:1
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
- Psalms 47:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
- Psalms 44:1
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
- Psalms 49:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5 He encourages his soul to trust in God.
A.M. 2983. B.C. 1021. (Title.){Maschil,} or a Psalm giving instruction, of the sons, etc. Or, "An instructive Psalm," or didactic ode, "for the sons of Korah." It is generally supposed to have been written by David when driven from Jerusalem and beyond Jordan, by Absalom's rebellion.
the sons.
44:1; 45:1; 46:1; 47:1; 48:1; 49:1; 84:1; 85:1; *titles
Nu 16:1,32; 26:11; 1Ch 6:33-37; 25:1-5
panteth. Heb. brayeth. so panteth.
63:1,2; 84:2; 143:6,7; Isa 26:8,9
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Psalms 42:1
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
- Psalms 42:2
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Psalms 42:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Al Músico principal: Masquil á los hijos de Coré. COMO el ciervo brama por las corrientes de las aguas, así clama por ti, oh Dios, el alma mía. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Au chef de musique. Instruction. Des fils de Coré. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wie ein Hirsch lechzt nach Wasserbächen, also lechzt meine Seele nach dir, o Gott! |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Psalmus David. Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me. |