Psalm Chapter 42

Commentary

As the Deer Pants for the Water

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.

2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

4When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

6O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

7Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

8Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

9I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

10As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

11Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

BOOK II Psalms 42–72

As the Deer Pants for the Water

1 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.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.

5 Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.

6 My God, my soul is in despair within me. Therefore I remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls. All your waves and your billows have swept over me.

8 Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime. In the night his song shall be with me: a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

10 As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me, while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him, the saving help of my countenance, and my God.

BOOK II

Psalms 42–72

As the Deer Pants for the Water

For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. a

1As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul longs after You, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, the living God.

When shall I come and appear in God’s presence? b

3 My tears have been my food

both day and night,

while men ask me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

4 These things come to mind as I pour out my soul:

how I walked with the multitude,

leading the procession to the house of God

with shouts of joy and praise.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why the unease within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him

for the salvation of His presence.

6 O my God, my soul despairs within me.

Therefore I remember You

from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon—

even from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep

in the roar of Your waterfalls;

all Your breakers and waves

have rolled over me.

8 The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day,

and at night His song is with me

as a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God my Rock,

“Why have You forgotten me?

Why must I walk in sorrow

because of the enemy’s oppression?”

10 Like the crushing of my bones,

my enemies taunt me,

while they say to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why the unease within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,

my Savior and my God.

 

Footnotes:

1 a In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm. Maskil  is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.
2 b Or and see the face of God?

As the Deer Pants for the Water

1To 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.

2My soul thirsted for God, for the living God, When do I enter and see the face of God?

3My tear hath been to me bread day and night, In their saying unto me all the day, 'Where is thy God?'

4These I remember, and pour out my soul in me, For I pass over into the booth, I go softly with them unto the house of God, With the voice of singing and confession, The multitude keeping feast!

5What! bowest thou thyself, O my soul? Yea, art thou troubled within me? Wait for God, for still I confess Him: The salvation of my countenance -- My God!

6In me doth my soul bow itself, Therefore I remember Thee from the land of Jordan, And of the Hermons, from the hill Mizar.

7Deep unto deep is calling At the noise of Thy water-spouts, All Thy breakers and Thy billows passed over me.

8By day Jehovah commandeth His kindness, And by night a song is with me, A prayer to the God of my life.

9I say to God my rock, 'Why hast Thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning in the oppression of an enemy?

10With a sword in my bones Have mine adversaries reproached me, In their saying unto me all the day, 'Where is thy God?'

11What! bowest thou thyself, O my soul? And what! art thou troubled within me? Wait for God, for still I confess Him, The salvation of my countenance, and my God!

The F.O.G Commentary:

What is the meaning of Psalm 42?

Introduction to Psalm 42

Psalm 42 stands as one of the most poignant expressions of spiritual longing in all of Scripture. This profound psalm opens Book II of the Psalter and introduces a collection specifically attributed to the Sons of Korah. The imagery of a deer panting for water streams creates an unforgettable metaphor for the soul’s desperate yearning for God, particularly in times of spiritual drought and emotional distress. This psalm resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced separation from regular worship or felt distant from God’s presence while longing for renewed intimacy with Him.

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Context of Psalm 42

Within the Psalter, Psalm 42 marks a significant transition as it begins Book II of the five-book collection. Together with Psalm 43, it forms a unified composition, sharing a common refrain and thematic progression. Many scholars believe these two psalms were originally one piece, later divided for liturgical purposes. The attribution to the Sons of Korah connects it to a guild of temple musicians who served in the Jerusalem Temple, adding layers of significance to its themes of separation from worship.

The historical context likely places this psalm during a time of forced exile from Jerusalem, possibly during David’s flight from Absalom or another period when the psalmist was prevented from participating in Temple worship. The specific mention of Mount Hermon and the Jordan River region suggests a northern location, perhaps in the territory of Dan, far from Jerusalem’s sanctuary.

The psalm fits within the larger biblical narrative of God’s faithfulness during times of testing and apparent absence. It prefigures themes that would later emerge in the prophetic literature about exile and restoration, and ultimately points toward the Messiah’s own experience of separation from the Father on the cross.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • עָרַג (arag) – “pants”: This Hebrew verb appears only twice in Scripture, both times in this psalm. Its root meaning connects to a deep physical longing that affects the whole body. Unlike more common words for desire, this term specifically conveys the visceral nature of desperate thirst.
  • נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh) – “soul”: More than just the spiritual component of a person, nephesh represents the entire living being, the integrated self that encompasses body, mind, and spirit. Its use here emphasizes how the longing for God affects every aspect of human existence.
  • אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) – “God”: The exclusive use of Elohim rather than the covenant name YHWH in this psalm is noteworthy. It emphasizes God’s transcendent power and sovereignty while highlighting the psalmist’s sense of distance from intimate covenant relationship.
  • פָּנֶה (paneh) – “face”: In Hebrew thought, to seek God’s face meant to seek His presence and favor. The repeated longing to “appear before God’s face” reflects the deep Jewish understanding that true worship involves personal encounter with the Divine Presence.
  • תָּהוֹם (tehom) – “deep”: This word carries cosmic significance, referring to the primordial depths of creation. Its use here creates a powerful image of both the depths of despair and the depths of God’s love calling out to the psalmist.
  • הָמָה (hamah) – “roars”: Originally describing the roar of water or the growling of a bear, this verb powerfully conveys the tumultuous nature of the psalmist’s inner emotional state.
  • חַי (chai) – “living”: This term for life appears in the crucial phrase “living God,” emphasizing the contrast between the true God and lifeless idols, while also connecting to the image of living water the deer seeks.
  • חֶסֶד (chesed) – “lovingkindness”: God’s covenant faithfulness and steadfast love, a central theme that provides hope even in the darkest moments of spiritual drought.

Compare & Contrast

  • Verse 1’s choice of “pants” (עָרַג) rather than more common words for desire like חָפַץ (chaphets) or אָוָה (avah) emphasizes the physical, instinctual nature of spiritual longing. This portrays devotion to God as something as essential as the body’s need for water.
  • Verse 2’s use of אֵל חָי (El Chai, “living God”) rather than simply אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) creates a powerful contrast with the dead idols of surrounding nations, emphasizing that true spiritual satisfaction can only come from the source of all life.
  • Verse 4’s phrase “these things I remember” employs זָכַר (zachar) in the reflexive, suggesting active, intentional remembrance rather than passive recollection, highlighting the therapeutic nature of remembering God’s faithfulness.
  • Verse 5’s internal dialogue uses the unique construction מַה־תִּשְׁתּוֹחֲחִי (mah-tistochachi, “why are you cast down”) rather than simpler expressions of sadness, conveying both the depth of despair and the psalmist’s determination to confront it.
  • Verse 7’s imagery of “deep calling to deep” employs תְּהוֹם (tehom) rather than עֵמֶק (emeq, “valley”) or בּוֹר (bor, “pit”), connecting the psalmist’s experience to cosmic and creation themes.
  • The repeated use of “where is your God?” in verses 3 and 10 employs אַיֵּה (ayeh) rather than אֵיפֹה (eiphoh), suggesting not just location but challenging God’s very presence and faithfulness.

Psalm 42 Unique Insights

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This biblical entry has a unique origin story. Find out how it came to be—and why your visit today is about so much more than words. Get your coffee ready—God’s about to visit. But will you open the door for Him?

The structure of Psalm 42 reveals a sophisticated pattern of descent and ascent that mirrors the spiritual journey it describes. The three-fold movement from despair to hope, marked by the refrain, reflects ancient Jewish understanding of the number three as representing divine completeness and the process of restoration.

Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra noted that the geographical references in the psalm – from Mount Hermon to the Jordan – create a physical map that parallels the spiritual journey. The descent of waters from Hermon’s heights to the Jordan’s valley mirrors the soul’s journey through depths to eventual restoration. This geographical metaphor would have resonated deeply with ancient Jewish worshippers who understood the spiritual significance of sacred geography.

The Midrash Tehillim draws a fascinating parallel between this psalm and the preparation of the red heifer sacrifice (Numbers 19:1-10), suggesting that just as the pure waters of purification require mixing with ashes of sacrifice, so too does spiritual restoration often come through a mixture of sorrow and hope. This foreshadows the Messiah’s work of bringing cleansing through His own sacrifice.

Early Christian writers like Augustine saw in the psalm’s imagery of the deer a reference to the catechumens hastening to baptism, connecting the soul’s thirst for God with the waters of new birth in Messiah. This interpretation gains depth when considering the Jewish understanding of living waters as both physical and spiritual restoration.

Psalm 42 Connections to Yeshua

The profound sense of abandonment expressed in this psalm finds its ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua’s experience on the cross. His cry “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) echoes the psalmist’s experience of feeling distant from God while maintaining trust in Him. The Messiah’s thirst on the cross (John 19:28) physically manifests the spiritual thirst expressed in this psalm.

The psalm’s movement from despair to hope prefigures the pattern of Messiah’s death and resurrection. Just as the psalmist maintains hope in God despite overwhelming circumstances, Yeshua’s trust in the Father remained unshaken even in His darkest hour. This demonstrates how the psalm speaks prophetically of the Messiah’s perfect faith and ultimate vindication.

Psalm 42 Scriptural Echoes

The imagery of thirsting for God resonates throughout Scripture, from the waters of creation in Genesis 1:2 to Yeshua’s promise of living water in John 7:37-39. The prophet Jeremiah uses similar imagery when he speaks of God as “the fountain of living waters” (Jeremiah 2:13).

The pattern of lament followed by hope appears in many psalms, particularly Psalm 22, which Yeshua quoted on the cross. The theme of exile and longing for God’s presence echoes throughout the prophets, especially in Isaiah’s promises of restoration.

The psalmist’s dialogue with his soul finds parallels in Psalm 103 and Lamentations 3:24-26, demonstrating a pattern of internal spiritual dialogue in Hebrew spirituality.

Psalm 42 Devotional

In our modern context of spiritual drought and disconnection, Psalm 42 offers profound guidance for maintaining faith during difficult seasons. The psalmist’s example teaches us to be honest about our spiritual struggles while maintaining hope in God’s faithfulness. When we feel distant from God, we can follow the psalm’s pattern of remembering past experiences of His presence and choosing to praise despite our emotions.

The psalm encourages us to view our spiritual longings not as weakness but as evidence of our deep need for God. Just as physical thirst points to our body’s need for water, spiritual thirst reveals our soul’s design for communion with our Creator. This understanding helps transform times of spiritual dryness from purely negative experiences into opportunities for deeper dependence on God.

Did You Know

  • The Sons of Korah, credited with this psalm, were descended from the same Korah who rebelled against Moses in Numbers 16. Their survival and later service in the Temple demonstrates God’s grace in transforming a legacy of rebellion into one of worship.
  • The geographical reference to Mount Hermon places the psalmist about 120 miles north of Jerusalem, the longest distance mentioned in any psalm between a worshipper and the Temple.
  • The phrase “deep calls to deep” uses the Hebrew word tehom, the same word used in Genesis 1 for the primordial waters, creating a powerful connection between personal spiritual experience and cosmic creation themes.
  • The deer imagery would have been particularly meaningful to original hearers as deer were common in the Jordan Valley, and their survival often depended on finding water during drought seasons.
  • The psalm contains three distinct water images: the thirsty deer, the tears of sorrow, and the cascading waterfalls, creating a sophisticated water motif that spans natural, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
  • The structure of Psalms 42-43 together forms a perfect chiasm, suggesting they were originally one composition later divided for liturgical use.
  • The repeated refrain “Hope in God” appears three times when Psalms 42-43 are read together, reflecting the Jewish understanding of three as a number of completion and divine perfection.
  • The phrase “living God” (El Chai) appears here in one of its earliest uses in Scripture, establishing a crucial theological concept that would develop throughout biblical revelation.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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