Psalms 42:9
Psalms 42:9 in Multiple Translations
I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”
I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
I will say to God my Rock, Why have you let me go from your memory? why do I go in sorrow because of the attacks of my haters?
I cry out, “My God, my rock, why have you forgotten me? Why must I go around weeping because of the attacks of my enemies?”
I wil say vnto God, which is my rocke, Why hast thou forgotten mee? why goe I mourning, when the enemie oppresseth me?
I say to God my rock, 'Why hast Thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning in the oppression of an enemy?
I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
I will say to God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
I say to God, who is like an overhanging rock under which I can hide [MET], “It seems that you have forgotten me. I <mourn/cry> constantly because my enemies act cruelly toward me” [RHQ].
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 42:9
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 42:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יוֹמָ֤ם
יְצַוֶּ֬ה
יְהוָ֨ה
חַסְדּ֗/וֹ
וּ֭/בַ/לַּיְלָה
שיר/ה
שִׁיר֣/וֹ
עִמִּ֑/י
תְּ֝פִלָּ֗ה
לְ/אֵ֣ל
חַיָּֽ/י
יוֹמָ֤ם
yôwmâm
H3119
by day
Adv
יְצַוֶּ֬ה
tsâvâh
H6680
to command
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms
יְהוָ֨ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
חַסְדּ֗/וֹ
chêçêd
H2617
kindness
N-ms | Suff
וּ֭/בַ/לַּיְלָה
layil
H3915
night
Conj | Prep | N-ms
שיר/ה
shîyr
H7892
song
N-cs | Suff
שִׁיר֣/וֹ
shîyr
H7892
song
N-cs | Suff
עִמִּ֑/י
ʻim
H5973
with
Prep | Suff
תְּ֝פִלָּ֗ה
tᵉphillâh
H8605
prayer
N-fs
לְ/אֵ֣ל
ʼêl
H410
god
Prep | N-ms
חַיָּֽ/י
chay
H2416
alive
N-mp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 42:9
יוֹמָ֤ם
yôwmâm
H3119
"by day"
Adv
The word 'yomam' means 'by day' or 'daily', and is used in the Bible to describe actions or events that happen during the daytime. It can also refer to the daytime itself, as opposed to the nighttime. This word is used to emphasize the daily nature of certain activities or routines.
Definition: adv 1) by day, in the daytime subst 2) daytime
Usage: Occurs in 50 OT verses. KJV: daily, (by, in the) day(-time). See also: Exodus 13:21; Psalms 32:4; Psalms 1:2.
יְצַוֶּ֬ה
tsâvâh
H6680
"to command"
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms
To command or give orders, as seen in the Bible when God gives charge to his people. It can also mean to appoint or ordain someone for a task. This word is used in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: 1) to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order 1a)(Piel) 1a1) to lay charge upon 1a2) to give charge to, give command to 1a3) to give charge unto 1a4) to give charge over, appoint 1a5) to give charge, command 1a6) to charge, command 1a7) to charge, commission 1a8) to command, appoint, ordain (of divine act) 1b) (Pual) to be commanded
Usage: Occurs in 475 OT verses. KJV: appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order. See also: Genesis 2:16; Leviticus 10:13; Deuteronomy 12:11.
יְהוָ֨ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
חַסְדּ֗/וֹ
chêçêd
H2617
"kindness"
N-ms | Suff
This word refers to kindness, mercy, or pity, often used to describe God's loving actions towards humanity. It is translated as 'favour', 'kindness', or 'mercy' in the KJV. It emphasizes God's loving character.
Definition: goodness, kindness, faithfulness
Usage: Occurs in 241 OT verses. KJV: favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing. See also: Genesis 19:19; Psalms 51:3; Psalms 5:8.
וּ֭/בַ/לַּיְלָה
layil
H3915
"night"
Conj | Prep | N-ms
Night refers to the time of darkness, opposed to day, and can also symbolize adversity or hardship. It is a period of rest, but also of potential danger or uncertainty.
Definition: 1) night 1a) night (as opposed to day) 1b) of gloom, protective shadow (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 223 OT verses. KJV: (mid-)night (season). See also: Genesis 1:5; 2 Samuel 17:16; Psalms 1:2.
שיר/ה
shîyr
H7892
"song"
N-cs | Suff
This word refers to a song or singing, and it is used in the Bible to describe musical expressions of praise and worship, like the songs of David in the book of Psalms. It can also be used to describe a specific song or ode.
Definition: 1) song 1a) lyric song 1b) religious song 1c) song of Levitical choirs Also means: shi.rah (שִׁירָה "song" H7892B)
Usage: Occurs in 87 OT verses. KJV: musical(-ick), [idiom] sing(-er, -ing), song. See also: Genesis 31:27; Psalms 76:1; Psalms 18:1.
שִׁיר֣/וֹ
shîyr
H7892
"song"
N-cs | Suff
This word refers to a song or singing, and it is used in the Bible to describe musical expressions of praise and worship, like the songs of David in the book of Psalms. It can also be used to describe a specific song or ode.
Definition: 1) song 1a) lyric song 1b) religious song 1c) song of Levitical choirs Also means: shi.rah (שִׁירָה "song" H7892B)
Usage: Occurs in 87 OT verses. KJV: musical(-ick), [idiom] sing(-er, -ing), song. See also: Genesis 31:27; Psalms 76:1; Psalms 18:1.
עִמִּ֑/י
ʻim
H5973
"with"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Definition: 1) with 1a) with 1b) against 1c) toward 1d) as long as
Usage: Occurs in 919 OT verses. KJV: accompanying, against, and, as ([idiom] long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al). See also: Genesis 3:6; Exodus 21:14; Deuteronomy 29:11.
תְּ֝פִלָּ֗ה
tᵉphillâh
H8605
"prayer"
N-fs
In the Bible, this word means prayer or supplication, often used to describe requests to God. It appears in many Psalms, highlighting the importance of prayer in worship.
Definition: 1) prayer 1a) prayer 1b) pray a prayer 1c) house of prayer 1d) hear prayer 1e) in Ps titles (of poetic or liturgical prayer)
Usage: Occurs in 71 OT verses. KJV: prayer. See also: 2 Samuel 7:27; Psalms 66:19; Psalms 4:2.
לְ/אֵ֣ל
ʼêl
H410
"god"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Definition: : god 1) god, god-like one, mighty one 1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes 1b) angels 1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations) 1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah 2) mighty things in nature 3) strength, power Also means: ": power" (el אֵל H0410L)
Usage: Occurs in 235 OT verses. KJV: God (god), [idiom] goodly, [idiom] great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in '-el.' See also: Genesis 14:18; Job 33:14; Psalms 5:5.
חַיָּֽ/י
chay
H2416
"alive"
N-mp | Suff
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Definition: adj 1) living, alive 1a) green (of vegetation) 1b) flowing, fresh (of water) 1c) lively, active (of man) 1d) reviving (of the springtime) Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. See also: Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 4:9; 2 Kings 5:16.
Study Notes — Psalms 42:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 42:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 42:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 42:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 42:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 42:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 42:9
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 42:9
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 42:9
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 42:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 42:9
- Sermons on Psalms 42:9
Context — As the Deer Pants for the Water
7Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.
8The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life.
9I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”
10Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11Why 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.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 38:6 | I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning. |
| 2 | Psalms 43:2 | For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression? |
| 3 | Psalms 18:2 | The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. |
| 4 | Psalms 28:1 | To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit. |
| 5 | Psalms 62:2 | He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress; I will never be shaken. |
| 6 | Isaiah 40:27 | Why do you say, O Jacob, and why do you assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my claim is ignored by my God”? |
| 7 | Psalms 44:23–24 | Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever. Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression? |
| 8 | Lamentations 5:1–16 | Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us. Look and see our disgrace! Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners. We have become fatherless orphans; our mothers are widows. We must buy the water we drink; our wood comes at a price. We are closely pursued; we are weary and find no rest. We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread. Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their punishment. Slaves rule over us; there is no one to deliver us from their hands. We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness. Our skin is as hot as an oven with fever from our hunger. Women have been ravished in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah. Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders receive no respect. Young men toil at millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood. The elders have left the city gate; the young men have stopped their music. Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! |
| 9 | Job 30:26–31 | But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness fell. I am churning within and cannot rest; days of affliction confront me. I go about blackened, but not by the sun. I stand up in the assembly and cry for help. I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of ostriches. My skin grows black and peels, and my bones burn with fever. My harp is tuned to mourning and my flute to the sound of weeping. |
| 10 | Isaiah 49:15 | “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you! |
Psalms 42:9 Summary
In Psalms 42:9, the psalmist is feeling sad and alone, and he asks God why He seems so far away. He's hurting because his enemies are being mean to him, and he wonders if God has forgotten about him. But even in the midst of these hard feelings, the psalmist is still talking to God, which shows that he trusts Him. We can learn from the psalmist's example and remember that God is always with us, even when we feel alone (as He promises in Deuteronomy 31:6), and that He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us (as seen in John 3:16).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to call God my Rock?
In Psalms 42:9, calling God 'my Rock' signifies a deep trust and dependence on Him, much like David expressed in Psalms 18:2, where he says, 'The LORD is my rock, my refuge, and my savior.'
Why does the psalmist feel forgotten by God?
The psalmist's feeling of being forgotten by God is a cry of desperation in the midst of suffering, similar to what Job experienced in Job 13:24, where he asks, 'Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?'
What kind of oppression is the psalmist experiencing?
The oppression mentioned in Psalms 42:9 is likely a spiritual or emotional oppression caused by enemies who are taunting and persecuting the psalmist, as seen in Psalms 42:10, where they say, 'Where is your God?'
How can I apply this verse to my life when I feel abandoned by God?
When feeling abandoned, remember that God's presence is always with you, as promised in Isaiah 43:2, which says, 'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.'
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have felt forgotten or abandoned by God, and how did I respond?
- How can I, like the psalmist, express my honest emotions to God without fearing judgment or rejection?
- In what ways can I remind myself of God's presence and love when I am walking through difficult circumstances?
- What are some 'enemies' in my life that may be causing me sorrow or oppression, and how can I trust God to deliver me from them?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 42:9
I will say unto God my rock,.... A name frequently given to the eternal God, Father, Son, and Spirit, Deuteronomy 32:4; [See comments on Psalms 18:2]; why hast thou forgotten me?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 42:9
I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me?
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 42:9
I will say unto God; I will expostulate the case with him. My rock; who hath formerly been a sure refuge to me. Why hast thou forgotten me? why dost thou now seem quite to forget and neglect me? Why go I mourning? why dost thou leave me in this mournful state, and not succour me speedily?
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 42:9
Psalms 42:9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?Ver. 9. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me?] Tene veto mei immemorem esse? Thus I will in a familiar manner expostulate with him, and lay my case open unto him, as to a friend. The flesh suggesteth that he is forgotten, but faith holdeth its own, fastening on the Rock of ages. Why go I mourning] Heb. Black, as one that is in mourning weeds; or, that had lain among the pots.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 42:9
(9) Apparently we have now the very words of the prayer just mentioned.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 42:9
Verse 9. I will say unto God my rock] God, my Fortress and Support. Why hast thou forgotten meat] This and the following verse is badly pointed in our Bibles: "Why go I mourning as with a sword in my bones because of the oppression of the enemy? Mine enemies reproach me daily, while they say unto me, Where is thy God?" See on Psalms 42:3. Their reproaches are to my soul as cutting and severe as a sword thrust into my body, and separating between my bones; because these reproaches are intended to fall on thee, my God, as if thou hadst not power to save us from the hands of our oppressors.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 42:9
6–11. From self he turns to God and pleads his cause.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 42:9
I will say unto God my rock - I will appeal to God as my defense, my helper, my Saviour. On the word rock, as applied to God, see the notes at Psalms 18:2. Why hast thou forgotten me? - See the notes at Psalms 22:1.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 42:9
9. I will say unto God—That is, in order to bring about the deliverance just assured, “I will say,” etc. He will urge his cause to this end.
Sermons on Psalms 42:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Do You Really Trust God by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker begins by praying for a quickening of the body, spirit, and mind to deliver the word of God effectively. He emphasizes the importance of surrendering to |
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Oh My Soul by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on two important questions asked by Jesus in Mark's Gospel. The first question is about the value of gaining the whole world but losing one's ow |
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After the Frost by Charles E. Cowman | Charles E. Cowman preaches about finding hope and trust in God during times of mourning and despair, reminding believers that God's faithfulness surpasses all fears and disappointm |
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Letter 7 by James Bourne | James Bourne, in a letter to W. J. Brook in London, 1808, expresses deep struggles with feeling separated from God's people, walking in darkness, and being held in perpetual contem |
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Encourage Yourself in the Lord by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of encouraging oneself in the Lord, acknowledging that even the most faithful believers experience pain, confusion, and sorrow. He uses th |
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Psalm 38 by Henry Law | Henry Law preaches about the Psalmist's deep sense of sin and the just chastisement he faces, acknowledging that sin leads to various afflictions and suffering, even for God's chil |
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Mourning Over Sin and Hatred of It by Thomas Reade | Thomas Reade preaches about the importance of mourning over sin and hatred of it, emphasizing the need for true repentance and contrition before God. He contrasts the fleeting plea |