Psalms 61:1
Psalms 61:1 in Multiple Translations
Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer.
Let my cry come to you, O God; let your ears be open to my prayer.
God, please hear my cry for help; please listen to my prayer.
To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalme of David. Heare my cry, O God: giue eare vnto my prayer.
To the Overseer, on stringed instruments. — By David. Hear, O God, my loud cry, attend to my prayer.
Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.
To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.
Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of David.
God, listen to me, and answer my prayer [DOU]!
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 61:1
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 61:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לַ/מְנַצֵּ֬חַ
עַֽל
נְגִינַ֬ת
לְ/דָוִֽד
לַ/מְנַצֵּ֬חַ
nâtsach
H5329
to conduct
Prep | V-Piel
עַֽל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
נְגִינַ֬ת
nᵉgîynâh
H5058
music
N-fs
לְ/דָוִֽד
Dâvid
H1732
David
Prep | N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 61:1
לַ/מְנַצֵּ֬חַ
nâtsach
H5329
"to conduct"
Prep | V-Piel
To conduct or oversee, this word describes a leader or chief musician. In the Bible, it is used in the book of Psalms to describe the role of a music director. The word implies a sense of leadership and guidance.
Definition: 1) to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring 1a) (Niphal) enduring (participle) 1b) (Piel) to act as overseer or superintendent or director or chief Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsach (נְצַח "to distinguish oneself" H5330)
Usage: Occurs in 65 OT verses. KJV: excel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward. See also: 1 Chronicles 15:21; Psalms 49:1; Psalms 4:1.
עַֽל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
נְגִינַ֬ת
nᵉgîynâh
H5058
"music"
N-fs
This word refers to music or song, especially instrumental music played on a stringed instrument. In the Bible, it is used to describe the music played by musicians or the songs sung by worshipers.
Definition: 1) music, song, taunt song 1a) music (of stringed instrument) 1b) song 1b1) taunting or mocking song
Usage: Occurs in 14 OT verses. KJV: stringed instrument, musick, Neginoth (plural), song. See also: Job 30:9; Psalms 69:13; Psalms 4:1.
לְ/דָוִֽד
Dâvid
H1732
"David"
Prep | N-proper
David was the youngest son of Jesse and a king of Judah, first mentioned in Ruth 4:17, and an ancestor of Jesus.
Definition: A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.4.17; son of: Jesse (H3448) and Nahash (H5176I); brother of: Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Shimeah (H8093), Zeruiah (H6870), Abigail (H0026H)(?), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684) and Elihu (H0453J); married to Michal (H4324), Abigail (H0026), Ahinoam (H0293H), Maacah (H4601I), Haggith (H2294), Abital (H0037), Eglah (H5698) and Bathsheba (H1339); father of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416), Solomon (H8010), Ibhar (H2984), Elishua (H0474), Nepheg (H5298H), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N) Also named: Daueid, Dauid, Dabid (Δαυείδ, Δαυίδ, Δαβίδ "David" G1138) § David = "beloved" youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 912 OT verses. KJV: David. See also: Ruth 4:17; 1 Samuel 20:41; 1 Samuel 27:9.
Study Notes — Psalms 61:1
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 61:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 61:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 61:1
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 61:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 61:1
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 61:1
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 61:1
- Sermons on Psalms 61:1
Context — You Have Heard My Vows
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philippians 4:6 | Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. |
| 2 | Psalms 4:1 | Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer. |
| 3 | Psalms 86:6 | Hear my prayer, O LORD, and attend to my plea for mercy. |
| 4 | Psalms 130:2 | O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy. |
| 5 | Psalms 55:1–2 | Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea. Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught |
| 6 | Psalms 5:1–3 | Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray. In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation. |
| 7 | Psalms 54:1 | Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might! |
| 8 | Psalms 17:1 | Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it comes from lips free of deceit. |
| 9 | Psalms 6:1 | O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath. |
| 10 | Psalms 28:2 | Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. |
Psalms 61:1 Summary
This verse is about praying to God from the heart, telling Him our needs and feelings, and trusting that He will listen and help. It's like talking to a close friend, but this Friend is all-powerful and loving, as we see in Psalms 103:8. When we pray like this, we can be confident that God will hear us, just like He promises in Jeremiah 33:3, and that He will respond with love and care, as a good Father, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:11.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to cry out to God in prayer?
To cry out to God means to express our deepest needs and emotions to Him, just like the Psalmist does in Psalms 61:1, trusting that He will hear and respond, as promised in Psalms 145:18-19.
How can I be sure God will attend to my prayer?
We can be confident that God will attend to our prayers because He is a loving and faithful Father, as seen in Psalms 86:5, and He invites us to come to Him with our requests, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:7-8.
What kind of prayer is the Psalmist praying in this verse?
The Psalmist is praying a prayer of desperation and trust, acknowledging his dependence on God and seeking His help, much like the prayer of the tax collector in Luke 18:13-14, who cried out to God for mercy.
How does this verse relate to other prayers in the Bible?
This verse is similar to other prayers in the Bible, such as Psalms 51:1, where the Psalmist asks God to hear his prayer and have mercy on him, demonstrating a common theme of humility and reliance on God's grace and mercy, as seen in Romans 3:24.
Reflection Questions
- What are the deepest longings of my heart that I need to cry out to God about?
- How can I cultivate a deeper sense of dependence on God in my prayer life, like the Psalmist?
- What are some ways I can practice trusting God's faithfulness and love, even when my prayers seem to go unanswered?
- How can I use this verse as a model for my own prayers, expressing my needs and emotions to God honestly and confidently?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 61:1
Hear my cry, O God,.... Being in distress; and which was vocally expressed with great fervency and importunity; attend unto my prayer; which psalm was made by him, and not for him; inwrought in his
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 61:1
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. Psalms 61:1-8 -Two strophes separated by Selah.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 61:1
Psalms 61:1 « To the chief Musician upon Neginah, [A Psalm] of David. » Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.To the chief Musician upon Neginah, &c.] Vincenti in melodiis Davidis (Vatab.). It is probable that he made this psalm when, driven out of his kingdom by his son Absalom, he took up at Mahanaim beyond Jordan, 2 Samuel 17:24, and therehence prayed from the ends of the earth, or rather of the land, Psalms 61:2. Howbeit R. Obadiah saith, that this psalm is De pugna cum Aram in confinibus Israel, concerning the battle with the Syrians in the borders of the land. See 2 Samuel 10:14, &c., and 1 Chronicles 19:16, &c. Ver. 1. Hear my cry, O God] Heb. my shouting, my sad outcry; for he was in great extremity, Psalms 61:2, and seeks ease by prayer. This is the way, Job 22:21 Philippians 4:6-7, walk in it. Prayer hath virtutem pacativam; it doth sweetly settle the soul, and lodge a blessed security in it.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 61:1
PSALM LXI The psalmist's prayer for those who were banished from their own land, and from the ordinances of God, 1, 2. He praises God for his past mercies, 3; purposes to devote himself entirely to his service, 4, 5. He prays for the king, 6, 7; and promises to perform his vow to the Lord daily, 8. NOTES ON PSALM LXI The title, To the chief Musician upon Neginath, נגינת. The verb נגן nagan signifies to strike or play on a musical instrument, especially one of the stringed kind; but the נגינות neginoth, as it is written in about thirty MSS., may signify either the players on the instruments or the instruments themselves. The Psalm appears to have been written about the close of the captivity, and the most judicious interpreters refer it to that period. On this supposition the notes are formed. Verse 1. Hear my cry, O God] In the midst of a long and painful captivity, oppressed with suffering, encompassed with cruel enemies and insolent masters, I address my humble prayer to THEE, O my God.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 61:1
1–4. David prays that God will prove Himself a refuge as in time past, and that he may again live in His presence and under His protection in Jerusalem.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 61:1
Hear my cry, O God - See the notes at Psalms 5:2. The word rendered cry in this place sometimes denotes a joyful shout - a shout of triumph; but the connection makes it certain that it here refers to the voice of prayer.
Sermons on Psalms 61:1
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Four Little Wise Creatures by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher discusses four small and feeble creatures that God has created: ants, conies, locusts, and spiders. He emphasizes the wisdom displayed by these creatur |
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Keys to Prevailing Prayer by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of trusting in God and seeking His will in our prayers. He uses the example of Little Douglas MacArthur and the miraculous res |
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The Discipline of Disappointment - 20 by Jack Hibbs | Jack Hibbs delivers a powerful sermon on 'The Discipline of Disappointment,' emphasizing that disappointment is an inevitable part of life that can be managed through faith in God. |
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The Rock That Is Higher Than I by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the need for a higher power in times of overwhelming circumstances. He shares various examples of individuals facing difficult situations, su |
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Please God, Don't Ask Me to Do One More Thing! by Carter Conlon | This sermon emphasizes the importance of opening the door of our hearts to God, even when we feel overwhelmed and unable to do more. It encourages us to trust in God's provision an |
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"The Rock That Is Higher Than I" by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of seeking refuge in God during overwhelming times, as expressed in Psalm 61. He reflects on the nature of man, asserting that our true identit |
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Exposition on Psalm 62 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches about the power and mercy of God, emphasizing the need to fear God's power while also trusting in His mercy. He delves into the concept of God permitting evi |