Psalms 142:2 — Word Study
WLCאֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ לְפָנָ֣יו שִׂיחִ֑י צָ֝רָתִ֗י לְפָנָ֥יו אַגִּֽיד׃
BSAvoiceqôwl to(wards)ʼêl [before] The LordYᵉhôvâh to cry outzâʻaq voiceqôwl to(wards)ʼêl The LordYᵉhôvâh be graciouschânan
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ | I pour out | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
| לְפָנָ֣יו | before him | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| שִׂיחִ֑י | complaint my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| צָ֝רָתִ֗י | trouble my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| לְפָנָ֥יו | before him | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| אַגִּֽיד׃ | I tell | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect first person common singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him. |
| KJV | I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. |
| ASV | I pour out my complaint before him; I show before him my trouble. |
| YLT | I pour forth before Him my meditation, My distress before Him I declare. |
| WEB | I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles. |
| BBE | I put all my sorrows before him; and made clear to him all my trouble. |
The translations agree on the key phrases in this verse.
The sentence consists of two main clauses, each expressing a different action directed towards God.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbקוֹל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 142:2
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Cry for Helpgenerated
Psalm 142:2 is part of a heartfelt appeal to God, where the psalmist, feeling overwhelmed, pours out his complaints and reveals his troubles. This psalm reflects a deep reliance on God's presence and understanding in times of distress. The surrounding verses illustrate a profound sense of isolation and a plea for divine intervention, mirroring the emotional struggles found in other psalms such as Psalm 62:8 and Psalm 102:1.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 42:4 | 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. |
| 2 | Psalm 62:8 | Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah |
| 3 | Psalm 102:1 | Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 1:15–16 | “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman oppressed in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. |
| 5 | Isaiah 26:16 | O LORD, they sought You in their distress; when You disciplined them, they poured out a quiet prayer. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ, 'esh.Pokhgenerated
The verb אֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ ('esh.Pokh) is a Qal imperfect form meaning 'to pour out'. It conveys the action of spilling out something, which can be literal, like a liquid, or figurative, such as emotions or thoughts. The psalmist uses this term to illustrate the act of expressing his innermost feelings to God.
This word is often associated with prayer, where one pours out their heart before God, as seen in other biblical contexts. The act of pouring out signifies vulnerability and a deep need for divine attention and support.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the phrase 'I pour out my complaint', reflecting the psalmist's intention to express his troubles openly.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse centers around two main verbs: אֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ ('esh.Pokh), meaning 'I pour out', and אַגִּֽיד ('a.Gid), meaning 'I tell'. The first verb governs the act of expressing a complaint, while the second verb indicates the act of revealing trouble.
The prepositional phrases 'before Him' indicate the direction of the psalmist's expression, emphasizing the personal nature of his communication with God.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, אֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ is rendered as φωνῇ (phōnē), meaning 'voice'. This choice highlights the vocal aspect of the psalmist's complaint, suggesting an audible expression of distress.
This translation choice underscores the importance of speaking one's troubles aloud to God, reinforcing the intimate relationship between the psalmist and the divine.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 142:2 shows the psalmist pouring out his heart to God, expressing his complaints and revealing his troubles. This verse emphasizes the importance of sharing one's struggles with God, reflecting a deep need for His presence and support.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means to openly express one's feelings, troubles, and concerns to God, seeking His understanding and help.
Revealing troubles to God allows for a deeper connection and reliance on Him, acknowledging His ability to provide comfort and support.
This verse encourages us to be honest and open in our prayers, bringing our true feelings and struggles before God.
The psalmist's approach teaches us the value of vulnerability in prayer and the importance of seeking God's presence in times of distress.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I poured out my heart to God in prayer?
- How can I be more open about my struggles when communicating with God?
- What does it mean to me to have a safe space to reveal my troubles to God?
- How can I encourage others to express their feelings and concerns to God?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, reflect on this verse to discuss the nature of prayer and the importance of presenting one's needs before God.
"I will pour out before Him my prayer" [Psalms 142:2]. What is, "before Him"? In His sight. What is, in His sight? Where He sees.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 142 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 142:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI poured out my complaint before him,.... Not a complaint of the Lord and of his providences, but of himself; of his sins, and particularly his unbelief; and also of them that persecuted and
Read John Gill on Psalms 142 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. I poured out my complaint before him - (Psalms 102:1-28, Title; 62:8; Isaiah 26:16.)
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 142 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleI poured out; I did it fully, and fervently, and confidently.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 142 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 142:2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.Ver. 2. I poured out my complaint] Heb. my mussitation. I showed before him] Plainly and plentifully, how my danger increased to a very crisis, as one expresseth it.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 142 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) I poured out.—See the same verb used in similar sense, Psalms 42:4; Psalms 62:8; and with the second clause comp. Psalms 107:6.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 142 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. I will pour out before him my complaint; My distress before him will I declare. Aloud, lit. with my voice, not merely in silent prayer, but with cries which give relief to pent up feeling and express the intensity of distress. Cp. Psalms 3:4; Psalms 30:8; and for ‘cry,’ a word expressing the cry of need, anxiety, distress, cp. Psalms 142:5; Psalms 22:5; Psalms 77:1; Psalms 107:13; Psalms 107:19. poured out my complaint] Cp. 102 title; Psalms 42:4; Psalms 62:8.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 142 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleI poured out my complaint before him - literally, my meditation; that is, What so much occupied my thoughts at the time I expressed aloud. The word “complaint” does not express the idea.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 142 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible2. I poured out my complaint before him—The idea of profuseness, unreservedness, is given—I emptied out my complaint. Nothing was kept back. So, in the next line, I showed… him my trouble.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 142 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.
I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles.
I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.
I pour out my lament before him; I tell him about my troubles.
Tyndale line
I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
I pour out my complaint before him; I show before him my trouble.
I pour out my complaint before him; I shew before him my trouble.
I poured out my complaint before him; I showed before him my trouble.
I powred out my meditation before him, and declared mine affliction in his presence.
Strictly literal
I pour out my plaint before him; I shew before him my trouble.
I pour forth before Him my meditation, My distress before Him I declare.
I pour forth my meditation before Him, || I declare my distress before Him.
(142:3) I pour out before him my grief: my distress I recite before him.
I pour out my lament before him; I tell him my troubles.
From the Latin
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man living shall be justified.
Simplified
I pour out my complaints before him; I tell him what's troubling me.
I put all my sorrows before him; and made clear to him all my trouble.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in content, with five of the six words matched. The Septuagint's word order differs, but the essential meaning of the psalmist's plea remains consistent across both texts.
אֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ לְפָנָ֣יו שִׂיחִ֑י צָ֝רָתִ֗י לְפָנָ֥יו אַגִּֽיד׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 142:2
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שָׁפַךְ (shaphak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pour out or spill. It encompasses a range of actions, including pouring liquids, shedding blood, and even expressing emotions like anger. The word can also imply figurative uses, such as expending life or resources. Various forms of the verb exist, indicating different nuances, such as being poured out or pouring oneself out.
שָׁפַךְ 113 vb. pour out, pour
Qal
lit.
fig.
Niph. be poured out
Pu. be poured out
Hithp. my soul pours itself out upon me
base
H8210 שָׁפַךְ pour out, pour
8210 shaphak shaw-fak'
a primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid
metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also (figuratively)
to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc.); intensively,
to sprawl out:--cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed(-der,
out), slip.
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: pour.
: pour
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to be poured out
1d2) to pour out oneself
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: kill.
: kill/shed(blood/life)
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to be poured out
1d2) to pour out oneself
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: build siege mound.
: build_siege_mound
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
HVqi1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
face, faces
presence, person
technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
face of seraphim
face of animals
face (= surface) of ground
as adv.loc. before
for other phrases
with prepositions
base
H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces
. . presence, person
. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
. face of seraphim
. face of animals
. face (= surface) of ground
. as adv. loc. before
. for other phrases
. with prepositions
6440 paniym paw-neem'
plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh
{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);
used in a great variety of applications (literally and
figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a
preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),
against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),
+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,
face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er
time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +
honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +
meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,
open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,
presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right
forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,
X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.
: before/to/front
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.
: face
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
שִׂיחַ (siyach) refers to a form of contemplation or utterance, encompassing meanings such as communication, complaint, meditation, and talk. It is derived from a related root and is associated with expressions of musing or anxiety. The entries suggest a focus on the emotional aspects of communication, particularly in the context of complaints or meditative thoughts.
שִׂיחַ n.m. complaint, musing
base
H7879 שִׂיחַ
7879 siyach see'-akh
from 7878; a contemplation; by implication, an
utterance:--babbling, communication, complaint, meditation,
prayer, talk.
see HEBREW for 07878
שִׂיחַ (si.ach) — complaint.
1) meditation, complaint, musing
1a) plaint, complaint
1b) following are uncertain
1b1) musing
1b2) anxiety, trouble
1b3) talk
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word צָרָה (*tsarah*) is built from the root meaning tightness or trouble. It covers a range of meanings including dearth, distress, and adversary, as well as specifically referring to a rival wife. The entries note its use in contexts of adversity and anguish, with a specific reference to 1 Samuel 1:6.
בַּצָּרָה n.f. dearth, destitution
base
צָרָה 72 n.f. id. [r.dz.ac] straits, distress
base
[צָרָה] n.f. vexer, rival-wife;—sf. 1 S 1:6.
ref
H6869a בַּצָּרָה dearth, destitution H6869b צָרָה id. [6862b] H6869c צָרָה vexer, rival-wife
6869 tsarah tsaw-raw'
feminine of 6862; tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble);
transitively, a female rival:--adversary, adversity,
affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble.
see HEBREW for 06862
בַּצָּרָה (bats.tsa.rah) — dearth.
death, destitution
צָרָה (tsa.rah) — distress.
straits, distress, trouble
צָרָה (tsa.rah) — vexer.
vexer, rival wife
HNcfsc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
face, faces
presence, person
technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
face of seraphim
face of animals
face (= surface) of ground
as adv.loc. before
for other phrases
with prepositions
base
H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces
. . presence, person
. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
. face of seraphim
. face of animals
. face (= surface) of ground
. as adv. loc. before
. for other phrases
. with prepositions
6440 paniym paw-neem'
plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh
{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);
used in a great variety of applications (literally and
figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a
preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),
against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),
+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,
face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er
time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +
honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +
meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,
open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,
presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right
forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,
X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.
: before/to/front
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.
: face
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.
[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous
Hiph. declare, tell
Hoph. be told, announced, reported
base
H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell
. be told, announced, reported
5046 nagad naw-gad'
a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out
opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;
figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one
present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,
praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),
denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,
rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.
נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.
1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known
1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare
1a1) to tell, announce, report
1a2) to declare, make known, expound
1a3) to inform of
1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim
1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess
1a5a) messenger (participle)
1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
HVhi1cs — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect first person common singularHVhi1cs
See TALE.