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Selected Verse: Psalms 42:6 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Ps 42:6 |
Strong Concordance |
O my God [0430], my soul [05315] is cast down [07817] within me: therefore will I remember [02142] thee from the land [0776] of Jordan [03383], and of the Hermonites [02769], from the hill [02022] Mizar [04706]. |
|
King James |
O 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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Dejection again described.
therefore--that is, finding no comfort in myself, I turn to Thee, even in this distant "land of Jordan and the (mountains) Hermon, the country east of Jordan.
hill Mizar--as a name of a small hill contrasted with the mountains round about Jerusalem, perhaps denoted the contempt with which the place of exile was regarded. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
O my God, my soul is cast down within me - This is the utterance of a soul in anguish, notwithstanding the purpose not to be cast down, and the conviction that hope ought to be cherished. The psalmist cannot but say that, despite all this, he is sad. His troubles come rushing over his soul; they all return at once; his heart is oppressed, and he is constrained to confess that, notwithstanding his solemn purpose not to be sad, and the conviction that he ought to be cheerful, and his wish to be and to appear so, yet his sorrows get the mastery over all this, and his heart is filled with grief. What sufferer has not felt thus? When he really wished to trust in God; when he hoped that things would be better; when he saw that he ought to be calm and cheerful, his sorrows have returned like a flood, sweeping all these feelings away for the time, filling his soul with anguish, compelling him to form these resolutions anew, and driving him afresh to the throne of grace, to beat back the returning tide of grief, and to bring the soul to calmness and peace.
Therefore will I remember thee - I will look to thee; I will come to thee; I will recall thy former merciful visitations. In this lone land; far away from the place of worship; in the midst of these privations, troubles, and sorrows; surrounded as I am by taunting foes, and having no source of consolation here, I will remember my God. Even here, amidst these sorrows, I will lift up my heart in grateful remembrance of him, and will think of him alone. The words which follow are designed merely to give an idea of the desolation and sadness of his condition, and of the fact of his exile.
From the land of Jordan - Referring probably to the fact he was then in that "land." The phrase would denote the region adjacent to the Jordan, and through which the Jordan flowed, as we speak of "the valley of the Mississippi," that is the region through which that river flows. The lands adjacent to the Jordan on either side were covered with underbrush and thickets, and were, in former times, the favorite resorts of wild animals: Jer 49:19; Jer 50:44. The psalmist was on the eastern side of the Jordan.
And of the Hermonites - The land of the Hermonites. The region in which Mount Hermon is situated. This was on the northeast of Palestine, beyond the Jordan. Mount Hermon was a ridge or spur of Antilibanus: Jos 11:3, Jos 11:17. This spur or ridge lies near the sources of the Jordan. It consists of several summits, and is therefore spoken of here in the plural number, Hermonim, the Hebrew plural of Hermon. These mountains were called by the Sidonians, Sirion. See the notes at Psa 29:6. Different names were given to different parts of these sum mits of the mountain-ranges. The principal summit, or Mount Hermon properly so called, rises to the height of ten or twelve thousand feet, and is covered with perpetual snow; or rather, as Dr. Robinson says (Biblical Researches, iii. 344), the snow is perpetual in the ravines; so that the top presents the appearance of radiant stripes around and below the summit. The word is used here with reference to the mountain-region to which the general name of Hermon was given on the northeast of Palestine, and on the east of the sources of the Jordan. It would seem not improbable that after passing the Jordan the psalmist had gone in that direction in his exile.
From the hill Mizar - Margin, the little hill. So the Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, and Luther. DeWette renders it as a proper name. The word Mizar, or Mitsar (Hebrew), means properly smallness; and thus, anything small or little. The word seems here, however, to be used as a proper name, and was probably applied to some part of that mountain-range, though to what particular portion is now unknown. This would seem to have been the place where the psalmist took up his abode in his exile. As no such name is now known to be given to any part of that mountain-range, it is impossible to identify the spot. It would seem from the following verse, however, that it was not far from the Jordan. |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
(Heb.: 42:7-12) The poet here continues to console himself with God's help. God Himself is indeed dishonoured in him; He will not suffer the trust he has reposed in Him to go unjustified. True, עלי seems at the beginning of the line to be tame, but from עלי and אזכּרך, the beginning and end of the line, standing in contrast, עלי is made emphatic, and it is at the same time clear that על־כּן is not equivalent to אשׁר על־כּן - which Gesenius asserts in his Lexicon, erroneously referring to Psa 1:5; Psa 45:3, is a poetical usage of the language; an assertion for which, however, there is as little support as that כּי על־כּן in Num 14:43 and other passages is equivalent to על־כּן כּי. In all such passages, e.g., Jer 48:36, על־כּן means "therefore," and the relationship of reason and consequence is reversed. So even here: within him his soul is bowed very low, and on account of this downcast condition he thinks continually of God, from whom he is separated. Even in Jon 2:8 this thinking upon God does not appear as the cause but as the consequence of pain. The "land of Jordan and of Hermonim" is not necessarily the northern mountain range together with the sources of the Jordan. The land beyond the Jordan is so called in opposition to ארץ לבנון, the land on this side. According to Dietrich (Abhandlungen, S. 18), חרמונים is an amplificative plural: the Hermon, as a peak soaring far above all lower summits. John Wilson (Lands of the Bible, ii. 161) refers the plural to its two summits. But the plural serves to denote the whole range of the Antilebanon extending to the south-east, and accordingly to designate the east Jordanic country. It is not for one moment to be supposed that the psalmist calls Hermon even, in comparison with his native Zion, the chosen of God. הר מצער, i.e., the mountain of littleness: the other member of the antithesis, the majesty of Zion, is wanting, and the מן which is repeated before הר is also opposed to this. Hitzig, striking out the מ of מהר, makes it an address to Zion: "because I remember thee out of the land of Jordan and of summits of Hermon, thou little mountain;" but, according to Psa 42:8, these words are addressed to Elohim. In the vicinity of Mitz‛are, a mountain unknown to us, in the country beyond Jordan, the poet is sojourning; from thence he looks longingly towards the district round about his home, and just as there, in a strange land, the wild waters of the awe-inspiring mountains roar around him, there seems to be a corresponding tumult in his soul. In Psa 42:8 he depicts the natural features of the country round about him - and it may remind one quite as much of the high and magnificent waterfalls of the lake of Muzêrı̂b as of the waterfall at the course of the Jordan near Paneas and the waters that dash headlong down the mountains round about - and in Psa 42:8 he says that he feels just as though all these threatening masses of water were following like so many waves of misfortune over his head (Tholuck, Hitzig, and Riehm). Billow follows billow as if called by one another (cf. Isa 6:3 concerning the continuous antiphon of the seraphim) at the roar (לקול as in Hab 3:16) of the cataracts, which in their terrible grandeur proclaim the Creator, God (lxx τῶν καταῤῥακτῶν σου) - all these breaking, sporting waves of God pass over him, who finds himself thus surrounded by the mighty works of nature, but taking no delight in them; and in them all he sees nothing but the mirrored image of the many afflictions which threaten to involve him in utter destruction (cf. the borrowed passage in that mosaic work taken from the Psalms, Jon 2:4).
He, however, calls upon himself in Psa 42:9 to take courage in the hope that a morning will dawn after this night of affliction (Psa 30:6), when Jahve, the God of redemption and of the people of redemption, will command His loving-kindness (cf. Psa 44:5, Amos; 3f.); and when this by day has accomplished its work of deliverance, there follows upon the day of deliverance a night of thanksgiving (Job 35:10): the joyous excitement, the strong feeling of gratitude, will not suffer him to sleep. The suffix of שׁירה is the suffix of the object: a hymn in praise of Him, prayer (viz., praiseful prayer, Hab 3:1) to the God of his life (cf. Sir. 23:4), i.e., who is his life, and will not suffer him to come under the dominion of death. Therefore will he say (אומרה), in order to bring about by prayer such a day of loving-kindness and such a night of thanksgiving songs, to the God of his rock, i.e., who is his rock (gen. apos.): Why, etc.? Concerning the different accentuation of למה here and in Psa 43:2, vid., on Psa 37:20 (cf. Psa 10:1). In this instance, where it is not followed by a guttural, it serves as a "variation" Hitzig); but even the retreating of the tone when a guttural follows is not consistently carried out, vid., Psa 49:6, cf. Sa1 28:15 (Ew. 243, b). The view of Vaihinger and Hengstenberg is inadmissible, viz., that Psa 42:10 to Psa 42:11 are the "prayer," which the psalmist means in Psa 42:9; it is the prayerful sigh of the yearning for deliverance, which is intended to form the burthen of that prayer. In some MSS we find the reading כּרצח instead of בּרצח; the בּ is here really synonymous with the כּ, it is the Beth essentiae (vid., Psa 35:2): after the manner of a crushing (cf. Eze 21:27, and the verb in Psa 62:4 of overthrowing a wall) in my bones, i.e., causing me a crunching pain which seethes in my bones, mine oppressors reproach me (חרף with the transfer of the primary meaning carpere, as is also customary in the Latin, to a plucking and stripping one of his good name). The use of ב here differs from its use in Psa 42:10; for the reproaching is not added to the crushing as a continuing state, but is itself thus crushing in its operation (vid., Psa 42:4). Instead of בּאמר we have here the easier form of expression בּאמרם; and in the refrain פּני ואלהי, which is also to be restored in Psa 42:6. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Therefore - Therefore that I may revive my drooping spirits. Remember - I will consider thy infinite mercy and power, and faithfulness. Mizar - From all the parts of the land, to which I shall be driven; whether from the parts beyond Jordan on the east: or mount Hermon, which was in the northern parts. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
O my God, my soul is cast down - It is impossible for me to lighten this load; I am full of discouragements, notwithstanding I labor to hope in thee.
Therefore untill I remember thee from the land of Jordan - That is, from Judea, this being the chief river of that country.
And of the Hermonites - הרמונים the Hermons, used in the plural because Hermon has a double ridge joining in an angle, and rising in many summits. The river Jordan, and the mountains of Hermon, were the most striking features of the holy land.
From the hill Mizar - מהר מצער mehar mitsar, from the little hill, as in the margin. The little hill probably means Sion, which was little in comparison of the Hermons - Bishop Horsley. No such hill as Mizar is known in India. |
6 He maketh them also to skip [07540] like a calf [05695]; Lebanon [03844] and Sirion [08303] like a young [01121] unicorn [07214].
17 Even from the mount [02022] Halak [02510], that goeth up [05927] to Seir [08165], even unto Baalgad [01171] in the valley [01237] of Lebanon [03844] under mount [02022] Hermon [02768]: and all their kings [04428] he took [03920], and smote [05221] them, and slew [04191] them.
3 And to the Canaanite [03669] on the east [04217] and on the west [03220], and to the Amorite [0567], and the Hittite [02850], and the Perizzite [06522], and the Jebusite [02983] in the mountains [02022], and to the Hivite [02340] under Hermon [02768] in the land [0776] of Mizpeh [04709].
44 Behold, he shall come up [05927] like a lion [0738] from the swelling [01347] of Jordan [03383] unto the habitation [05116] of the strong [0386]: but I will make [07323] them suddenly [07280] run away [07323] [07323] from her: and who is a chosen [0977] man, that I may appoint [06485] over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time [03259]? and who is that shepherd [07462] that will stand [05975] before [06440] me?
19 Behold, he shall come up [05927] like a lion [0738] from the swelling [01347] of Jordan [03383] against the habitation [05116] of the strong [0386]: but I will suddenly [07280] make him run away [07323] from her: and who is a chosen [0977] man, that I may appoint [06485] over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time [03259]? and who is that shepherd [07462] that will stand [05975] before [06440] me?
6 O my God [0430], my soul [05315] is cast down [07817] within me: therefore will I remember [02142] thee from the land [0776] of Jordan [03383], and of the Hermonites [02769], from the hill [02022] Mizar [04706].
4 When I remember [02142] these things, I pour out [08210] my soul [05315] in me: for I had gone [05674] with the multitude [05519], I went [01718] with them to the house [01004] of God [0430], with the voice [06963] of joy [07440] and praise [08426], with a multitude [01995] that kept holyday [02287].
10 As with a sword [07524] in my bones [06106], mine enemies [06887] reproach [02778] me; while they say [0559] daily [03117] unto me, Where is thy God [0430]?
4 They only consult [03289] to cast him down [05080] from his excellency [07613]: they delight [07521] in lies [03577]: they bless [01288] with their mouth [06310], but they curse [07043] inwardly [07130]. Selah [05542].
27 I will overturn [05754], overturn [05754], overturn [05754], it: and it shall be [07760] no more, until he come [0935] whose right [04941] it is; and I will give [05414] it him.
2 Take hold [02388] of shield [04043] and buckler [06793], and stand up [06965] for mine help [05833].
9 I will say [0559] unto God [0410] my rock [05553], Why hast thou forgotten [07911] me? why go [03212] I mourning [06937] because of the oppression [03906] of the enemy [0341]?
11 Why art thou cast down [07817], O my soul [05315]? and why art thou disquieted [01993] within me? hope [03176] thou in God [0430]: for I shall yet praise [03034] him, who is the health [03444] of my countenance [06440], and my God [0430].
10 As with a sword [07524] in my bones [06106], mine enemies [06887] reproach [02778] me; while they say [0559] daily [03117] unto me, Where is thy God [0430]?
15 And Samuel [08050] said [0559] to Saul [07586], Why hast thou disquieted [07264] me, to bring me up [05927]? And Saul [07586] answered [0559], I am sore [03966] distressed [06887]; for the Philistines [06430] make war [03898] against me, and God [0430] is departed [05493] from me, and answereth [06030] me no more, neither by [03027] prophets [05030], nor by dreams [02472]: therefore I have called [07121] thee, that thou mayest make known [03045] unto me what I shall do [06213].
6 They that trust [0982] in their wealth [02428], and boast [01984] themselves in the multitude [07230] of their riches [06239];
1 Why standest [05975] thou afar off [07350], O LORD [03068]? why hidest [05956] thou thyself in times [06256] of trouble [06869]?
20 But the wicked [07563] shall perish [06], and the enemies [0341] of the LORD [03068] shall be as the fat [03368] of lambs [03733]: they shall consume [03615]; into smoke [06227] shall they consume away [03615].
2 For thou art the God [0430] of my strength [04581]: why dost thou cast me off [02186]? why go [01980] I mourning [06937] because of the oppression [03906] of the enemy [0341]?
1 A prayer [08605] of Habakkuk [02265] the prophet [05030] upon Shigionoth [07692].
10 But none saith [0559], Where is God [0433] my maker [06213], who giveth [05414] songs [02158] in the night [03915];
5 Through thee will we push down [05055] our enemies [06862]: through thy name [08034] will we tread them under [0947] that rise up [06965] against us.
6 And in my prosperity [07959] I said [0559], I shall never [05769] be moved [04131].
9 I will say [0559] unto God [0410] my rock [05553], Why hast thou forgotten [07911] me? why go [03212] I mourning [06937] because of the oppression [03906] of the enemy [0341]?
4 Then I said [0559], I am cast out [01644] of thy sight [05869]; yet I will look [05027] again [03254] toward thy holy [06944] temple [01964].
16 When I heard [08085], my belly [0990] trembled [07264]; my lips [08193] quivered [06750] at the voice [06963]: rottenness [07538] entered [0935] into my bones [06106], and I trembled [07264] in myself, that I might rest [05117] in the day [03117] of trouble [06869]: when he cometh up [05927] unto the people [05971], he will invade them with his troops [01464].
3 And one cried [07121] unto another, and said [0559], Holy [06918], holy [06918], holy [06918], is the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]: the whole earth [0776] is full [04393] of his glory [03519].
8 Yet the LORD [03068] will command [06680] his lovingkindness [02617] in the daytime [03119], and in the night [03915] his song [07892] shall be with me, and my prayer [08605] unto the God [0410] of my life [02416].
8 Yet the LORD [03068] will command [06680] his lovingkindness [02617] in the daytime [03119], and in the night [03915] his song [07892] shall be with me, and my prayer [08605] unto the God [0410] of my life [02416].
8 Yet the LORD [03068] will command [06680] his lovingkindness [02617] in the daytime [03119], and in the night [03915] his song [07892] shall be with me, and my prayer [08605] unto the God [0410] of my life [02416].
8 They that observe [08104] lying [07723] vanities [01892] forsake [05800] their own mercy [02617].
36 Therefore mine heart [03820] shall sound [01993] for Moab [04124] like pipes [02485], and mine heart [03820] shall sound [01993] like pipes [02485] for the men [0582] of Kirheres [07025]: because the riches [03502] that he hath gotten [06213] are perished [06].
43 For the Amalekites [06003] and the Canaanites [03669] are there before [06440] you, and ye shall fall [05307] by the sword [02719]: because ye are turned [07725] away [0310] from the LORD [03068], therefore the LORD [03068] will not be with you.
3 Gird [02296] thy sword [02719] upon thy thigh [03409], O most mighty [01368], with thy glory [01935] and thy majesty [01926].
5 Therefore the ungodly [07563] shall not stand [06965] in the judgment [04941], nor sinners [02400] in the congregation [05712] of the righteous [06662].