Psalm 130 1

Psalm 130:1 kjv

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Psalm 130:1 nkjv

A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD;

Psalm 130:1 niv

A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;

Psalm 130:1 esv

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!

Psalm 130:1 nlt

From the depths of despair, O LORD,
I call for your help.

Psalm 130 verses

Psalm 130 1 Meaning

Psalm 130:1 expresses a desperate and profound cry to the Lord from a place of overwhelming distress and deep despair. It signifies an earnest spiritual yearning and a direct appeal to God from one’s lowest point, whether due to sin, suffering, or deep spiritual burden, acknowledging Him as the only source of deliverance.

Psalm 130 1 Context

Psalm 130 is one of the fifteen "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), which were likely sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem for the three annual festivals (Passover, Weeks, Tabernacles). This provides a historical and communal context, suggesting a journey, both physical and spiritual, towards God's dwelling place. Individually, the psalm is a lament, specifically a penitential psalm, one of the seven (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) which emphasize confession and seeking forgiveness. The immediate context of verse 1, "Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord!" sets the tone for a prayer born from extreme personal and spiritual anguish, yet it anticipates God's readiness to forgive as elaborated in the subsequent verses. This cry often reflects a state of spiritual despondency, a sense of overwhelming sin, or profound suffering from which only divine intervention can rescue.

Psalm 130 1 Word analysis

• Out of the depths: (Hebrew: MiMa'amakim ממעמקים).

  • Mi-: A Hebrew preposition meaning "from" or "out of." It indicates origin or separation.
  • Ma'amakim: The plural form of ma'amak, meaning "depth" or "deep place." The plural "depths" intensifies the sense, indicating an extreme or multiple levels of profound difficulty, distress, or despair. This could refer to physical peril (like drowning), national calamity, but most profoundly, to the depths of spiritual guilt, shame, or despondency under the weight of sin. It implies a state from which escape seems humanly impossible, a rock bottom.

• I cry: (Hebrew: keraticha קראתיך).

  • From the root verb qara (קרא), meaning "to call," "to cry out," "to proclaim."
  • The form "keraticha" specifically translates as "I called (to) You." The "I" is the supplicant, making this a deeply personal prayer. The use of "cry" or "call out" indicates urgency, intensity, and earnestness. It's not a casual request but a fervent plea for help, implying a recognition of the desperate situation and a deep-seated need for intervention.

• to you: This is directly incorporated into the verb form keraticha (-ticha suffix for "I to You"), emphasizing the direct, personal address to God. There is no other recourse; the prayer is directed solely to the divine.

• O Lord!: (Hebrew: YHWH יהוה).

  • This is the sacred, personal, covenant name of God, often transliterated as Yahweh.
  • By addressing God as YHWH, the Psalmist is not simply calling upon a general deity, but upon the specific God of Israel who revealed Himself in covenant, who is faithful, powerful, and merciful. This highlights a foundational trust in His character and promises even from the deepest pits of distress. It suggests a relationship, even if strained by sin or suffering.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Out of the depths I cry": This phrase encapsulates the core dilemma and the immediate reaction. It describes a situation of extreme duress coupled with an innate, urgent human response to seek rescue. The "depths" illustrate the problem's magnitude, while "I cry" conveys the intensity of the plea.
  • "I cry to you, O Lord!": This vital part identifies the direction and object of the plea. It is not a cry into the void, nor to human power, but directly to the Almighty, covenant-keeping God. The YHWH (Lord) specifies the unique relationship and hope the psalmist holds even in desperation. This highlights that the hope of deliverance does not stem from human ability to escape the "depths," but from God's character and power to rescue.

Psalm 130 1 Bonus section

The posture described in Psalm 130:1, crying out from the "depths," reflects a fundamental biblical truth: true spiritual awakening often begins at a point of utter helplessness and dependence on God alone. It speaks to the recognition of one's own inability to save oneself, particularly from the burden of sin or overwhelming trials. This "rock bottom" moment is frequently where profound encounters with God's grace begin. The term Ma'amakim (depths) carries implications not only of trouble but of purification; just as precious metals are found in the depths of the earth, spiritual depth can be refined in the depths of suffering and repentance. Furthermore, being one of the "Songs of Ascents," this cry from the depths holds the paradox of pilgrims journeying up to Jerusalem while crying out from their lowest point, illustrating that spiritual ascent often begins with honest self-awareness and a desperate plea from despair. This psalm forms the foundation of Christian hymns and spirituals that similarly cry for mercy from despair, linking the individual cry from the Old Testament to the ongoing need for divine mercy and salvation in the New.

Psalm 130 1 Commentary

Psalm 130:1 begins with an immediate plunge into profound spiritual anguish. "Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord!" captures the essence of human desperation and raw faith. The "depths" represent an overwhelming state of distress—whether it's the crushing weight of guilt from sin, severe physical suffering, or overwhelming despair—a place where one feels completely submerged and lost, beyond human help. This is not a superficial trouble but an abyss. Yet, from this very low point, the cry is directed upward, to YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. This signifies an absolute reliance on God's character and power, indicating that despite the depth of the trouble, faith remains, identifying God as the sole hope for deliverance. The personal pronoun "I" underscores the individual's desperate plea, even within a communal collection of songs. This single verse establishes the intensity of the predicament and the singular focus of the plea, setting the stage for the rest of the psalm's movement from lament to hope in divine forgiveness and redemption. The very act of crying out, despite the overwhelming circumstances, is itself an act of profound faith.