Psalm 42 1

Psalm 42:1 kjv

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Psalm 42:1 nkjv

To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.

Psalm 42:1 niv

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

Psalm 42:1 esv

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.

Psalm 42:1 nlt

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.

Psalm 42 verses

Psalm 42 1 Meaning

Psalm 42:1 expresses an intense, desperate longing for God, comparing it to a deer's life-sustaining craving for water in a dry land. It conveys a deep, visceral yearning of the entire being—the soul—for the divine presence and fellowship, highlighting God as the ultimate source of spiritual sustenance and life, much as water is essential for physical survival.

Psalm 42 1 Context

Psalm 42 is the beginning of Book 2 of the Psalter, often linked with Psalm 43 as a single poetic unit. It is a Maskil, a teaching or contemplative psalm, ascribed to the Sons of Korah, who were Levitical temple musicians. The psalmist expresses deep spiritual anguish, possibly from exile or forced separation from Jerusalem and the temple (implied in verses 2, 4, 6, 9-10). The historical context suggests a period where access to the sacred dwelling place of God was denied or yearned for, amplifying the spiritual drought felt by the psalmist. The opening verse powerfully sets the tone for a soul experiencing profound inner despondency and distress (seen throughout Ps 42:3, 5, 7, 11) but continually directing its longing and hope toward God despite the present circumstances. The imagery of water in a parched land was universally understood in the ancient Near East as a symbol of life, refreshment, and well-being, making the analogy particularly potent.

Psalm 42 1 Word analysis

• As (כְּ - kə): A comparative particle, introducing the vivid simile. It establishes a direct, powerful parallel between a deer's physical need and the psalmist's spiritual longing.
• a deer (אַיָּל - 'ayyāl): Refers to a stag, a male deer. Often depicted as strong, agile, yet vulnerable when desperate for water, especially in arid regions or when hunted. The deer's panting indicates extreme distress, exhaustion, and urgent life-or-death necessity, not mere discomfort. It might be hunted, injured, or simply in a dry land during a drought. Its craving is instinctive and utterly fundamental for survival.
• pants (תַּעֲרֹג - ta‘arōg): The verb "to pant, to long for, to yearn deeply, to sigh for." This is a strong, expressive verb, depicting a heavy, audible breathing caused by thirst and exertion. It denotes a visceral, whole-body response, indicating not just a wish but a deep, overwhelming need that consumes the creature's entire being.
• for (עַל - ‘al): Literally "upon" or "over," here used in the sense of "for, towards, concerning," emphasizing the specific object of the deer's desire.
• flowing streams (אֲפִיקֵי מָיִם - 'ăfîqê mayim): Literally "channels/gullies of water." This is not just any water source (like a puddle), but channels, wadis, or streams that suggest an abundant, moving, life-giving flow. In a dry land, such a source represents absolute relief and sustenance, essential for the deer's very existence.
• so (כֵּן - kēn): A correlative conjunction, affirming the precise analogy; "just so," "thus also."
• pants (תַּעֲרֹג - ta‘arōg): Repeated verb, intensifying the parallel. The same verb used for the deer is now applied to the psalmist's soul, stressing the exact nature and depth of the spiritual yearning.
• my soul (נַפְשִׁי - nafšî): The Hebrew nefesh (נֶפֶשׁ) means more than just the emotional part of a person; it signifies the entire living being, the essence of life, the "self." It encompasses one's vital breath, desires, affections, personality, and even physical life. Therefore, "my soul pants" means the psalmist's whole being, his deepest self, aches and yearns.
• for You (אֵלֶיךָ - 'ēleyḵā): Directed towards God; specifically to the "You" (God). This demonstrates the singular focus of the psalmist's desperate longing.
• O God (אֱלֹהִים - 'ělōhîm): The general Hebrew word for God. Here, it is God Himself, His person and presence, that is the sole object of this profound and vital longing, not merely His blessings or provisions, but Him alone.

Words-group analysis:

• "As a deer pants for flowing streams...": This opening clause establishes a classic simile. It vividly paints a picture of a creature in dire straits, for whom water is an absolute, existential necessity. The deer's panting is not a gentle longing but a desperate, life-or-death gasp for refreshment.
• "...so pants my soul for You, O God.": This direct comparison elevates the spiritual need to the level of physical survival. The psalmist's inner self (nefesh) yearns for God with the same intensity and fundamental necessity as a dying deer craves water. It signifies that God is not merely desired or preferred, but fundamentally necessary for the soul's survival and well-being. The single object of longing "for You, O God" shows singular, undivided devotion and dependency.

Psalm 42 1 Bonus section

The Hebrew word afiqim for "streams" implies not stagnant pools but dynamic, flowing channels, which underscores that the psalmist is not looking for a quick fix or limited sustenance, but for the full, overflowing, life-giving presence of God. This reflects the character of God's abundant provision and endless resource. Furthermore, the analogy may implicitly touch on the hunted deer seeking safety as well as water, symbolizing the psalmist seeking refuge and solace in God Himself amidst the "deep calls to deep" and "waves and breakers" (Ps 42:7) that overwhelm his soul. The very intensity of the psalmist's distress is matched only by the intensity of his hope in God.

Psalm 42 1 Commentary

Psalm 42:1 lays bare the universal human spiritual condition, using a poignant animal metaphor. The panting deer, gasping for life-giving water, epitomizes a soul in extreme spiritual drought or distress, finding its only possible relief and satisfaction in God. This longing is not superficial or fleeting; it is fundamental to the soul's very existence, just as water is to life in a parched land. The nefesh, representing the psalmist's entire being—his vital essence, his desires, his very life—is consumed by this single, urgent need. The psalmist isn't seeking God's gifts, but God Himself, recognizing Him as the singular, inexhaustible "fountain of life" (Ps 36:9) and the sole source capable of quenching the soul's deepest thirst. This verse, therefore, serves as a powerful testament to the inherent human yearning for the Creator and underscores the biblical truth that only in fellowship with God can the soul find ultimate fulfillment and true life.

• Practical usage: This verse resonates with those experiencing spiritual dryness, absence of God's perceived presence, or deep internal struggle. It encourages the believer to articulate this longing honestly and direct it solely towards God, trusting Him as the source of refreshing.