Psalm 63 1

Psalm 63:1 kjv

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Psalm 63:1 nkjv

A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1 niv

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1 esv

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1 nlt

O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.

Psalm 63 verses

Psalm 63 1 Meaning

Psalm 63:1 expresses an intense, deep, and personal yearning for God, likening the soul's spiritual thirst and longing to the physical need for water in a parched desert land. It portrays a devout individual's persistent seeking of God in a time of distress or spiritual emptiness, emphasizing God as the ultimate source of life and satisfaction for the entire being.

Psalm 63 1 Context

Psalm 63 is a psalm of David, indicated by the superscription "A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah." This context suggests a period of intense personal struggle, isolation, and reliance on God, likely during his flight from Saul (1 Sam 23:14-15) or perhaps during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15:23). Living in the barren and inhospitable wilderness, David's physical surroundings mirrored his spiritual and emotional desolation, prompting a deep, yearning prayer. The wilderness setting naturally brings to mind thirst and desperation for life-sustaining water, making it a powerful metaphor for his soul's profound need for God's presence and comfort amidst trials. This psalm captures the heart of one who has lost nearly everything yet finds God to be his ultimate and sole refuge.

Psalm 63 1 Word analysis

• O God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): This is a plural noun often used with a singular verb, referring to the one true God. It emphasizes God's majesty, power, and role as Creator and Sustainer. While it can also refer to false gods or mighty ones, here, combined with "my God," it specifically denotes the sovereign, personal God of Israel. It sets the stage for a grand yet intimate address.
• My God (אֵלִי - Eli): The suffix "-i" indicates possession, "my." This transforms the general address "O God" into a deeply personal declaration. It signifies an established covenant relationship, trust, and intimate dependency. This personal connection makes the seeking truly heartfelt.
• Earnestly seek You (אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ - ashachar'cha): Derived from the root "shachar" (שָׁחַר), which literally means "to seek early," "to rise early," or "to dawn." It conveys intense, diligent, persistent, and active seeking, often associated with the first moments of the day. This is not a passive waiting but an eager pursuit, prioritizing God above all else, especially after darkness (trouble/night) has passed, or when the light of God is most needed.
• My soul (נַפְשִׁי - naphshi): Refers to the whole being – inner self, life force, person, appetite, and desires. It's the core of existence, the seat of emotions and volition. When the soul thirsts, it implies an absolute, total need for God from the deepest part of one's being.
• Thirsts for You (צָמְאָה לְךָ - tsam'ah l'kha): "Tsama" (צָמָא) signifies intense physical thirst, a desperate longing. Here, it is applied metaphorically to the soul, conveying an urgent and consuming spiritual need for God's presence, wisdom, and fellowship. It suggests a lack of vital spiritual nourishment.
• My flesh (בְשָׂרִי - besari): Refers to the physical body, the material aspect of a person. By including both "soul" and "flesh," David expresses a total, holistic longing – spiritual, emotional, and physical. Even the physical self, typically associated with worldly needs, craves God's touch.
• Longs for You (כָמַהּ לְךָ - kamah l'kha): "Kamah" (כָּמַהּ) denotes fading away, withering, pining, or becoming faint from desire. It emphasizes the distress and desperate nature of the longing. It portrays an almost painful yearning, as if the absence of God's presence causes physical deterioration.
• In a dry and weary land (בְּאֶרֶץ צִיָּה וְעָיֵף - b'eretz tsiyah v'ayef): This powerful metaphor describes the wilderness setting. "Tsiyah" (צִיָּה) means "dry, parched," reflecting lack of water and life. "A-yef" (עָיֵף) means "weary, faint, exhausted." This phrase conveys a landscape devoid of sustenance and comfort, intensifying the comparison to the soul's desolate state without God. It illustrates both the physical environment and the spiritual condition, creating a vivid image of desperate need.
• Where there is no water (מַיִם אָיִן - mayim ayin): Directly states the absence of life's essential element, reinforcing the extremity of the dry land. In a spiritual sense, this means there is no other source of life, comfort, or satisfaction available apart from God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "O God, You are my God": This phrase combines a formal address to the divine sovereign with a declaration of intimate, personal ownership. It sets the tone for a relationship-driven prayer, acknowledging both God's transcendence and His immanence in the psalmist's life. This immediate recognition of personal relationship is fundamental.
• "Earnestly seek You": This highlights an active, intentional, and persistent pursuit. It speaks to a disciplined spiritual practice, suggesting waking early or dedicating the first and best of one's energy to connecting with God. It indicates a prioritization of God above all else in life.
• "My soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You": This parallel expression demonstrates a complete, holistic desire for God. It shows that both the immaterial (soul, consciousness, life force) and the material (body, physical senses) aspects of the human being are consumed by this divine yearning. This is a desire that permeates every fiber of existence.
• "In a dry and weary land where there is no water": This vivid imagery uses the physical environment as a powerful spiritual metaphor. It paints a picture of extreme deprivation and desolation, making the desperate yearning for God relatable and deeply impactful. The barren landscape accentuates the life-giving nature of God's presence and the absence of any alternative source of spiritual sustenance. This illustrates God as the sole supply in an otherwise utterly desolate spiritual reality.

Psalm 63 1 Bonus section

The strong imagery of thirst and dry land has deep roots in biblical tradition, recalling Israel's journey through the wilderness with God as their provider of water (Ex 17, Num 20). It counters the idea that spiritual fulfillment can be found in worldly comforts or human relationships, forcefully declaring God as the singular source of life. The earnest seeking (shachar) is not merely a metaphor for diligent prayer; it points to an active engagement and pursuit, often implying devotion cultivated in solitude and at the beginning of the day. This active yearning also reflects an ancient Near Eastern understanding where people often sought out deities for blessings, but here it is uniquely directed at the one true God, acknowledging His supremacy and sufficiency. The spiritual longing expressed here prefigures the New Testament emphasis on hunger and thirst for righteousness, which only Christ can ultimately satisfy (Matt 5:6).

Psalm 63 1 Commentary

Psalm 63:1 articulates a foundational principle of the spiritual life: the profound and universal human longing for God, especially in times of profound need or barrenness. David's experience in the wilderness becomes a universal symbol for any circumstance where one feels depleted, unsupported, and spiritually dry. The earnest, early seeking (Hebrew: shachar) indicates a prioritizing and desperate pursuit, while the total involvement of both "soul" (inner being) and "flesh" (physical self) highlights a holistic craving for the divine. The metaphor of "thirst" in a "dry and weary land" powerfully conveys that just as physical survival depends on water in the desert, spiritual life and well-being are entirely dependent on God's presence and sustenance. This verse reminds believers that true satisfaction is found only in God, making Him the indispensable "living water" for every aspect of life. It challenges believers to cultivate a passionate, continuous yearning for God, mirroring David's relentless pursuit amidst desolation.