Psalm 84:2 kjv
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
Psalm 84:2 nkjv
My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Psalm 84:2 niv
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Psalm 84:2 esv
My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Psalm 84:2 nlt
I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the LORD.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Psalm 84 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 42:1-2 | As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God... | Soul's thirst for God |
| Ps 63:1 | O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you... | Soul and flesh thirsting for God |
| Ps 27:4 | One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD... | Desire to dwell in God's house |
| Ps 43:3-4 | Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me... to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God... | Longing for God's dwelling and altar |
| Ps 73:25-26 | Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail... | Nothing desired above God; physical failing |
| Ps 119:20 | My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. | Soul consumed with longing for God's word |
| Ps 100:4 | Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! | Entering God's courts with joy |
| Ps 92:13 | They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. | Flourishing in God's courts |
| Isa 2:3 | Many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD... | Future pilgrimage to God's dwelling |
| Deut 5:26 | For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire... | "Living God" contrasting idols |
| 1 Sam 17:26 | For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? | "Living God" distinguishing Him |
| Jer 10:10 | But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. | Yahweh as the true, living God |
| Hos 1:10 | And in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God." | "Children of the living God" |
| Acts 14:15 | ...to turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea... | Turning from idols to the Living God |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | ...For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them..." | Believers as the temple of the Living God |
| 1 Tim 3:15 | ...how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God... | Church as the household of the Living God |
| Heb 9:14 | ...how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. | Serving the Living God through Christ |
| Heb 12:22-23 | But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... | Approaching the heavenly City of the Living God |
| Phil 3:20-21 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior... | Believers' longing for heavenly home |
| Rev 21:3 | And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man... | God's dwelling permanently with humanity |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | ...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house... | Believers built into spiritual temple |
| Eph 2:18 | For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. | Access to God through Christ now |
Psalm 84 verses
Psalm 84 2 Meaning
Psalm 84:2 expresses a profound and intense spiritual longing, bordering on physical exhaustion, for God's presence as found in His dwelling place, the courts of the LORD. The psalmist conveys a holistic desire—involving soul, heart, and flesh—that culminates in a joyful cry for the Living God Himself. It is not merely a desire for a place, but for the intimate fellowship with the One who gives life and presence.
Psalm 84 2 Context
Psalm 84 is a "Song of Ascents," likely sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for one of the annual festivals. The entire psalm overflows with a fervent yearning for God's sanctuary, recognizing the supreme blessing of being in His presence. Verse 2 specifically captures this deep, personal longing as a pilgrim imagines the blessedness of even the birds that nest in the temple, highlighting their own separation and intense desire for what these creatures seemingly possess effortlessly—proximity to God's dwelling. The historical and cultural context centers on the centrality of the Temple in Jerusalem as the perceived physical manifestation of God's presence among His people, where sacrifices were offered, and God’s name resided. This longing is set against any temptation to find satisfaction elsewhere, asserting the true source of life and joy in the "Living God," thus implicitly challenging the futility of idols.
Psalm 84 2 Word analysis
- My soul: Hebrew nafshi (נַפְשִׁ֗י). Refers to the whole inner being, including the breath of life, emotions, desires, and the very essence of a person. It denotes a holistic, personal longing.
- longs: Hebrew nikhsefah (נִכְסְפָה). Means to yearn, to pine away, to have an intense, ardent desire. It implies a deep ache or craving.
- yes, faints: Hebrew kaltah (כָּלְתָה). Means to consume, waste away, pine away, fail completely. It powerfully amplifies "longs," suggesting an extreme, almost unbearable intensity of yearning that physically affects the psalmist.
- for the courts: Hebrew l’chatsrot (לְחַצְר֣וֹת). Refers to the outer areas or precincts of the temple complex. These were accessible to the worshippers, representing the physical locus of God's manifest presence and where worship occurred. The longing is for this place of fellowship and encounter.
- of the LORD: Hebrew YHWH (יְהוָ֣ה). The covenant name of God, emphasizing His relational and personal nature, and His absolute sovereignty. It clarifies that the courts are desired because they are His, imbued with His holiness and presence.
- my heart: Hebrew l'vavi (לְבָבִ֤י). Refers to the center of intellect, will, and emotion; the seat of moral and spiritual life. It signifies a profound, inward commitment and affection.
- and my flesh: Hebrew u'v'sari (וּבְשָׂרִ֬י). Refers to the physical body, the human being in its earthly existence. This word choice indicates that the longing is not merely abstract or spiritual but also deeply physical, impacting every fiber of the being.
- cry out: Hebrew y'rann'nu (יְרַנְּנ֗וּ). Often translates to "shout for joy," "sing aloud," "rejoice." In this context, it expresses an outward, fervent expression of joyful anticipation and desperate longing, even amid the "fainting." It is a praiseful yearning.
- for the living God: Hebrew ’el chay (אֵ֣ל חָ֑י). A critical distinction. "El" (God) signifies strength and power. "Chay" (living) explicitly sets the true God apart from lifeless idols of the nations. The object of this intense longing is not merely a static temple or religious ritual, but the dynamic, active, life-giving, and personal God. This also carries a polemic against the dead, impotent gods worshipped by surrounding cultures, emphasizing Yahweh's unique, vibrant essence.
Psalm 84 2 Bonus section
The verb "cry out" (יְרַנְּנ֗וּ - yĕrannenû) typically carries connotations of joyful singing or exultation. This suggests that even in the midst of the psalmist's deep longing and sense of separation, there is an underlying current of hope and anticipated joy in the presence of God. The fainting is a testament to the intensity of the desire, not necessarily despair. This verse perfectly encapsulates the tension often experienced in the Christian life: a yearning for God that can be almost physically debilitating, coupled with a deep-seated hope and joyful anticipation of encountering Him. The entire psalm culminates in expressions of blessedness for those who dwell in His house and trust in Him, indicating that this deep yearning is ultimately met with fulfillment and divine favor. This longing is a divine imprint on the human soul, revealing that our truest satisfaction is found only in the Creator.
Psalm 84 2 Commentary
Psalm 84:2 is a passionate outburst revealing a comprehensive, almost painful desire for divine fellowship. The psalmist's longing transcends mere mental assent, permeating their entire being—soul, heart, and flesh—until it manifests in a physical "fainting" and a vocal "cry out." This demonstrates that true spiritual hunger is an all-encompassing reality, not a fleeting thought. The object of this fervent longing is specific: the "courts of the LORD" for access to worship, and, more importantly, "the living God" Himself. This points to the relational heart of faith, where the sacred place is merely a conduit to the divine Person. The reference to the "Living God" serves as a powerful testament to His uniqueness compared to inert idols, inviting worship that is vibrant and deeply personal. It also foreshadows the New Covenant reality where, through Christ, believers become temples of the Holy Spirit, gaining direct, constant access to the living God, thus fulfilling the deep human yearning for His presence in a richer, more accessible way than the physical temple could provide.
- Example: A Christian enduring spiritual dryness, yet their very spirit yearns for deeper communion with God, expressing it through fervent prayer or tears.
- Example: Believers feeling a profound absence when unable to gather for corporate worship, instinctively longing for the shared presence of God.