The Meaning of Psalms 40:1 Explained

Psalms 40:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

YLT: To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. I have diligently expected Jehovah, And He inclineth to me, and heareth my cry,

Darby: {To the chief Musician. Of David. A Psalm.} I waited patiently for Jehovah; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

ASV: I waited patiently for Jehovah; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  A Psalm  of David.  }} I waited  patiently  for the LORD;  and he inclined  unto me, and heard  my cry. 

What does Psalms 40:1 Mean?

Study Notes

I waited
The 40th Psalm speaks of Messiah, Jehovah's Servant, obedient unto death. The Psalm begins with the joy of Christ in resurrection ( Psalms 40:1 ; Psalms 40:2 ). He has been in the horrible pit of the grave, but has been brought up. Psalms 40:3-5 are His resurrection testimony, His "new song." Psalms 40:6-7 are retrospective. When sacrifice and offering had become abominable because of the wickedness of the people Isaiah 1:10-15 then the obedient Servant came to make the pure offering; Psalms 40:7-17 ; Hebrews 10:5-17 . See Psalms 41, next in order of the Messianic Psalms.

Context Summary

Psalms 40:1-10 - A Joyous Testimony
This psalm follows appropriately on the two former, in which the psalmist had been detailing his sufferings. Here he celebrates deliverance. But a Greater than David is here. Hebrews 10:5-7 puts Psalms 40:6-8 upon the lips of Christ, and we hear His voice speaking through these olden words.
In deep distress, Psalms 40:1-3, what can the soul do but wait patiently until the Lord inclines and hears? The horrible pit is a "pit of roaring;" that is, a ravine where the deep waters rush and roar. What Jeremiah experienced literally, Jeremiah 38:6, we pass through spiritually. But God will leave no child of His there; He will lift him to stand on the rock, his mouth filled with songs.
When we are delivered let us set our gladness to music and embody it in renewed consecration, Psalms 40:4-10. Let us not hide God's love in our hearts, but tell it out. The bored ear, Psalms 40:6, in reference to Exodus 21:6, means obedience forever, absolute consecration, the glad submission of the will. This is dearer to God than the most elaborate ceremonial or ritual. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 40

1  The benefit of confidence in God
6  Obedience is the best sacrifice
11  The sense of David's evils inflames his prayer

What do the individual words in Psalms 40:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician of David A Psalm patiently I waited for Yahweh and He inclined to me and heard my cry
לַ֝מְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָוִ֥ד מִזְמֽוֹר קַוֺּ֣ה קִוִּ֣יתִי יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥ט אֵ֝לַ֗י וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע שַׁוְעָתִֽי

לַ֝מְנַצֵּ֗חַ  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
לְדָוִ֥ד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
מִזְמֽוֹר  A  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
קַוֺּ֣ה  patiently 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive absolute
Root: קָוָה 
Sense: to wait, look for, hope, expect.
קִוִּ֣יתִי  I  waited  for 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: קָוָה 
Sense: to wait, look for, hope, expect.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַיֵּ֥ט  and  He  inclined 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
אֵ֝לַ֗י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע  and  heard 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
שַׁוְעָתִֽי  my  cry 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שַׁוְעָה  
Sense: cry for help.