The Meaning of Psalms 120:1 Explained

Psalms 120:1

KJV: {A Song of degrees.} In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

YLT: A Song of the Ascents. Unto Jehovah in my distress I have called, And He answereth me.

Darby: {A Song of degrees.} In my trouble I called unto Jehovah, and he answered me.

ASV: In my distress I cried unto Jehovah, And he answered me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{A Song  of degrees.  }} In my distress  I cried  unto the LORD,  and he heard  me. 

What does Psalms 120:1 Mean?

Study Notes

A Song of degrees
Literally, "of ascents." Perhaps chanted by the people as they went up to Jerusalem to the feasts. See, e.g. Psalms 112:1 ; Psalms 112:2 .

Context Summary

Psalms 120:1-7 - Where To Find Help
This is the first of the "Songs of Degrees." It has been suggested that they were pilgrim-songs to beguile the journeys from all parts of the country to the great annual feasts. They have been associated with the reign of the good Hezekiah. Mesech and Kedar are typical enemies, who forced their way into the kingdom of Judah and vexed the people of God. They are compared to sharp swords and arrows in Psalms 57:4; Psalms 64:3, but now in turn they shall be pierced and scorched. How many who start on a pilgrimage to the Celestial City must run a similar gauntlet! Their enemies arise from their own household. In such distress of soul, prayer is our only hope, Psalms 120:1.
Psalms 121:1-8
The keynote of this psalm is the word keep, which occurs in one form or another six times. In Psalms 121:1 and Psalms 121:2 the soloist suggests that in hours of trial we should look beyond mountains and hills to the Lord who made them all. In Psalms 121:3-8 the chorus endorses and commends the choice. All the saints of every dispensation add their cumulative testimony to the wisdom of entrusting the keeping of soul and body to our faithful Creator. Notice the exquisite sequence of phrases: neither slumber nor sleep; by day, by night; thy going out, and thy coming in; thee and. thy soul; this time forth and for evermore. The meshes are woven very closely. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 120

1  David prays against Doeg
3  Reproves his tongue
5  Complains of his necessary conversation with the wicked

What do the individual words in Psalms 120:1 mean?

A Song of Ascents To Yahweh in distress my I cried and He heard me
שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֶל־ יְ֭הוָה בַּצָּרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י קָ֝רָ֗אתִי וַֽיַּעֲנֵֽנִי

שִׁ֗יר  A  Song 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת  of  Ascents 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַעֲלָה 
Sense: what comes up, thoughts.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בַּצָּרָ֣תָה  in  distress 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: צָרָה 
Sense: straits, distress, trouble.
לִּ֑י  my 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
קָ֝רָ֗אתִי  I  cried 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
וַֽיַּעֲנֵֽנִי  and  He  heard  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.