The Meaning of Psalms 42:7 Explained

Psalms 42:7

KJV: Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

YLT: Deep unto deep is calling At the noise of Thy water-spouts, All Thy breakers and Thy billows passed over me.

Darby: Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy cataracts; all thy breakers and thy billows are gone over me.

ASV: Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterfalls: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Deep  calleth  unto deep  at the noise  of thy waterspouts:  all thy waves  and thy billows  are gone  over me. 

What does Psalms 42:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The writer viewed his troubles like waves cascading down on him, as if he were standing under a waterfall. He compared the noise of the waves to his troubles, that he personified as calling to one another to come and overwhelm him.

Context Summary

Psalms 42:1-11 - Thirsting After God
This psalm clearly embalms the holy musings and yearnings of the exiled king during Absalom's rebellion. Their setting to music was left to the sons of Korah, 2 Chronicles 20:19. It was a great favorite with the early Church, driven to the Catacombs, on the walls of which are many designs of hunted deer.
The water brooks, Psalms 42:1-3. The hind suffers much from the sultry heat, but it dare not linger too long at the water-hole, because the wild beasts gather there. We never realize the value of God's house till we are compulsorily separated from its sacred rites. How blessed it is to return to the sanctuary after such separation! "In the abundance of thy lovingkindness will I come into thy house," Psalms 5:7, r.v.
The blessed past, Psalms 42:4-6. Exiled to the Hermons, beyond the Jordan, the fugitive recalls the festal crowds, wont to gather at the holy feasts. But when such thoughts oppress us, we should turn our hearts to God and in touching Him, we cease to be lonely. See Hebrews 12:22, etc.
The bitter present, Psalms 42:7-11. The day of pain and rebuke, when the heart is pierced, is the day of God! "His lovingkindness;" "his song;" "the God of my life;" "God of my rock;" "the health of my countenance;" "my God"-what a heritage is this! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 42

1  David's zeal to serve God in the temple
5  He encourages his soul to trust in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 42:7 mean?

Deep unto deep calls at the noise of Your waterfalls and all Your waves and billows Over me have gone
תְּהֽוֹם־ אֶל־ תְּה֣וֹם ק֭וֹרֵא לְק֣וֹל צִנּוֹרֶ֑יךָ כָּֽל־ מִשְׁבָּרֶ֥יךָ וְ֝גַלֶּ֗יךָ עָלַ֥י עָבָֽרוּ

תְּהֽוֹם־  Deep 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: תְּהֹום  
Sense: deep, depths, deep places, abyss, the deep, sea.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
תְּה֣וֹם  deep 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: תְּהֹום  
Sense: deep, depths, deep places, abyss, the deep, sea.
ק֭וֹרֵא  calls 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
לְק֣וֹל  at  the  noise 
Parse: Preposition, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
צִנּוֹרֶ֑יךָ  of  Your  waterfalls 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צִנּׄור  
Sense: pipe, spout, conduit, water conduit.
כָּֽל־  and  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מִשְׁבָּרֶ֥יךָ  Your  waves 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁבָּר  
Sense: breaker, breaking (of sea).
וְ֝גַלֶּ֗יךָ  and  billows 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: גַּל 
Sense: heap, spring, wave, billow.
עָלַ֥י  Over  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
עָבָֽרוּ  have  gone 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.