Psalm 42:5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 42:1-5

Holy love to God as the chief good and our felicity is the power of godliness, the very life and soul of religion, without which all external professions and performances are but a shell and carcase: now here we have some of the expressions of that love. Here is, I. Holy love thirsting, love upon the wing, soaring upwards in holy desires towards the Lord and towards the remembrance of his name (Ps. 42:1, 2): ?My soul panteth, thirsteth, for God, for nothing more than God, but still for more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 42:5

Why art thou cast down, O my soul ?.... The psalmist corrects himself, as being too much depressed in spirit with his present circumstances, and expostulates with himself; adding, and why art thou disquieted in me ? which suggests, that the dejections of God's people are unreasonable ones; sin itself is no just cause and reason of them; for though it is very disagreeable, loathsome, and abhorring, troublesome and burdensome, to a spiritual man, and is ingenuously confessed, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:5

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? - Bad as the times are, desolate as Jerusalem is, insulting as are our enemies, hopeless as in the sight of man our condition may be, yet there is no room for despair. All things are possible to God. We have a promise of restoration; he is as good as he is powerful; hope therefore in him. I shall yet praise him - For my restoration from this captivity. He is the health of my soul. I shall have the light and help of his countenance, his approbation, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:5

Verse 5 5O my soul! why art thou cast down? From this it appears that David contended strongly against his sorrow, lest he should yield to temptation: but what we ought chiefly to observe is, that he had experienced a strong and bitter contest before he obtained the victory over it; or we might rather say, that he was not delivered from it after one alarming assault, but was often called upon to enter into new scenes of conflict. It need not excite our wonder that he was so much disquieted and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

There is an intimate union between this psalm and the next, which is a sort of additional stanza, terminating in the same refrain (comp. Psalms 43:5 with Psalms 42:5 and Psalms 42:11 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

A thirst for God. This is one of the most touching, pathetic, and beautiful of the Psalms. It is not possible to decide either its author or the time of its composition. Its tones are very much like the plaintive sounds from David's harp, whether or no he was its writer (but see homily on Psalms 43:1-5 .). Leaving untouched, owing to want of space, the historical and geographical matters suggested in the psalm, £ we shall devote ourselves entirely to the opening up of its deep pathos... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

Spiritual depression. The scene of this psalm seems to have been on the other side of Jordan, near the shining heights of Hermon. Here we may imagine the writer, probably a Hebrew exile, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of the dear laud of his fathers that was soon to pass from his sight. To him it seemed as if to be separated from Jerusalem was to be separated from God; as if losing the fellowship of the saints were losing God. The hart panting for the water-brooks imaged the grief... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:5

Why art thou cast down? or, Why art thou bowed down ? i.e. brought low—a term indicative of the very extreme of dejection. O my soul. The spirit, or higher reason, rebukes the "soul," or passionate nature, for allowing itself to be so depressed, and seeks to encourage and upraise it. And why art thou so disquieted in me? rather, Why dost thou make thy moan over me ? literally, make a roaring noise like the sea (comp. Psalms 46:3 ; Jeremiah 4:19 ; Jeremiah 5:22 ). Hope thou... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:5

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? - Margin, bowed down. The Hebrew word means to bow down, to incline oneself; then, usually, to prostrate oneself as in public worship; and then, to sink down under the weight of sorrow; to be depressed and sad. The Septuagint renders it, “Why art thou grieved?” - περίλυπος perilupos. So the Vulgate. This is an earnest remonstrance addressed by himself to his own soul, as if there were really no occasion for this excessive depression; as if he cherished his... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:5

Psalms 42:5. Why art thou cast down, O my soul With excessive sorrow and despair. Why art thou disquieted within me? Is there any cause that anxiety of mind should put thee into a state of such perturbation, as if all hopes of this felicity were lost for ever? Hope thou in God Trust in him, and patiently wait upon him. For I shall yet praise him The time will come when I shall go again to his house, and praise him for his favour toward me. For the help of his countenance Hebrew, ... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 42:1-5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 42:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:5

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