Psalm 42:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 42:6-11

Complaints and comforts here, as before, take their turn, like day and night in the course of nature. I. He complains of the dejections of his spirit, but comforts himself with the thoughts of God, Ps. 42:6. 1. In his troubles. His soul was dejected, and he goes to God and tells him so: O my God! my soul is cast down within me. It is a great support to us, when upon any account we are distressed, that we have liberty of access to God, and liberty of speech before him, and may open to him the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 42:7

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of the water spouts ,.... By which are meant afflictions, comparable to the deep waters of the sea, for their multitude and overwhelming nature; see Psalm 69:1 ; these came pouring down, one after another, upon the psalmist: as soon as one affliction over, another came, as in the case of Job; which is signified by one calling to another, and were clamorous, troublesome, and very grievous and distressing; all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:7

Deep calleth unto deep - One wave of sorrow rolls on me, impelled by another. There is something dismal in the sound of the original; קורא תהום אל תהום tehom el tehom kore ; something like "And hollow howlings hung in air." Thompson's Ellenore. Or like Horner's well known verse: - Βη δπ ' ακεων παρα θινα πολυφοισβοιο θαλασσης . "He went silently along the shore of the vastly-sounding sea." Il. i., ver. 34. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:7

Verse 7 7.Depth calleth unto depth These words express the grievousness, as well as the number and long continuance, of the miseries which he suffered; as if he had said, I am oppressed not only with one kind of misery, but various kinds of distress return one after another, so that there seems to be neither end nor measure to them. In the first place, by the term depth, he shows that the temptations by which he was assailed were such, that they might well be compared to gulfs in the sea; then... 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 42:7

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts. Blow follows blow. Misfortunes "come not in single file, but in battalions." The imagery may be taken from the local storms that visit the Trans-Jordanic territory. All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me (comp. Psalms 69:1 , Psalms 69:2 ; Psalms 88:7 , Psalms 88:17 ; Psalms 144:7 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:7

Deep calleth unto deep - The language used here would seem to imply that the psalmist was near some floods of water, some rapid river or water-fall, which constituted an appropriate illustration of the waves of sorrow that were rolling over his soul. It is not possible to determine exactly where this was, though, as suggested in the verse above, it would seem most probable that it was in the vicinity of the upper portion of the Jordan; and doubtless the Jordan, if swollen, would suggest all... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:7

Psalms 42:7. Deep calleth unto deep One affliction comes immediately after another, as if it were called for, or invited by the former. This he expresses by a metaphor taken from the old flood, when the upper deep, or collection of waters in the clouds, called for the lower deep, or abyss of waters in the sea and rivers, and in the bowels of the earth; that both might unite their forces to drown the world. Thus the Chaldee understands it. Or the metaphor may be taken from the sea, when its... read more

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