The Meaning of Psalms 30:11 Explained

Psalms 30:11

KJV: Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

YLT: Thou hast turned my mourning to dancing for me, Thou hast loosed my sackcloth, And girdest me with joy.

Darby: Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast loosed my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

ASV: Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou hast turned  for me my mourning  into dancing:  thou hast put off  my sackcloth,  and girded  me with gladness; 

What does Psalms 30:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 30:1-12 - "joy Cometh In The Morning"
This psalm dates from 2 Samuel 5:11. What a contrast between Adullam's cave and the house of cedar! When God has lifted us up in mercy, we should lift Him up in song.
Apparently David had been passing through a time of sickness or intense sorrow, and now he could not be thankful enough for God's redeeming mercy. When shall we realize that God both forgives sin and redeems us from its eternal consequences! Weeping is here personified; she is only a lodger, who tarries for the brief Eastern night, and then, veiled, glides out of the house at daybreak. With the first ray of light Joy comes to abide, and we hear His hearty salutation in the vestibule.
We need more of the joy of the Lord. The first touch of pain makes us cry, Psalms 30:8; but we are slow to put on and wear the girdle and the garments of gladness. Be of good cheer, sad friend; God will yet turn "the shadow of death into the morning!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 30

1  David praises God for his deliverance
4  He exhorts others to praise him by example of God's dealings with him

What do the individual words in Psalms 30:11 mean?

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness
הָפַ֣כְתָּ מִסְפְּדִי֮ לְמָח֪וֹל לִ֥י פִּתַּ֥חְתָּ שַׂקִּ֑י וַֽתְּאַזְּרֵ֥נִי שִׂמְחָֽה

הָפַ֣כְתָּ  You  have  turned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הָפַךְ  
Sense: to turn, overthrow, overturn.
מִסְפְּדִי֮  my  mourning 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִסְפֵּד  
Sense: wailing.
לְמָח֪וֹל  into  dancing 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָחֹול  
Sense: dance, dancing.
לִ֥י  for  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
פִּתַּ֥חְתָּ  You  have  put  off 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
שַׂקִּ֑י  my  sackcloth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שַׂק  
Sense: mesh, sackcloth, sack, sacking.
וַֽתְּאַזְּרֵ֥נִי  and  clothed  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: אָזַר  
Sense: gird, encompass, equip, clothe.
שִׂמְחָֽה  with  gladness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׂמְחָה  
Sense: joy, mirth, gladness.