The Meaning of Psalms 130:1 Explained

Psalms 130:1

KJV: {A Song of degrees.} Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

YLT: A Song of the Ascents. From depths I have called Thee, Jehovah.

Darby: {A Song of degrees.} Out of the depths do I call upon thee, Jehovah.

ASV: Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{A Song  of degrees.  }} Out of the depths  have I cried  unto thee, O LORD. 

What does Psalms 130:1 Mean?

Study Notes

A Song of degrees
See title note; .
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 130:1-8 - "out Of The Depths"
The cry, Psalms 130:1-2. The word Lord occurs as often as there are verses. The soul in trouble repeats again and again that precious Name, in which comfort and help are summed up. The chief cause of anguish, Psalms 130:3-4, is the memory of our sins. But our iniquities are not marked save by the jewels of forgiveness, like the pearls of an oyster that are set in the place where it was wounded. The soul's attitude, Psalms 130:5-6. It waits! He will surely come though He seems to tarry. Plenteous redemption, Psalms 130:7. It is not enough for God to forgive. He will abundantly pardon.
Psalms 131:1-3
The cry of the child-heart. The psalmist said this in all simplicity. He did not exercise himself (literally "walk to and fro") in things beyond his powers, but left God to reveal them to him, as he was able to receive them. We are reminded of Matthew 11:25. Clearly he had not reached this position without effort. He had found it necessary to still and quiet himself, as a nurse quiets a fretful babe. There had been a time when he was fed at the breast of the world's consolations. The weaning had been hard, but he had learned to get all from God and to draw on His sustaining grace. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 130

1  The psalmist professes his hope in prayer
5  And his patience in hope
7  He exhorts Israel to trust in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 130:1 mean?

A Song of Ascents Out of the depths I have cried to You Yahweh
שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹת מִמַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה

שִׁ֥יר  A  Song 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹת  of  Ascents 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַעֲלָה 
Sense: what comes up, thoughts.
מִמַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים  Out  of  the  depths 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַעֲמַקִּים  
Sense: depths.
קְרָאתִ֣יךָ  I  have  cried  to  You 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.