The Meaning of Psalms 142:3 Explained

Psalms 142:3

KJV: When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

YLT: When my spirit hath been feeble in me, Then Thou hast known my path; In the way in which I walk, They have hid a snare for me.

Darby: When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they hidden a snare for me.

ASV: When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walk Have they hidden a snare for me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When my spirit  was overwhelmed  within me, then thou knewest  my path.  In the way  wherein  I walked  have they privily laid  a snare  for me. 

What does Psalms 142:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 142:1-7 - "no Man Cared For My Soul"
The cave was dark and shared by rough and lawless men with whom David had little sympathy. His gentle and devout spirit must often have craved for more congenial society. But he never ceased to cry and make supplication whenever his spirit was overwhelmed. Are you in that plight? Be comforted by the reflection that God knows your path. It is the predestined way, Ephesians 2:10. Before the heavens or earth were made it was prepared. God foreknew all its perplexities and difficulties-how dark the shadows, how fearsome the black current-but He chose it as your best way home. Are all faces averted? Does no one seem to care? Is your soul in prison, and are your persecutors strong? Be of good cheer! Reinforcements of divine grace are on their way; the righteous shall crown themselves because of you; and you will say with your dying breath, "He has dealt bountifully with me." [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 142

1  David shows that in his trouble all his comfort was in prayer unto God

What do the individual words in Psalms 142:3 mean?

When was overwhelmed within me my spirit and You knew my path In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me
בְּהִתְעַטֵּ֬ף עָלַ֨י ׀ רוּחִ֗י וְאַתָּה֮ יָדַ֪עְתָּ נְֽתִיבָ֫תִ֥י בְּאֹֽרַח־ ז֥וּ אֲהַלֵּ֑ךְ טָמְנ֖וּ פַ֣ח לִֽי

בְּהִתְעַטֵּ֬ף  When  was  overwhelmed 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive construct
Root: עָטוּף 
Sense: to turn aside.
עָלַ֨י ׀  within  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.
רוּחִ֗י  my  spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
וְאַתָּה֮  and  You 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
יָדַ֪עְתָּ  knew 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
נְֽתִיבָ֫תִ֥י  my  path 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נָתִיב 
Sense: trodden with the feet, path, pathway.
בְּאֹֽרַח־  In  the  way 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֹרַח  
Sense: way, path.
ז֥וּ  in  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: זוּ  
Sense: this, such rel pron.
אֲהַלֵּ֑ךְ  I  walk 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
טָמְנ֖וּ  they  have  secretly  set 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: טָמַן  
Sense: to hide, conceal, bury.
פַ֣ח  a  snare 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּח 
Sense: bird trap, trap, snare.
לִֽי  for  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular