The Meaning of Psalms 4:1 Explained

Psalms 4:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.} Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

YLT: To the Overseer with Stringed Instruments. -- A Psalm of David. In my calling answer Thou me, O God of my righteousness. In adversity Thou gavest enlargement to me; Favour me, and hear my prayer.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.} When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness: in pressure thou hast enlarged me; be gracious unto me, and hear my prayer.

ASV: Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness; Thou hast set me at large when I was in distress: Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician  on Neginoth,  A Psalm  of David.  }} Hear  me when I call,  O God  of my righteousness:  thou hast enlarged  me [when I was] in distress;  have mercy  upon me, and hear  my prayer. 

What does Psalms 4:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Neginoth
Neginoth: stringed instruments mentioned in connection with Psalms 3; Psalms 5; Psalms 43; Psalms 54; Psalms 60; Psalms 66; Psalms 75, where it seems clear that the musical directions now appearing as titles of Psalms 4; Psalms 6; Psalms 54; Psalms 55; Psalms 61; Psalms 67; Psalms , 76, were anciently appended to the preceding Psalms.

Verse Meaning

David called on God to hear and answer his prayer. He appealed to God as the righteous One who had delivered him from former distress. God is righteous in Himself, but He also does what is right for His children, namely, come to their rescue when they are in need (cf. Psalm 25:4-5; Isaiah 45:13). The terms used to describe relief from distress picture moving out of a tight corner into an open space. The NASB, "Thou hast relieved me," is a better translation of the Hebrew perfect tense than the NIV, "Give me relief."

Context Summary

Psalms 4:1-8 - Morning And Evening Prayers
These psalms probably date from David's flight before Absalom, 2 Samuel 16:1-23. It is the perfection of trust to be able to sleep when our foes are many and set upon our destruction. So Jesus slept, Mark 4:38; and Peter, Acts 12:6. Be sure that you are where God would have you to be, and then resign yourself to His loving care. Even though pursued by the results of your sins, you will find that God will save you, on condition of your being contrite.
Let us begin the day and close it with thanksgivings and prayers. Godly means having the power to love. Dost thou love God and His saints? Then know that He has set thee apart-that is, separated thee-for Himself. Seek His will alone. Be content to let the world go by. Thou hast no need to envy the prosperous worldling. God suffices for heaven; why not for earth? [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 4

1  David prays for audience
2  He reproves and exhorts his enemies
6  Man's happiness is in God's favor

What do the individual words in Psalms 4:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician with stringed instruments a Psalm of David When I call Hear me God of my righteousness in [my] distress You have relieved me have mercy on me and hear my prayer
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ בִּנְגִינ֗וֹת מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד בְּקָרְאִ֡י עֲנֵ֤נִי ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י ! צִדְקִ֗י בַּ֭צָּר הִרְחַ֣בְתָּ לִּ֑י חָ֝נֵּ֗נִי וּשְׁמַ֥ע תְּפִלָּתִֽי

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
בִּנְגִינ֗וֹת  with  stringed  instruments 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural
Root: נְגִינָה  
Sense: music, song, taunt song.
מִזְמ֥וֹר  a  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְדָוִֽד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בְּקָרְאִ֡י  When  I  call 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
עֲנֵ֤נִי ׀  Hear  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
! צִדְקִ֗י  of  my  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: צֶדֶק  
Sense: justice, rightness, righteousness.
בַּ֭צָּר  in  [my]  distress 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַר 
Sense: narrow, tight.
הִרְחַ֣בְתָּ  You  have  relieved 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָחַב  
Sense: to be or grow wide, be or grow large.
לִּ֑י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
חָ֝נֵּ֗נִי  have  mercy  on  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: חָנַן 
Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.
וּשְׁמַ֥ע  and  hear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
תְּפִלָּתִֽי  my  prayer 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: תְּפִלָּה  
Sense: prayer.