The Meaning of Psalms 42:1 Explained

Psalms 42:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.} As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

YLT: To the Overseer. -- An Instruction. By sons of Korah. As a hart doth pant for streams of water, So my soul panteth toward Thee, O God.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. An instruction; of the sons of Korah.} As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

ASV: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  Maschil,  for the sons  of Korah.  }} As the hart  panteth  after the water  brooks,  so panteth  my soul  after thee, O God. 

What does Psalms 42:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Maschil
Maschil, "instruction."

Context Summary

Psalms 42:1-11 - Thirsting After God
This psalm clearly embalms the holy musings and yearnings of the exiled king during Absalom's rebellion. Their setting to music was left to the sons of Korah, 2 Chronicles 20:19. It was a great favorite with the early Church, driven to the Catacombs, on the walls of which are many designs of hunted deer.
The water brooks, Psalms 42:1-3. The hind suffers much from the sultry heat, but it dare not linger too long at the water-hole, because the wild beasts gather there. We never realize the value of God's house till we are compulsorily separated from its sacred rites. How blessed it is to return to the sanctuary after such separation! "In the abundance of thy lovingkindness will I come into thy house," Psalms 5:7, r.v.
The blessed past, Psalms 42:4-6. Exiled to the Hermons, beyond the Jordan, the fugitive recalls the festal crowds, wont to gather at the holy feasts. But when such thoughts oppress us, we should turn our hearts to God and in touching Him, we cease to be lonely. See Hebrews 12:22, etc.
The bitter present, Psalms 42:7-11. The day of pain and rebuke, when the heart is pierced, is the day of God! "His lovingkindness;" "his song;" "the God of my life;" "God of my rock;" "the health of my countenance;" "my God"-what a heritage is this! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 42

1  David's zeal to serve God in the temple
5  He encourages his soul to trust in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 42:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician a Contemplation of the sons of Korah As the deer pants for the brooks water so my soul pants for You God
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לִבְנֵי־ קֹֽרַח כְּאַיָּ֗ל תַּעֲרֹ֥ג עַל־ אֲפִֽיקֵי־ מָ֑יִם כֵּ֤ן נַפְשִׁ֨י תַעֲרֹ֖ג אֵלֶ֣יךָ אֱלֹהִֽים

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ  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.
מַשְׂכִּ֥יל  a  Contemplation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַשְׂכִּיל  
Sense: (Hiphil) poem, song or poem of contemplation.
לִבְנֵי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
קֹֽרַח  of  Korah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹרַח  
Sense: son of Izhar, grandson of Kohath, great grandson of Levi and leader of the rebellion of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron while in the wilderness; punished and died by an earthquake and flames of fire.
כְּאַיָּ֗ל  As  the  deer 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַיָּל  
Sense: stag, deer, hart.
תַּעֲרֹ֥ג  pants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: עָרַג  
Sense: (Qal) to long for, pant after.
אֲפִֽיקֵי־  the  brooks 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אָפִיק 
Sense: channel.
מָ֑יִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
כֵּ֤ן  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
נַפְשִׁ֨י  my  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
תַעֲרֹ֖ג  pants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: עָרַג  
Sense: (Qal) to long for, pant after.
אֵלֶ֣יךָ  for  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֱלֹהִֽים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).