The Meaning of Psalms 61:1 Explained

Psalms 61:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David.} Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

YLT: To the Overseer, on stringed instruments. -- By David. Hear, O God, my loud cry, attend to my prayer.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. On a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.} Hear, O God, my cry; attend unto my prayer.

ASV: Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician  upon Neginah,  [A Psalm] of David.  }} Hear  my cry,  O God;  attend  unto my prayer. 

What does Psalms 61:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 61:1-8 - Safe Under God's Protection
This psalm was probably composed at the time of Absalom's rebellion, when David was a fugitive from the Tabernacle that he loved. There are two stanzas.
Prayer, Psalms 61:1-4
The king was only across the Jordan, yet it seemed the end of the earth. He was at the end of human help. In overwhelming floods trouble poured all around, but in the distance he perceived the rock that towered above the waters. If he could but reach it, he would be safe. What rock is this save the Rock of Ages, that was cleft for us! We cannot reach or climb it by ourselves, but need to be led and lifted thither. And God answers, "I will put thee." See Exodus 33:22.
Confidence, Psalms 61:5-8
The psalmist quotes the great assurance of 2 Samuel 7:12-16, and turns it into prayer. Faith presents God's pledges to Himself, and affirms her confidence in their fulfillment. Thus we advance from step to step on the predestined road, knowing that Loving-Kindness and Truth have gone before us, to prepare the way of our steps and to discover themes for endless praise. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 61

1  David flees to God upon his former experience
4  He vows perpetual service unto him, because of his promises

What do the individual words in Psalms 61:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician On a stringed instrument a Psalm of David HEAR God my cry Attend to my prayer
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ עַֽל־ נְגִינַ֬ת לְדָוִֽד שִׁמְעָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים רִנָּתִ֑י הַ֝קְשִׁ֗יבָה תְּפִלָּתִֽי

לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀  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.
נְגִינַ֬ת  a  stringed  instrument 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: נְגִינָה  
Sense: music, song, taunt song.
לְדָוִֽד  a  Psalm  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
שִׁמְעָ֣ה  HEAR 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֱ֭לֹהִים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
רִנָּתִ֑י  my  cry 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רִנָּה  
Sense: ringing cry.
הַ֝קְשִׁ֗יבָה  Attend  to 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: קָשַׁב  
Sense: to hear, be attentive, heed, incline (of ears), attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen.
תְּפִלָּתִֽי  my  prayer 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: תְּפִלָּה  
Sense: prayer.