The Meaning of Psalms 62:1 Explained

Psalms 62:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.} Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

YLT: To the Overseer, for Jeduthun. -- A Psalm of David. Only -- toward God is my soul silent, From Him is my salvation.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. On Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.} Upon God alone doth my soul rest peacefully; from him is my salvation.

ASV: My soul waiteth in silence for God only: From him cometh my salvation.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  to Jeduthun,  A Psalm  of David.  }} Truly my soul  waiteth  upon God:  from him [cometh] my salvation. 

What does Psalms 62:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Jeduthun
.

Context Summary

Psalms 62:1-12 - Our Only Rock And Refuge
This is the "Only" Psalm. It consists of three stanzas, each of which begins with that word and ends with Selah. It was probably composed during Absalom's rebellion.
Waiting, Psalms 62:1-4
They who wait for God, and God alone, cannot wait in vain. Though ringed around by men who hide their malice under specious words, the soul is not greatly moved. Their ring-fence of hate totters to its fall, but the inner wall of God's care is steadfast.
Silence, Psalms 62:5-8
Wait here, and in Psalms 62:1, may be rendered "is silent," "be silent." There are times when God seems so near that we cannot speak aloud, but are just silent before Him and breathe out our thoughts and desires.
Not disappointed, Psalms 62:9-12
Men and money are lighter than air, but God endures. His performances, unlike man's, weigh heavier than His promises. They who trust Him will be satisfied with an abundance of power and mercy, which are open to the poorest, but which gold can never buy. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 62

1  David, professing his confidence in God, discourages his enemies
5  In the same confidence he encourages the godly
9  No trust is to be put in worldly things
11  Power and mercy belong to God

What do the individual words in Psalms 62:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician to Jeduthun a Psalm of David Truly for God silently [waits] my soul from Him [comes] my salvation
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־ יְדוּת֗וּן מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד אַ֣ךְ אֶל־ אֱ֭לֹהִים דּֽוּמִיָּ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ יְשׁוּעָתִֽי

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.
יְדוּת֗וּן  Jeduthun 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְדוּתוּן 
Sense: a Levite of the family of Merari and the chief of one of the 3 choirs of the temple whose descendants also formed one of the perpetual temple choirs; he is named at the beginning of 3 Psalms (39, 62, 77) either as the composer or the recipient of those Psalms but most likely as the leader of the choir by which those Psalms were to be sung.
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.
אַ֣ךְ  Truly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
אֱ֭לֹהִים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
דּֽוּמִיָּ֣ה  silently  [waits] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: דּוּמִיָּה  
Sense: silence, still, repose, still waiting.
נַפְשִׁ֑י  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.
מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ  from  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
יְשׁוּעָתִֽי  [comes]  my  salvation 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יְשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.