Psalms 130:1

KJV

¶ A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

A Song {H7892} of degrees {H4609}. Out of the depths {H4615} have I cried {H7121} unto thee, O LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

A song of ascents. By David: ADONAI, I call to you from the depths;

Berean Standard Bible

Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!

American Standard Version

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 130:1, the poignant opening of one of the "Songs of Ascents" and a "Penitential Psalm," immediately immerses the reader in a profound state of spiritual and emotional distress. The psalmist's raw, desperate cry "Out of the depths" articulates a universal human experience of being overwhelmed by suffering, despair, or the burden of sin. Yet, this cry is not one of resignation but an urgent, direct appeal to the covenant-keeping God, the LORD, signifying an underlying, tenacious hope in divine accessibility and mercy, even from the direst of circumstances.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 130 is uniquely positioned within the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), a collection traditionally recited or sung by pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for annual festivals, or by Levites ascending the Temple steps. This particular psalm, often known by its Latin title *De Profundis* ("Out of the Depths"), also holds a significant place as one of the seven "Penitential Psalms" (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), which are characterized by themes of confession, repentance, and an earnest longing for God's mercy and forgiveness. The opening verse establishes a tone of profound distress and urgent prayer, immediately setting the stage for the psalm's central theme: seeking divine intervention from a state of deep spiritual or emotional burden. This initial cry then transitions into a profound meditation on God's steadfast love, abundant redemption, and boundless forgiveness in the subsequent verses, offering a powerful trajectory from despair to hope.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The superscription "A Song of degrees" (KJV) or "A Song of Ascents" (modern translations) grounds this psalm in the ancient Israelite practice of pilgrimage. As worshippers physically ascended towards Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, these psalms served as a spiritual accompaniment, reflecting on their journey, their struggles, and their unwavering hope in God's presence. The metaphorical "depths" could represent a myriad of challenges faced in ancient society—famine, plague, foreign oppression, personal calamity, or, most profoundly, the crushing weight of personal or national sin. The act of crying out to "the LORD" (Yahweh) is deeply significant, underscoring the unique covenant relationship between God and Israel. Yahweh was known as the faithful, personal God who heard the cries of His people and acted on their behalf, a foundational concept deeply embedded in Israel's historical memory, particularly from the Exodus narrative where God heard the groaning of His people in bondage.

* **Key Themes:** This opening verse masterfully introduces several profound themes central to the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully conveys the **universality of human suffering and despair**, portraying a soul overwhelmed by circumstances or the burden of sin, a feeling that resonates deeply across all generations and cultures. Secondly, it underscores the **necessity and efficacy of direct, earnest prayer** to God in times of crisis, emphasizing that even from the most profound "depths," God remains accessible and attentive. This theme is consistently echoed throughout the Psalms, as seen in [Psalm 18:6](/psalms/18-6 "Psalm 18:6 - Calling on the LORD in Distress") where the psalmist declares, "In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple." Finally, the very act of crying out implies an underlying, resilient **hope in God's mercy and forgiveness**, anticipating the psalmist's profound trust in God's redemptive character, a hope that finds its ultimate and explicit expression in verses like [Psalm 130:4](/psalms/130-4 "Psalm 130:4 - With God is Forgiveness"), which proclaims, "But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Depths (Hebrew, _maʻămâq'_):** This plural noun (H4615), derived from the root עָמַק ('amaq), meaning "to be deep," conveys a profound sense of extreme lowness, overwhelming difficulty, or severe distress. It is not merely a physical location but a powerful metaphorical state of being submerged in trouble, despair, or the crushing weight of sin. It evokes vivid imagery of being in a deep pit, a vast, engulfing ocean, or a place of utter hopelessness, from which escape seems utterly impossible without divine intervention.
* **Cried (Hebrew, _qârâʼ'_):** This verb (H7121) signifies a strong, urgent, and often loud call or appeal. It is far from a casual whisper; rather, it represents a desperate shout, indicating intense earnestness, profound urgency, and an overwhelming need for immediate help. It implies a direct, personal, and unreserved address to the one being called upon, reflecting the psalmist's direct and unreserved appeal to God.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** The use of the covenant name of God (H3068), represented by "LORD" in all caps in English translations, is profoundly significant. It emphasizes God's personal, relational, and utterly faithful character. The psalmist is not crying out to a generic or distant deity but to the God who has intimately revealed Himself to Israel, who established a covenant with His people, and who is renowned for His steadfast love, boundless mercy, and unwavering faithfulness in hearing and responding to their cries. This name underscores God's self-existence and eternal nature, providing a firm foundation for the psalmist's desperate plea.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ A Song of degrees.":** This superscription identifies the psalm as one of the "Songs of Ascents" (or "Songs of Degrees"), a collection (Psalms 120-134) likely sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem for annual festivals or by Levites ascending the Temple steps during worship. It immediately places the psalm within a context of spiritual journey and communal worship, suggesting that the intensely personal cry that follows is also representative of a shared, collective experience of seeking God.
* **"Out of the depths":** This powerful and evocative phrase immediately establishes the psalmist's profound state of distress. It is a potent metaphorical expression for being in an overwhelming, desperate, or seemingly inescapable situation. This "depth" can be interpreted as emotional despair, acute physical danger, or, most profoundly in the context of a penitential psalm, the overwhelming burden and guilt of sin that weighs heavily upon the soul. It communicates a visceral feeling of being submerged, trapped, and utterly helpless.
* **"have I cried unto thee, O LORD.":** This concluding clause reveals the psalmist's immediate, decisive, and deeply spiritual response to being in "the depths"—a direct, earnest, and urgent appeal to God. The verb "cried" (Hebrew *qara'*) denotes a desperate, heartfelt shout, signifying intense need and profound reliance. The direct address "unto thee, O LORD" (Yahweh) powerfully highlights the psalmist's confident turning to the covenant God, emphasizing a deeply personal relationship and an unwavering trust in His character, particularly His willingness and supreme ability to hear and deliver from any dire situation, no matter how profound.

#### Literary Devices
The opening verse of Psalm 130 masterfully employs several **literary devices** to convey its profound message and emotional intensity. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, with "the depths" serving as a vivid and powerful image for extreme distress, despair, or the overwhelming burden of sin. This evokes a visceral sense of drowning or being trapped in a deep, dark pit, making the psalmist's predicament immediately relatable and emotionally resonant. The phrase "have I cried unto thee" utilizes **Personification** by attributing the human action of crying out to the soul in distress, highlighting the intensely personal and urgent nature of the prayer. Furthermore, the psalm employs **Apostrophe** by directly addressing "O LORD," signifying an immediate, intimate, and desperate appeal to God, bypassing any intermediaries and emphasizing the directness of the psalmist's plea. The overall structure of the verse, moving from a state of profound despair to an immediate, direct appeal to God, creates a powerful **Contrast** that underscores the psalmist's unwavering faith in God's accessibility and willingness to hear, even from the most seemingly hopeless situations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 130:1 serves as a foundational declaration of human desperation and divine accessibility, echoing a consistent biblical theme: that God hears the cries of His people, especially those who call upon Him from a place of deep need or profound repentance. This verse sets the stage for the psalm's profound exploration of God's steadfast love and forgiveness, asserting that no depth of sin or suffering can separate a contrite heart from the reach of His mercy. It underscores that true hope in despair is found not in self-reliance or worldly solutions, but in direct, honest appeal to the sovereign, covenant-keeping God, who alone possesses the power to deliver and forgive. It is a testament to the divine attribute of being a God who is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

* [Jonah 2:2](/jonah/2-2 "Jonah 2:2 - Jonah's Prayer from the Depths")
* [Psalm 18:6](/psalms/18-6 "Psalm 18:6 - The Lord Hears My Cry")
* [Lamentations 3:55-57](/lamentations/3-55-57 "Lamentations 3:55-57 - Crying from the Deep Pit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 130:1 offers profound comfort and timeless guidance for navigating the "depths" of life, whether they manifest as moments of acute suffering, overwhelming anxiety, or the heavy burden of sin and guilt. It powerfully reminds us that our spiritual journey is often marked by seasons of profound distress, but these are precisely the moments when our cries to God become most fervent and our reliance upon Him most absolute. The psalmist's immediate turning to the LORD, without hesitation or attempt to self-rescue, models a radical dependence that is both humbling and profoundly empowering. This verse encourages us to cultivate a posture of raw honesty before God, acknowledging our helplessness and despair, knowing with certainty that He is not distant or indifferent but intimately present and ever-ready to hear. It fosters a deep, abiding trust in God's character, assuring us that even when we feel utterly submerged by life's challenges, His ears are open to our pleas, and His mighty hand is extended to lift us out.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "depths" are you currently experiencing in your life, and how does this verse speak directly to your situation?**
* **How does the psalmist's immediate, desperate cry to the LORD challenge or affirm your own approach to prayer in times of profound distress?**
* **In what ways does acknowledging your helplessness and vulnerability before God paradoxically strengthen your hope and deepen your faith?**

### FAQ
**What does "A Song of degrees" mean?**

Answer: "A Song of degrees" (KJV) or "A Song of Ascents" (most modern translations) refers to a distinct collection of fifteen psalms (Psalms 120-134). Scholars widely believe these psalms were sung by Jewish pilgrims as they "ascended" to Jerusalem for the three annual pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles). The "ascent" could be literal, as Jerusalem is geographically situated on a hill, requiring an upward journey, or metaphorical, representing a spiritual journey towards God's holy presence at the Temple. These psalms often share common themes of journey, longing for God's presence, communal solidarity, and unwavering trust in divine protection, providing spiritual encouragement for those on their way to worship.

**Why is Psalm 130 considered a "Penitential Psalm"?**

Answer: Psalm 130 is one of the seven "Penitential Psalms" (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), a grouping identified by early Christian tradition due to their strong and pervasive themes of confession, repentance, and fervent pleas for God's mercy and forgiveness of sin. While Psalm 130:1 begins with a general cry "Out of the depths," the subsequent verses quickly reveal that the psalmist's primary "depth" is the overwhelming burden of sin and the profound longing for God's forgiveness. For instance, [Psalm 130:3-4](/psalms/130-3-4 "Psalm 130:3-4 - Forgiveness with God") explicitly states, "If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." This profound focus on divine pardon and the contrite heart makes it a quintessential psalm of repentance and hope in God's abounding grace.

**Is "the depths" only about sin, or can it refer to other kinds of distress?**

Answer: While Psalm 130 is indeed a Penitential Psalm and the "depths" certainly encompass the burden of sin and guilt, the imagery employed in the opening verse is broad enough to include other forms of profound distress. The "depths" can metaphorically represent any overwhelming situation: deep sorrow, severe physical illness, intense emotional despair, persecution, or seemingly inescapable danger. The psalmist's initial cry is a universal human experience of being at one's absolute limit, feeling submerged by life's overwhelming challenges. However, the subsequent verses of Psalm 130 clearly pivot to the theme of sin and forgiveness, suggesting that for this particular psalm, the spiritual "depths" of guilt and the desperate need for divine pardon are paramount. Nevertheless, the initial cry resonates with anyone feeling submerged by life's overwhelming challenges, inviting them to turn to the LORD as their ultimate source of rescue, just as [Jonah cried from the belly of the fish](/jonah/2-2 "Jonah 2:2 - Jonah's Prayer from the Belly of the Fish").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 130:1, with its raw, desperate cry "Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who uniquely descended into the deepest "depths" of human suffering and sin to bring about salvation. While the psalmist cries *from* the depths of personal distress, Christ fully entered *into* the depths—not of His own sin, for He was perfectly sinless, but of humanity's sin, bearing its full, crushing weight on the cross. His agonizing cry on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), profoundly echoes the psalmist's desperate plea, yet it was a cry of perfect obedience and substitutionary atonement. Through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, Jesus conquered the ultimate "depths" of sin, death, and hell, offering the ultimate forgiveness and abundant redemption that the psalmist longed for ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Buried with Christ in Baptism")). Therefore, when believers today cry "out of the depths," they do so not merely to a distant LORD, but to the risen Christ, who has personally experienced the profoundest human anguish and who now intercedes for them at the right hand of God ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Intercession")). He is the Lamb of God who truly takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), offering boundless forgiveness and the glorious promise that no depth, no power, no circumstance can ever separate His redeemed from the unfathomable love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord ([Romans 8:38-39](/romans/8-38-39 "Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 42:7

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Hebrews 5:7

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Psalms 69:14

Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

Psalms 69:15

Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

Jonah 2:2

And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, [and] thou heardest my voice.

Jonah 2:4

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

Psalms 71:20

[Thou], which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.