Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

Psalms 42:7

Next

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

Deep {H8415} calleth {H7121}{H8802)} unto deep {H8415} at the noise {H6963} of thy waterspouts {H6794}: all thy waves {H4867} and thy billows {H1530} are gone {H5674}{H8804)} over me.

Deep is calling to deep at the thunder of your waterfalls; all your surging rapids and waves are sweeping over me.

Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.

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

Commentary

Context

Psalm 42, often paired with Psalm 43, is a lament of the Sons of Korah, expressing a profound longing for God amidst intense personal distress and the mockery of enemies. The psalmist is separated from the sanctuary and feels forgotten by God, yet continually encourages his soul to hope in God. Verse 7 captures a moment of deep despair, where the psalmist feels utterly overwhelmed by his circumstances, using powerful natural imagery to describe his spiritual and emotional state.

Key Themes

  • Overwhelming Distress: The imagery of "waves and thy billows" vividly portrays a soul submerged in troubles, trials, or despair. It conveys a feeling of being utterly inundated and unable to cope with the successive onslaught of difficulties.
  • God's Sovereignty in Suffering: The phrase "thy waterspouts" and "thy waves and thy billows" indicates that the psalmist recognizes God's ultimate control even over the trials he faces. These are not random occurrences but are permitted or ordained by God, though not necessarily punitive.
  • Profound Spiritual Anguish: "Deep calleth unto deep" suggests an echoing, compounding distress, where one overwhelming problem seems to call forth another, or where the depths of human suffering cry out to the unfathomable depths of God's being or His overwhelming power. It can also imply a sense of being drawn into an abyss of despair.

Linguistic Insights

The word "deep" in Hebrew is tehom (תְּהוֹם), which refers to the primordial abyss, the vast, deep waters (as seen in Genesis 1:2). When "deep calleth unto deep," it evokes a sense of immense, echoing forces, perhaps one great wave of trouble following another, or the profound depths of human sorrow crying out to the profound, mysterious depths of God's nature or His judgments. "Waterspouts" (tsinnor) refers to waterfalls or cataracts, emphasizing the violent, powerful descent of water. The terms "waves" (gallim) and "billows" (mishbareyka) are common biblical metaphors for overwhelming troubles or divine judgment, highlighting the psalmist's feeling of being completely submerged.

Related Scriptures

This imagery resonates with the experience of Jonah, who also cried out from the depths, describing God's waves and billows passing over him. The psalmist's sense of being overwhelmed by "waterspouts" and "billows" echoes similar expressions of profound distress found throughout the Psalms, where the righteous often find themselves in seemingly insurmountable situations, yet ultimately trust in God's deliverance (see Psalm 69:1-2).

Practical Application

Psalm 42:7 offers a profound articulation of human suffering. It assures us that it is permissible to express the full depth of our despair to God. When life's trials feel like "waves and billows" that threaten to drown us, this verse reminds us that God is sovereign over these "waters." Even in our deepest pain, our "deep" can call out to His "deep," acknowledging His vastness and presence even when we feel overwhelmed. It encourages believers to hold onto hope, even when feeling submerged, knowing that God is ultimately in control and will eventually bring deliverance, as the psalmist concludes in Psalm 42:11: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God."

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jonah 2:3 (15 votes)

    For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

  • Psalms 69:14 (10 votes)

    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 (10 votes)

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

  • Psalms 88:7 (9 votes)

    Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted [me] with all thy waves. Selah.

  • Lamentations 3:53 (5 votes)

    They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

  • Lamentations 3:55 (5 votes)

    ¶ I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.

  • Psalms 88:15 (3 votes)

    I [am] afflicted and ready to die from [my] youth up: [while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.