Psalm 42:3

Translations

Modern

My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Traditional

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

Literal

My tears have been to me as bread, day and night, in the saying to me all the day, “Where is your God?”

Latin

Fuerunt mihi lacrimæ meæ panes die ac nocte, dum dicitur mihi quotidie: Ubi est Deus tuus?

Original

Hebrew

English

My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Notes

Psalms 42:3

Crying so much that tears become food shows deep sadness (Psalms 80:5; 102:9; see 6:6; 56:8; 119:136; 126:5).
The wicked try to impose their timing on God and deny his power to intervene.

Psalms 42:1–4

The psalmist's deep desire for God arises from being far away from the temple as he remembers the past.
The verb translated as "longs" appears only here and in Joel 1:20 (meaning "cry out"). In both instances, it describes extreme thirst in a dry desert (see Psalms 63:1; 143:6; see also 84:2).

Psalms 42:1–43:5

These psalms, like Psalms 9 and 10, form a unit with a lament and a bittersweet refrain of hope (Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5). Many Hebrew manuscripts combine these two psalms into one.

The historical context is unclear; these psalms might represent God's people in exile, expressing loyalty to God while he punishes them for their ongoing disobedience.

The psalmist longs for the fellowship with God he had in Jerusalem (Psalm 42:4); his memories only deepen his discouragement. As the psalmist cries out to God, he remembers God's love and faithfulness (Psalm 42:8), which leads him to ask for vindication (43:1–4).

Theme notes and profiles

God’s Presence in the Psalms Questions and Doubt

Related verses

Psalm 79:10
Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.
Psalm 115:2
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Joel 2:17
Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
Psalm 42:10
Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Psalm 80:5
You fed them with the bread of tears and made them drink the full measure of their tears.
Psalm 102:9
For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears
Micah 7:10
Then my enemy will see and will be covered with shame—she who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will see her; at that time she will be trampled like mud in the streets.
Psalm 79:12
Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.
2 Samuel 16:12
Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”
Psalm 3:2
Many say of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah
Psalm 22:8
“He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

Glossary

David Korahite, Korathite Music Numbers, Book of Psalms, Book of

Topics

Desire: Spiritual Infidelity: General Scriptures Concerning Persecution of the Righteous Scoffing: General Scriptures Concerning Seekers: General Scriptures Concerning Tears: General Scriptures Concerning Thirst: Figurative of the Ardent Desire of the Devout Mind

Psalm 42:3

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