Psalms 142:4 Meaning and Explanation
“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist feels utterly alone; no one knows or cares for them.
The Context of Psalms 142:4
The psalmist experiences total isolation from human help.
What Does Psalms 142:4 Mean?
Looking to the right hand—the side of strength and help in biblical symbolism—the psalmist sees emptiness. There is no helper, no ally, no one who 'would know' them in the sense of recognizing their plight or standing with them. Human refuge and human care have all failed in this moment.
This deep loneliness—to be unknown and uncared-for by people—is the psalmist's actual distress. Yet the psalm's movement is clear: if humans cannot be refuge, then God must be. The confession of human failure prepares the way for divine hope.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 142:4
What does Psalms 142:4 mean?
The psalmist feels utterly alone; no one knows or cares for them.
What is the context of Psalms 142:4?
The psalmist experiences total isolation from human help.