Psalms 42:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Overwhelming troubles are described in apocalyptic imagery of deep waters and waves consuming the soul.
The Context of Psalms 42:7
The psalmist describes overwhelming troubles through apocalyptic water imagery.
What Does Psalms 42:7 Mean?
The image of deep water calling to deep water—one abyss crying to another—captures a sense of chaos and terror. Waterspouts (the noise of God's water sources) suggest that even creation itself seems to turn against the sufferer. This is not gentle rain but violent, overwhelming force. The waves and billows that pass over suggest drowning, burial, the crushing weight of multiple, cascading sorrows.
The shift to God's waters (your waterspouts, your waves, your billows) is significant: even the tools of God's power feel like instruments of destruction to the speaker. The psalmist does not blame God explicitly, but the language reflects how the overwhelmed person experiences even divine power as hostile. Yet this honest naming of despair will soon give way to trust.
Psalms 42:7 in the Original Language
cataracts (שְׁפָכֵי) — waterspouts or cascades; God's overwhelming power in nature mirrors the soul's turmoil.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 42:7
What does Psalms 42:7 mean?
Overwhelming troubles are described in apocalyptic imagery of deep waters and waves consuming the soul.
What is the context of Psalms 42:7?
The psalmist describes overwhelming troubles through apocalyptic water imagery.