Psalm 42–43 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Psalms 42 and 43 were originally one psalm. They are presented that way in many Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions. A repeated refrain joins them together. Psalm 43 has no superscription. This psalm was divided in two in the traditional Hebrew text probably to achieve a round total of 150 psalms. See the discussion of the numbering of the psalms in the introduction to the book of Psalms.

Psalm 42–43 is a psalm of supplication or lament. It presents all the basic elements of that type of psalm. See the discussion of the types of psalms in the introduction to the book of Psalms.

1. First stanza (42:1–4): Description of troubles and cry for help
2. First refrain (42:5): Statement of trust
3. Second stanza (42:6–10): Description of troubles and cry for help
4. Second refrain (42:11): Statement of trust
5. Third stanza (43:1–4): Petition and vow of praise
6. Third refrain (43:5): Statement of trust

The superscription to this psalm identifies it as a “maskil.” See the discussion of that term in the introduction to Psalms.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Psalm

Why was a Levite worship leader far away from Jerusalem?

This psalm is one of nine psalms attributed to “the sons of Korah,” that is, to the Korahite clan, the descendants of a Levite named Korah. The members of this clan had a special responsibility for leading the Israelites in worship. They played musical instruments and sang in the temple courtyard, and they composed songs. However, some of the later kings of Judah worshiped false gods represented by idols. They tried to suppress the worship of Yahweh. Prophets, worship leaders, and faithful believers in Yahweh often had to flee for their safety. The Korahite who wrote this psalm records that he had gone to the region in the far northeast of the territory of Israel where the Jordan River begins. This territory was contested between Israel and Aram, and at the time when this psalm was written, the Arameans may have controlled the location where the psalmist was. (In 43:1, he asks God to defend him from “a nation not faithful.”) So in this psalm, he laments that he has had to flee from Jerusalem, where he joyfully led the people in worship, probably to foreign territory. But he encourages himself with the memory of those experiences, and he asks God to make it possible for him to return to the temple and worship him there once more.

Translation Issues in This Psalm

Repeated phrases

In 42:10, for poetic effect, the psalmist uses some the same phrases that he uses in 42:3. Similarly for poetic effect, the psalmist uses in 43:2 some of the same phrases that he uses in 42:9. And the refrain in 42:5, 42:11, and 43:5 uses the same phrases in each case. To help your readers appreciate this, we recommend that you represent the same phrases in the same way in your translation.

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

לַ⁠מְנַצֵּ֗חַ

(Some words not found in UHB: to,choirmaster maskil of,the_sons_of Qoraḩ )

The word translated as chief musician likely refers to the person in charge of music for worship. Some languages may have a term for a music leader. See how you translated the term “chief musician” in the superscription to Psalm 4. Alternate translation: [For the leader of worship music] or [For the music director]

Note 2 topic: translate-transliterate

מַשְׂכִּ֥יל

(Some words not found in UHB: to,choirmaster maskil of,the_sons_of Qoraḩ )

The superscription to this psalm identifies it as a maskil. Since the meaning of this word is not certain, you may wish to represent it in its Hebrew form and spell it the way it sounds in your language. See the discussion of that term in the Introduction to Psalms.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לִ⁠בְנֵי־קֹֽרַח

of,the_sons_of Qoraḩ

The psalmist of this psalm belonged to a clan of the tribe of Levi whose members led the Israelites in worship and composed many worship songs. The superscription to this psalm describes them as if they were actual sons or first-generation descendants of Korah, who was a great-grandson of Levi. They were instead later descendants of Korah. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [of the descendants of Korah] or [of the Korahites]