and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist doesn't just recall where he last encountered God, but the very places that marked his journey away from worship. He remembers God not just abstractly, but within the context of exile and distance, using specific geographical markers of his displacement as the very backdrop for remembering divine presence. This shows that even when physically distant from the sanctuary, God's presence can be recalled and experienced in the midst of our deepest distress.
and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist is in exile, far from the Temple and the presence of God, likely fleeing from Absalom's rebellion. He's wrestling with deep discouragement, but in this moment, he resolves to actively recall God's past faithfulness, even from the geographically distant and rugged regions of his current hiding place. This remembrance is his strategy to combat his overwhelming sadness and reconnect with his hope in God.
Ever felt so far from God that the world seems bleak and empty? This verse captures that raw feeling, even as it points to a way forward.
The psalmist is in a state of deep despair, feeling utterly cast down. This isn't just a bad mood; it's a soul-level anguish. The physical distance from the sanctuary—the place of God's special presence—intensifies this feeling. He's in the 'land of Jordan and of Hermon,' a region far from Jerusalem and the temple. This geographical exile mirrors a spiritual one, where his soul feels abandoned and overwhelmed. The 'hill Mizar,' possibly a 'little hill,' might even serve as a stark contrast to the majestic Mount Zion, emphasizing how far removed he feels from God's favor.
When your spirit is crushed, where do you turn? This verse reveals a powerful, active choice to combat despair through remembrance.
The psalmist doesn't just wallow in his low state. The 'therefore' is crucial: because his soul is cast down, he chooses to remember God. This isn't a passive recalling of facts, but an active turning of his mind and heart towards God's character and past actions. He remembers God from his current, bleak location, using the very landscape of his exile—the Jordan river and the Hermon mountains—as a backdrop for his remembrance. This act of remembering is a deliberate spiritual discipline, a conscious effort to bring God's faithfulness and power to the forefront of his mind, even when his feelings scream the opposite.
Understand the original words
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nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The immaterial aspect of a human being, representing the seat of emotions, will, and the core of personal identity, often used to describe the whole person in relation to God.
shachach · Hebrew Verb
To bring down, humble, or afflict; in a spiritual sense, it refers to the state of being discouraged, overwhelmed, or in despair.
This psalm was likely written during a time of forced displacement, possibly the Babylonian exile or another period of flight. The mention of the Jordan River and Mount Hermon, prominent northern landmarks, suggests the psalmist is far from Jerusalem, perhaps in the northern territories of Israel or even beyond the Jordan River, emphasizing the deep longing for God's presence in the sanctuary.
c. 975 BC
Reign of Solomon Begins
David's son Solomon begins his reign, inheriting a stable kingdom. The Davidic dynasty is firmly established in Jerusalem.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah, leading to political instability and division.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, and its people are exiled, marking a significant disruption for the northern tribes.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins deporting Judeans, including Jehoiachin and many skilled people, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Zedekiah, to Babylon, further weakening Judah.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and leading to a final, larger deportation of Judeans to Babylon. This is a profound crisis for the people's faith and identity.
c. 538 BC— this verse
Edict of Cyrus and Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia allows exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. Many return, but the experience of exile and displacement profoundly shapes their faith and their understanding of God's presence.
Similar to Elijah finding God not in the dramatic, but in the still small voice when he felt utterly alone and dejected, the Psalmist remembers God's presence even in a desolate, unfamiliar landscape.
Jonah 2:7Jonah, like the Psalmist here, remembers God's faithfulness in a time of deep despair and being 'cast down,' finding hope in remembrance even from the depths.
John 12:27Jesus Himself echoes this sentiment of a soul troubled and cast down, expressing a similar internal wrestling and turning to the Father for strength in a moment of intense pressure.
Psalm 137:1This Psalm directly parallels the experience of being in a foreign land (by the rivers of Babylon) and feeling profoundly homesick and dejected, longing for Zion and God's presence.
2 Samuel 17:24The geographical references to the land of Jordan and Hermon point to David's flight during Absalom's rebellion, a historical context where he was physically cast down and separated from the sanctuary.
pulpitPsalms 42:6: "O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar."
Verse 6. - O my God, my soul is cast down within me; or, bowed down, as in the first clause of ver. 5. Therefore will I remember thee. As a remedy for my depression, I will call thee to mind, and cast myself on thee. From the land of Jordan. From the place of my present abode - the Trans-Jordanic region - to which, on the revolt of Absalom,…
poolePsalms 42:6: "O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar."
That I may revive my drooping spirits, I will consider thy infinite mercy, and power, and faithfulness, and thy gracious presence in the sanctuary, from whence thou dost hear and answer all those that call upon thee, in all the parts of the land. From the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar, i.e. from all the places a…
The psalmist doesn't just recall where he last encountered God, but the very places that marked his journey away from worship. He remembers God not just abstractly, but within the context of exile and distance, using specific geographical markers of his displacement as the very backdrop for remembering divine presence. This shows that even when physically distant from the sanctuary, God's presence can be recalled and experienced in the midst of our deepest distress.
The Psalmist is in exile, far from the Temple and the presence of God, likely fleeing from Absalom's rebellion. He's wrestling with deep discouragement, but in this moment, he resolves to actively recall God's past faithfulness, even from the geographically distant and rugged regions of his current hiding place. This remembrance is his strategy to combat his overwhelming sadness and reconnect with his hope in God.
The Psalmist is in exile, far from the Temple and the presence of God, likely fleeing from Absalom's rebellion. He's wrestling with deep discouragement, but in this moment, he resolves to actively recall God's past faithfulness, even from the geographically distant and rugged regions of his current hiding place. This remembrance is his strategy to combat his overwhelming sadness and reconnect with his hope in God.
"and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar." — The psalmist doesn't just recall *where* he last encountered God, but the very *places* that marked his journey away from worship. He remembers God not just abstractly, but within the context of exil…
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Last reviewed October 2026