The Psalmist says "therefore I remember you," but the original Hebrew implies a more active “I will remember you." This isn't just a passive thought that pops into his head; it's a deliberate choice to focus on God as a strategy to combat his deep despair. He actively pulls God to mind as the antidote to his soul being cast down.
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. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is exiled and deeply distressed, longing for the presence of God in the temple. He describes his current location in the remote northern lands near the Jordan River and Mount Hermon. This desolate setting fuels his sorrow, but he resolves to remember God amidst his suffering.
Feeling overwhelmed and defeated? This verse reveals a powerful strategy to fight back when your soul is down.
The Psalmist is deep in sorrow. His soul feels 'cast down,' a profound sense of being overwhelmed and defeated. It's a raw, honest expression of pain. Yet, in the midst of this despair, he declares, 'therefore I remember you.' This isn't a passive wish; it's an active choice. When everything else seems lost, remembering God becomes the direct antidote to spiritual dejection. It's a deliberate act of turning his focus from his circumstances to the unchanging character and presence of God.
Ever feel like you can only connect with God in 'special' places? This verse reminds us God is present everywhere.
The Psalmist situates his remembrance of God in specific geographical locations: 'the land of Jordan,' 'of Hermon,' and 'Mount Mizar.' These are not places of worship like the temple; they are locations of exile and hardship. The Jordan River marks a border, and the Hermon mountain range is vast and imposing, possibly even a place of danger or remoteness. 'Mount Mizar,' meaning 'little hill,' might even be a contrast to grander mountains, suggesting a humble or insignificant place. The point isn't the specific location, but that God can be remembered and encountered from any place, even the furthest reaches of exile. His presence isn't confined to sacred spaces; it extends to wherever we are, no matter how dire.
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 vividly captures the anguish of exile and the longing for God's presence during a time of intense personal crisis, likely David's flight from his rebellious son Absalom.
c. 1000-950 BC
David's Reign as King of Israel
David ruled as king over the united Israel, a time marked by both significant triumphs and personal struggles.
c. 992 BC
Absalom's Rebellion Begins
Absalom, David's son, begins a rebellion aiming to usurp the throne, leading to a civil war and David's flight from Jerusalem.
c. 992 BC— this verse
David Flees Jerusalem
David and his loyal followers are forced to abandon Jerusalem and flee eastward across the Jordan River to escape Absalom's forces.
c. 992 BC
David in Transjordan
David sojourns in the region east of the Jordan River, near Mount Hermon, a period of deep distress and remembrance of God.
c. 991 BC
Absalom's Defeat and Death
Absalom's rebellion is crushed, and he is killed, leading to the eventual restoration of David to his throne.
This passage echoes the psalmist's deep distress and turning to God in remembrance even from a place of being 'cast down', similar to Jonah's experience in the depths of the sea.
2 Samuel 17:24This verse provides the historical context for David's flight beyond the Jordan, which directly relates to the geographical locations mentioned in Psalm 42:6, highlighting his exile and longing for God's presence.
Psalm 84:1-4This psalm expresses a similar deep yearning for God's presence in the sanctuary, contrasting the joy of being in God's house with the sorrow of being far from it, mirroring the sentiment in Psalm 42:6.
John 12:27Jesus uses language reminiscent of intense inner turmoil ('Now my soul is troubled'), showing that even divine figures experience profound emotional distress, validating the raw human emotion expressed in Psalm 42:6.
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 says "therefore I remember you," but the original Hebrew implies a more active “I will remember you." This isn't just a passive thought that pops into his head; it's a deliberate choice to focus on God as a strategy to combat his deep despair. He actively pulls God to mind as the antidote to his soul being cast down.
David is exiled and deeply distressed, longing for the presence of God in the temple. He describes his current location in the remote northern lands near the Jordan River and Mount Hermon. This desolate setting fuels his sorrow, but he resolves to remember God amidst his suffering.
David is exiled and deeply distressed, longing for the presence of God in the temple. He describes his current location in the remote northern lands near the Jordan River and Mount Hermon. This desolate setting fuels his sorrow, but he resolves to remember God amidst his suffering.
"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. Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breaker…" — The Psalmist says "therefore I remember you," but the original Hebrew implies a more active “I *will* remember you." This isn't just a passive thought that pops into his head; it's a deliberate choic…
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Last reviewed October 2026