What Does Psalm 42:7 Mean in the King James?

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Psalm 42:7 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The word translated “billows” means breakers: the waters passing over you are named for the force with which they break.

THE MEANING

One depth calls to another, and the answer is a roar. The waters are not distant: their breakers and waves pass over you, giving language to the moment when you are submerged by what surrounds you.

THE ROOT

מִשְׁבָּרֶיךָ

mishbarekha

GROWS FROM

שבר

sh-b-r

to break, shatter

The word for “billows” is built on the root meaning “break.” The image is more than water covering you: these are breakers, named for their breaking force as they pass over you.

ALSO GROWS

shavar: to break or shatter

שָׁבַר

The verb names the force inside a breaker: it breaks as it surges over you.

shever: breakage, fracture

שֶׁבֶר

This related noun carries breaking as a condition, showing that the image holds impact as well as overwhelming height.

THE PATTERN

Overwhelming distress is pictured as water with force enough to break over the one inside it.

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

Psalm 69:1-2 · KJVDeep water and rising floods give distress the force of something that overtakes and submerges.

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

Jonah 2:3 · KJVThe same breakers and waves pass over the speaker, making the psalm’s image recur in Jonah’s words.

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

Mark 4:37 · KJVThe waves become an engulfing force as the vessel fills around those inside it.

THE THREAD

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

Jonah 2:3 · KJV

Both verses use the same Hebrew words for “your breakers” and “your waves,” along with the same verb for “passed over.” Jonah makes the link audible: the breaking waters that overtake the speaker here also overtake Jonah.

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