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Psalm 4

Psa. 4:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
<<To the γchief Musician
natsach (Hebrew #5329)
properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); also (as denominative from 5331), to be permanent
KJV usage: excel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.
Pronounce: naw-tsakh'
Origin: a primitive root
on Neginoth
ngiynah (Hebrew #5058)
from 5059; properly, instrumental music; by implication, a stringed instrument; by extension, a poem set to music; specifically, an epigram
KJV usage: stringed instrument, musick, Neginoth (plural), song.
Pronounce: neg-ee-naw'
Origin: or ngiynath (Psa. 61:title) {neg-ee-nath'}
, A Psalm
mizmowr (Hebrew #4210)
properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
KJV usage: psalm.
Pronounce: miz-more'
Origin: from 2167
of David
David (Hebrew #1732)
Daviyd {daw-veed'}; from the same as 1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse
KJV usage: David.
Pronounce: daw-veed'
Origin: rarely (fully)
.>> Hear
`anah (Hebrew #6030)
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extens. to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce
KJV usage: give account, afflict (by mistake for 6031), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for 6031), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, X scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness. See also 1042, 1043.
Pronounce: aw-naw'
Origin: a primitive root
me when I call
qara' (Hebrew #7121)
to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
KJV usage: bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
Pronounce: kaw-raw'
Origin: a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea of accosting a person met)
, O God
'elohiym (Hebrew #430)
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
KJV usage: angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
Pronounce: el-o-heem'
Origin: plural of 433
of my righteousness
tsedeq (Hebrew #6664)
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
KJV usage: X even, (X that which is altogether) just(-ice), ((un-))right(-eous) (cause, -ly, - ness).
Pronounce: tseh'-dek
Origin: from 6663
: thou hast enlarged
rachab (Hebrew #7337)
to broaden (intransitive or transitive, literal or figurative)
KJV usage: be an en-(make) large(-ing), make room, make (open) wide.
Pronounce: raw-khab'
Origin: a primitive root
me when I was in distress
tsar (Hebrew #6862)
from 6887; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble (as in 6864); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding)
KJV usage: adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.
Pronounce: tsar
Origin: or tsar {tsawr}
; ζhave mercy
chanan (Hebrew #2603)
properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)
KJV usage: beseech, X fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very.
Pronounce: khaw-nan'
Origin: a primitive root (compare 2583)
upon me, and hear
shama` (Hebrew #8085)
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
KJV usage: X attentively, call (gather) together, X carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
Pronounce: shaw-mah'
Origin: a primitive root
my prayer
tphillah (Hebrew #8605)
intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn
KJV usage: prayer.
Pronounce: tef-il-law'
Origin: from 6419
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γ
or, overseer,
Hab. 3:19• 19Jehovah the Lord is my strength, (Hab. 3:19)
.
ζ
or, be gracious unto.

More on:

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David,
God,
Mercy,
Music; Musicians; Musical Instruments,
Neginah; Neginoth,
Prayer,
Psalms,
Righteousness

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1:  David prays for audience.
2-5:  He reproves and exhorts his enemies.
6-8:  Man's happiness is in God's favour.
(Title.)
chief Musician.
or, overseer.
Psa. 22:1• 1To the chief musician, upon the hind of the dawn; a Psalm of David.{HR}My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?{HR}Far off from my deliverance, the words of my roaring? (Psa. 22:1)
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Psa. 42:1• 1To the chief musician; Maschil, for the sons of Korah.{HR}As the hart longeth after the brooks of water,{HR}So my soul longeth after thee, Ο God. (Psa. 42:1)
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Psa. 45:1• 1To the chief musician upon Shoshannim; to the sons of Korah, Maschil, a song of loves.{HR}My heart hath overflowed [with] a good matter;{HR}I am declaring my works to the king;{HR}My tongue [is] the pen of a ready writer. (Psa. 45:1)
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Psa. 45•  (Psa. 45)
:*titles;
1 Chron. 25:1‑6• 1Moreover, David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries and with cymbals; and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
 2{i}of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied at the direction of the king.{/i}
 3{i}Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Isaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, and Shimei six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, to give thanks and to praise Jehovah.{/i}
 4{i}Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkijah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth:{/i}
 5{i}all these were sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt his power; and God had given to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.{/i}
 6{i}All these were under the direction of their fathers Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, for song in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, lutes and harps, for the service of the house of God, under the direction of the king.{/i} (1 Chron. 25:1‑6)
Neginoth.
Psa. 6:1• 1To the chief musician on stringed instruments, upon Sheminith;{HR}A Psalm of David.{HR}O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger,{HR}And chasten me not in thy hot displeasure. (Psa. 6:1)
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Psa. 67:1• 1To the chief musician, on Neginoth ; a psalm, a song.{HR}God be gracious to us and bless us;{HR}Cause his face to shine upon us (Selah), (Psa. 67:1)
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Psa. 76:1• 1To the chief musician, on Neginoth; a psalm of Asaph, a song.{HR}God [is] known in Judah,{HR}Great his name in Israel; (Psa. 76:1)
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Psa. 76•  (Psa. 76)
:*titles;
Hab. 3:19• 19Jehovah the Lord is my strength, (Hab. 3:19)
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Hab. 3•  (Hab. 3)
:*marg:
O.
Psa. 11:7• 7For righteous [is] Jehovah; he loveth righteousness;{HR}His face beholdeth the upright. (Psa. 11:7)
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Psa. 24:5• 5He shall receive a blessing from Jehovah{HR}And righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psa. 24:5)
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Psa. 41:12• 12And as for me, thou hast upheld me in mine integrity{HR}And thou settest me before thy face forever. (Psa. 41:12)
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Isa. 45:24• 24Only in Jehovah, shall [one] say, have I righteousness and strength: to him shall [men] come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. (Isa. 45:24)
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Jer. 23:6• 6In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jer. 23:6)
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1 Cor. 1:30• 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made wisdom to us from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; (1 Cor. 1:30)
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2 Cor. 5:20‑21• 20For Christ then we are ambassadors, God as it were beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God:
 21him that knew not sin he made sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him. (2 Cor. 5:20‑21)
thou.
Psa. 18:18‑19• 18They fell upon me in the day of my trouble;{HR}But Jehovah was for a stay to me.
 19And he bringeth me forth into the wide place;{HR}He delivereth me because he delighted in me. (Psa. 18:18‑19)
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Psa. 31:8• 8And thou hast not delivered me up into the hand of the enemy;{HR}Thou hast made my feet to stand in the wide place. (Psa. 31:8)
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Psa. 40:1‑3• 1To the chief musician; a psalm of David.{HR}Waiting I waited for Jehovah,{HR}And he inclined unto me and heard my cry.
 2And he brought me up from a pit of noise,{HR}From the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock;{HR}He fixed my steps.
 3And he put in my mouth a new song, praise to our God:{HR}Many shall {i}see{/i} and fear, and trust in Jehovah. (Psa. 40:1‑3)
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Psa. 116:6,16• 6Jehovah keepeth the simple:{HR}I was brought low, and he saved me.
 16Yea, O Jehovah, for I [am] thy servant.{HR}I [am] thy servant, son of thy handmaid:{HR}Thou hast loosed my bonds. (Psa. 116:6,16)
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1 Sam. 17:37• 37{i}And David said,{/i} Jehovah that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Jehovah be with thee. (1 Sam. 17:37)
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1 Sam. 19:11‑12• 11And Saul sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning! and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain.
 12So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. (1 Sam. 19:11‑12)
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1 Sam. 23:26‑28• 26And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
 27{i}But there came a messenger to Saul, saying{/i}, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
 28{i}And Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.{/i} (1 Sam. 23:26‑28)
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Job 36:16• 16And thee, too, he lureth out of the jaws of distress,{HR}A wide place, on the site of which [is] no straitness,{HR}And the setting of thy table fullness of fatness. (Job 36:16)
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2 Cor. 1:8,10• 8For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, as to our tribulation that came to pass d in Asia, that we were excessively pressed beyond power, so as for us to despair even of our living.
 10who delivered us from so great a death, and doth e deliver, in whom we have hope that he will also yet deliver, (2 Cor. 1:8,10)
have mercy upon me.
or, be gracious unto me.
Psa. 56:1• 1To the chief musician, as the silent dove of the distant, of David, Michtam ; when the Philistines took him in Gath.{HR}Be gracious unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up;{HR}All the day fighting he oppresseth me. (Psa. 56:1)
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Psa. 57:1• 1To the chief musician; Al-tascheth , of David, Michtam, on his fleeing from Saul in the cave.{HR}Be gracious unto me, O God, be gracious unto me;{HR}For my soul [is] trusting in thee;{HR}And in the shadow of thy wings will I trust until mischiefs shall pass. (Psa. 57:1)
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Psa. 86:3‑5• 3Be gracious to me, O Lord,{HR}For unto thee do I call all the day.
 4Gladden the soul of thy servant,{HR}For unto thee, Lord, do I lift up my soul.
 5For thou, Lord, [art] good and forgiving,{HR}And great in mercy to all that call on thee. (Psa. 86:3‑5)
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Psa. 119:75‑77,132• 75I know, Jehovah, that thy judgments [are] righteousness,{HR}And [in] faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.
 76Let, I pray, thy mercy be for my comfort{HR}According to thy saying to thy servant.
 77Let thy compassions come to me, and I shall live;{HR}For thy law [is] my delights.
 132Turn unto me and be gracious to me,{HR}As thou art wont to lovers of thy name. (Psa. 119:75‑77,132)
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Psa. 143:2• 2And enter not into judgment with thy servant,{HR}For none living shall be just in thy presence. (Psa. 143:2)
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Ex. 34:6‑7• 6{i}And Jehovah passed by before his face, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodness and truth,{/i}
 7{i}keeping mercy unto thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but by no means clearing the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.{/i} (Ex. 34:6‑7)
• Book 1, Series 1. The beginning of sorrows. (““The Placement of the Psalms in Prophecy”” by B. Anstey)
• The fourth Psalm affords us another most important principle, the effect of a good conscience in calling upon God in our distress. (“Practical Reflections on the Psalms: Psalms 1-4” by J.N. Darby)
• The soul is in trouble, yet had been enlarged, had had experience of God's faithful lovingkindness. His glory and honor was from God. How true this was of Christ! (“Practical Reflections on the Psalms: Psalms 1-4” by J.N. Darby)
• We are a peculiar people to Himself. Now this is always true, but in walking in godliness we have the present confidence of it, and our eye sees God brightly, and we know then He will hear us. (“Scripture Imagery: 66. Israel As Illustrating the Principles of Divine Service” by J.C. Bayley)
• Confidence in God, in the presence of enemies, flowing from the consciousness of integrity, and the experience of God’s mercy in former troubles. (“Psalm 4” by H. Smith)
• Moreover his confidence in God flows from the knowledge of God’s mercy proved in former trials. Experience had taught the psalmist that seasons of pressure had been occasions of soul-enlargement. (“Psalm 4” by H. Smith)

J. N. Darby Translation

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To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. When I callb, answer me, O God of my righteousness: in pressure thou hast enlarged me; be gracious unto me, and hear my prayer.

JND Translation Notes

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b
It is abstract, "in my calling." so ver. 3.

W. Kelly Translation

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To the chief musician upon stringed instruments:{HR}A Psalm of David.{HR}When I call, answer thou me,{HR}O God of my righteousness;{HR}In adversity thou hast made room for me:{HR}Be merciful to me and hear my prayer.