Psalms 143:6
Psalms 143:6 in Multiple Translations
I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
I spread forth my hands unto thee: My soul thirsteth after thee, as a weary land. [Selah
My hands are stretched out to you: my soul is turned to you, like a land in need of water. (Selah.)
I stretch out my hands to you, thirsting for you like dried-out land. Selah.
I stretche forth mine hands vnto thee: my soule desireth after thee, as the thirstie land. Selah.
I have spread forth my hands unto Thee, My soul [is] as a weary land for Thee. Selah.
I spread out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah.
I stretch forth my hands to thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Send forth lightning, and thou shalt scatter them: shoot out thy arrows, and thou shalt trouble them.
I lift up my hands/arms to you while I pray; I [SYN] need you, like very dry ground needs rain [SIM]. (Think about that!)
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 143:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 143:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
פֵּרַ֣שְׂתִּי
יָדַ֣/י
אֵלֶ֑י/ךָ
נַפְשִׁ֓/י
כְּ/אֶֽרֶץ
עֲיֵפָ֖ה
לְ/ךָ֣
סֶֽלָה
פֵּרַ֣שְׂתִּי
pâras
H6566
to spread
V-Piel-Perf-1cs
יָדַ֣/י
yâd
H3027
hand
N-cd | Suff
אֵלֶ֑י/ךָ
ʼêl
H413
to(wards)
Prep | Suff
נַפְשִׁ֓/י
nephesh
H5315
soul
N-cs | Suff
כְּ/אֶֽרֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Prep | N-cs
עֲיֵפָ֖ה
ʻâyêph
H5889
faint
Adj
לְ/ךָ֣
Prep | Suff
סֶֽלָה
çelâh
H5542
Selah
Part
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 143:6
פֵּרַ֣שְׂתִּי
pâras
H6566
"to spread"
V-Piel-Perf-1cs
This word means to spread or break something apart, like scattering or stretching out. It is used to describe physical and figurative actions in the Bible.
Definition: 1) to spread, spread out, stretch, break in pieces 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to spread out, display 1a2) to spread over 1b) (Niphal) to be scattered, be spread out 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to spread out 1c1) to scatter
Usage: Occurs in 66 OT verses. KJV: break, chop in pieces, lay open, scatter, spread (abroad, forth, selves, out), stretch (forth, out). See also: Exodus 9:29; Psalms 44:21; Psalms 68:15.
יָדַ֣/י
yâd
H3027
"hand"
N-cd | Suff
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Definition: : hand/arm[anatomy] 1) hand 1a) hand (of man) 1b) strength, power (fig.) 1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.) 1d) (various special, technical senses) 1d1) sign, monument 1d2) part, fractional part, share 1d3) time, repetition 1d4) axle-trees, axle 1d5) stays, support (for laver) 1d6) tenons (in tabernacle) 1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure) 1d8) wrists
Usage: Occurs in 1446 OT verses. KJV: ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. See also: Genesis 3:22; Exodus 7:19; Leviticus 14:22.
אֵלֶ֑י/ךָ
ʼêl
H413
"to(wards)"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
נַפְשִׁ֓/י
nephesh
H5315
"soul"
N-cs | Suff
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Definition: 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain
Usage: Occurs in 683 OT verses. KJV: any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it. See also: Genesis 1:20; Leviticus 26:43; Judges 18:25.
כְּ/אֶֽרֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Prep | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
עֲיֵפָ֖ה
ʻâyêph
H5889
"faint"
Adj
In the Bible, this word means feeling faint or exhausted, like being very thirsty or weary. It is used to describe someone who is drained of energy. This word appears in descriptions of people who are struggling.
Definition: faint, exhausted, weary
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: faint, thirsty, weary. See also: Genesis 25:29; Psalms 63:2; Psalms 143:6.
לְ/ךָ֣
""
Prep | Suff
סֶֽלָה
çelâh
H5542
"Selah"
Part
Selah is a musical term in the Bible that signals a pause or interruption in the music, like a rest in a song, often used in Psalms. It is a technical term that sets a moment for reflection and contemplation, as seen in Psalm 3:2.
Definition: § 1) to lift up, exalt 1a) Selah 1a1) a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: Selah. See also: Psalms 3:3; Psalms 62:5; Psalms 3:5.
Study Notes — Psalms 143:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 143:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 143:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 143:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 143:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 143:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 143:6
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 143:6
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 143:6
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 143:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 143:6
- Sermons on Psalms 143:6
Context — I Stretch Out My Hands to You
4My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I consider the work of Your hands.
6I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah
7Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit. 8Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 63:1 | O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water. |
| 2 | Job 11:13 | As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him, |
| 3 | Psalms 84:2 | My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. |
| 4 | Psalms 88:9 | My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You. |
| 5 | Psalms 42:1–2 | As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence? |
| 6 | Psalms 44:20 | If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, |
| 7 | Isaiah 26:8–9 | Yes, we wait for You, O LORD; we walk in the path of Your judgments. Your name and renown are the desire of our souls. My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. |
| 8 | Isaiah 35:7 | The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus. |
| 9 | John 7:37 | On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. |
Psalms 143:6 Summary
This verse is about reaching out to God in a time of need, with a deep longing in our hearts. The psalmist compares his soul to a parched land, showing just how much he needs God's presence and refreshing. Just like a dry land needs water, our souls need God's living water (as seen in John 4:14) to survive and thrive. By stretching out our hands to God in prayer, we can express our surrender and submission to Him, and trust that He will answer our cries and satisfy our thirst.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to stretch out my hands to God?
This is a physical expression of surrender and submission, similar to what we see in Psalms 88:9, where the psalmist spreads out his hands to God in prayer, seeking His deliverance and mercy.
Why is the soul compared to a parched land?
The comparison highlights the deep longing and desperation of the soul for God, much like a dry and barren land thirsts for water, as seen in Isaiah 44:3, where God promises to pour out water on the thirsty land.
What is the significance of the word 'Selah' at the end of the verse?
The word 'Selah' is a musical notation that indicates a pause or a moment of reflection, inviting the reader to ponder the depth of their longing for God, similar to what we see in Psalms 3:2, where the psalmist expresses his trust in God amidst his troubles.
How can I apply this verse to my own life?
By recognizing your own spiritual dryness and thirst, you can stretch out your hands to God in prayer, seeking His presence and refreshing, just as the psalmist does in Psalms 143:6, and as Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:6, where He promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways you can physically express your surrender to God, like stretching out your hands in prayer?
- How does your soul respond to the idea of being a parched land, and what does that reveal about your spiritual condition?
- What are some things that can cause your soul to become dry and thirsty, and how can you prevent or address those things?
- How can you incorporate moments of reflection and pause, like the 'Selah' in this verse, into your daily life and prayer practice?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 143:6
I stretch forth my hands unto thee,.... In prayer, as the Targum adds; for this is a prayer gesture, 1 Kings 8:38; both hands were stretched forth, earnestly imploring help, and ready to receive and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 143:6
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 143:6
I stretch forth my hands unto thee; I pray to thee fervently. See Poole "". Thirsteth after thee; after thy favour and help. As a thirsty land, to wit, thirsteth for rain.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 143:6
Psalms 143:6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul [thirsteth] after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.Ver. 6. I stretch forth my hands unto thee] As a poor beggar for an alms. Beggary here is not the easiest and poorest trade, but the hardest and richest of all other. My soul thirsteth after thee] And is therefore a fit subject for thy Spirit of grace and comfort to be poured upon, Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 55:1.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 143:6
(6) With the first clause comp. Psalms 44:20. Thirsty land.—See Psalms 63:1, which explains this elliptical sentence. As our Lord taught, God is even more ready to send the refreshing spiritual shower than man’s heart to receive it.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 143:6
Verse 6. I stretch forth my hands] This is a natural action. All in distress, or under the influence of eager desire, naturally extend their hands and arms, as if to catch at help and obtain succour. As a thirsty land.] Parched and burned by the sun, longs for rain, so does my thirsty soul for the living God.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 143:6
6. I stretch forth]. R.V. I spread forth. Cp. Psalms 44:20; Psalms 88:9; Lamentations 1:17. my soul thirsteth for thee, as a weary land] ‘Thirsteth’ or some similar verb must be supplied. Cp. Psalms 60:1, from which the words are taken. As the parched land, wearied with long continued drought, longs for refreshing rain, so he longs for a renewal of the old manifestation of God’s goodness. Cp.
Psalms 68:9, note, for rain as an emblem of Divine blessing.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 143:6
I stretch forth my hands unto thee - In prayer. I have nowhere else to go. See Psalms 88:9. My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land - As land in a time of drought “seems” to thirst for rain. See the notes at Psalms 63:1.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 143:6
6. As a thirsty land—A parched land opens in seams and cracks— “poor, poor dumb mouths”—to plead for rain. So David waits in silent, anxious attitude of prayer.
Sermons on Psalms 143:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
How Deep Is Your Digging by Wesley H. Wakefield | In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about Mr. Finney and a little girl who taught him a valuable lesson about revival. The preacher emphasizes that revival is not just abou |
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(Through the Bible) 2 Samuel 1-7 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of resting in God's ability to do His work without the need for excessive promotion or striving. He contrasts the constant ef |
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It's Time to Seek the Lord by Denny Kenaston | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the importance of seeking the Lord in good times. He refers to the story of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 14 as an example of seeking God's bless |
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God's Chosen People Have Forgotten Him by Bob Jones III | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of remembering and acknowledging God in our lives. He warns against becoming complacent and forgetting the source of our bless |
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(The Sermon on the Mount and Prayer - Session 1) - Part 1 by Gerhard Du Toit | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of waiting upon God and seeking His face. They reference the story of David sitting before the Lord and how it can be an encou |
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Sermon on the Mount: Hunger & Thrist for Righteousness by J. Glyn Owen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of hungering and thirsting for righteousness. He highlights that Jesus is the preacher of this sermon and brings good news to |
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Prayer Is Seeking by Wesley Duewel | This sermon emphasizes the importance of moving beyond just asking in prayer to seeking God's answers. It discusses the difference between asking and seeking, highlighting the need |