Psalms
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”
Psalms 42:1
Psalms 42:1 (KJV) speaks to longing, seeking God, and spiritual dryness — words set in Psalms, Israel's songbook of honest prayer. Read it unhurried, and let it become a prayer you return to.
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Verses that sit beside this one
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”
Psalms 63:1“My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.”
Psalms 84:2“I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.”
Psalms 143:6“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
John 7:37“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.”
Psalms 27:4“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
James 4:8
Common questions
What does Psalms 42:1 mean?
In the King James Version, Psalms 42:1 reads: "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." The verse speaks to longing, seeking God, and spiritual dryness. To read it well, take it in the flow of Psalms 42 rather than on its own, and let the words settle slowly — reading it aloud, or turning it into a short prayer, is often what makes its meaning land.
Is Psalms 42:1 in the King James Version?
Yes. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." is Psalms 42:1 in the King James Version (KJV), found in Psalms chapter 42.
What are some related Bible verses to Psalms 42:1?
Verses that sit beside Psalms 42:1 include Psalms 63:1, Psalms 84:2, and Psalms 143:6. Reading them alongside Psalms 42:1 deepens the theme of longing.
How can I pray with Psalms 42:1?
Read Psalms 42:1 slowly, take a breath, and turn it into a short prayer in your own words — thanking God for what it promises, or asking for what it points to. Keep it somewhere you will see it today, and let it be a companion rather than a task to finish.