Psalm 84:2
New International Version
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

New Living Translation
I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the LORD. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.

English Standard Version
My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Berean Standard Bible
My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

King James Bible
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

New King James Version
My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

New American Standard Bible
My soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

NASB 1995
My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

NASB 1977
My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Legacy Standard Bible
My soul has longed and even fainted for the courts of Yahweh; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Amplified Bible
My soul (my life, my inner self) longs for and greatly desires the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Christian Standard Bible
I long and yearn for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I long and yearn for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.

American Standard Version
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of Jehovah; My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God.

Contemporary English Version
Deep in my heart I long for your temple, and with all that I am I sing joyful songs to you.

English Revised Version
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My soul longs and yearns for the LORD's courtyards. My whole body shouts for joy to the living God.

Good News Translation
How I want to be there! I long to be in the LORD's Temple. With my whole being I sing for joy to the living God.

International Standard Version
I desire and long for the Temple courts of the LORD. My heart and body sing for joy to the living God.

Majority Standard Bible
My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

NET Bible
I desperately want to be in the courts of the LORD's temple. My heart and my entire being shout for joy to the living God.

New Heart English Bible
My soul longs, yes, yearns for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Webster's Bible Translation
My soul longeth, and even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

World English Bible
My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
My soul desired, indeed, it has also been consumed, "" For the courts of YHWH, "" My heart and my flesh cry aloud to the living God,

Young's Literal Translation
My soul desired, yea, it hath also been consumed, For the courts of Jehovah, My heart and my flesh cry aloud unto the living God,

Smith's Literal Translation
My soul longed after, and also failed for the enclosures of Jehovah: my heart and my flesh will rejoice for the living God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have exulted in the living God.

New American Bible
My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD. My heart and flesh cry out for the living God.

New Revised Standard Version
My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh give praise for the living God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
My soul has waited and has lusted for the courts of LORD JEHOVAH! My heart and my flesh have praised The Living God!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
My soul yearneth, yea, even pineth for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy unto the living God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My soul longs, and faints for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh have exulted in the living god.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Better is One Day in Your Courts
1For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of Hosts! 2My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.…

Cross References
Psalm 42:1-2
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. 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?

Psalm 63:1
A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. 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.

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Psalm 27:4
One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.

Psalm 73:25
Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.

Isaiah 26:9
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.

Philippians 1:23
I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.

Psalm 143:6
I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah

John 4:23-24
But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. / God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Psalm 119:20
My soul is consumed with longing for Your judgments at all times.

Psalm 130:6
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning—more than watchmen wait for the morning.

2 Corinthians 5:2
For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,

Psalm 61:2
From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 122:1
A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Romans 8:23
Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.


Treasury of Scripture

My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh cries out for the living God.

soul

Psalm 42:1,2
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God…

Psalm 63:1,2
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 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; …

Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

heart

Job 23:3
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

Isaiah 26:9
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Isaiah 64:1
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

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Consumed Courts Crieth Cry Desire Desired Fainteth Faints Flesh Heart House Joy Longs Passion Pineth Sing Soul Soul's Yearned Yearns
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Consumed Courts Crieth Cry Desire Desired Fainteth Faints Flesh Heart House Joy Longs Passion Pineth Sing Soul Soul's Yearned Yearns
Psalm 84
1. The prophet, longing for the communion of the sanctuary
4. Shows how blessed they are that dwell therein
8. He prays to be restored unto it.














My soul longs
The Hebrew word for "soul" is "nephesh," which encompasses the entirety of a person's being, including their desires, emotions, and will. This longing is not a superficial desire but a deep, intrinsic yearning that comes from the core of one's existence. In the context of ancient Israel, the soul's longing for God reflects a profound spiritual hunger and thirst for divine presence and communion, akin to the longing for sustenance and life itself.

even faints
The term "faints" suggests a state of overwhelming desire and desperation. In Hebrew, the word "kalah" can mean to be consumed or to be at the end of one's strength. This expression indicates that the psalmist's longing for God is so intense that it affects his physical and emotional state, demonstrating the depth of his devotion and the vital necessity of God's presence in his life.

for the courts of the LORD
The "courts" refer to the temple courts in Jerusalem, the sacred space where God's presence dwelled among His people. Historically, the temple was the center of Jewish worship and a symbol of God's covenant with Israel. The psalmist's yearning for the courts signifies a desire to be near God, to participate in worship, and to experience the divine presence that was uniquely manifest in the temple.

my heart and my flesh
This phrase emphasizes the totality of the psalmist's being—both his inner self ("heart") and his physical body ("flesh"). In Hebrew thought, the heart is the seat of emotions, thoughts, and intentions, while the flesh represents the physical aspect of human existence. Together, they express a holistic longing for God, indicating that true worship involves both spiritual and physical engagement.

cry out
The Hebrew word "ranan" means to shout for joy or to cry out loudly. This expression conveys an intense, vocal expression of desire and need. It suggests that the psalmist's longing for God is not silent or passive but active and fervent, reflecting a deep-seated passion and urgency in seeking God's presence.

for the living God
The phrase "living God" underscores the dynamic and active nature of God, contrasting with the lifeless idols worshiped by surrounding nations. In the Hebrew context, God is not a distant or abstract deity but a living, personal being who interacts with His creation. The psalmist's cry for the "living God" highlights a desire for a relationship with a God who is real, present, and life-giving, affirming the foundational belief in God's sovereignty and active involvement in the world.

(2) Longeth.--From root meaning to grow pale, expressing one effect of strong emotion--grows pale with longing. So the Latin poets used pallidus to express the effects of passionate love, and generally of any strong emotion:

"Ambitione mala aut argenti pallet amore."

HOR., Sat. ii. 3, 78.

Or we may perhaps compare Shakespeare's

"Sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought."

For a similar fervid expression of desire for communion with God, comp. Psalm 63:1.

Fainteth.--Or more properly, as LXX., faileth.

Courts.--This, too, seems, like tabernacles above, to be used in a general poetical way, so that there is no need to think of the court of the priests as distinguished from that of the people.

The living God.--Comp. Psalm 42:2, the only other place in the Psalms where God is so named. . . .

Verse 2. - My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord. These expressions do not imply that the writer is absent from the temple, but only that his delight in it is never satiated. My heart and my flesh; i.e. my whole nature. Crieth out for the living God; rather, rejoiceth; or "sings out a note of joy" unto the living God. So Hengstenberg, who says, "The verb רִנֵּן is of frequent occurrence in the Psalms, and always signifies to rejoice." Compare the comment of Professor Cheyne.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
My soul
נַפְשִׁי֮ (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

longs,
נִכְסְפָ֬ה (niḵ·sə·p̄āh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3700: To become pale, to pine after, to fear

even
וְגַם־ (wə·ḡam-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

faints,
כָּלְתָ֨ה ׀ (kā·lə·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

for the courts
לְחַצְר֪וֹת (lə·ḥaṣ·rō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet

of the LORD;
יְה֫וָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

my heart
לִבִּ֥י (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

and my flesh
וּבְשָׂרִ֑י (ū·ḇə·śā·rî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

cry out
יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ (yə·ran·nə·nū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7442: To give a ringing cry

for
אֶ֣ל (’el)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the living
חָֽי׃ (ḥāy)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

God.
אֵֽל־ (’êl-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty


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OT Poetry: Psalm 84:2 My soul longs and even faints (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 84:1
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