KJV ORIGINAL
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
I reach out my hands to you: my soul is desperately thirsty for you, like dry ground that desperately needs water. Selah.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is expressing their deep spiritual longing for God, comparing their need for Him to how parched land desperately needs water.
📚 Historical Context
This psalm is attributed to David during a time of great distress, possibly while fleeing from his enemies or his son Absalom. The imagery of stretching out hands was a common posture of prayer and supplication in ancient Israel. The comparison to thirsty land would have been especially meaningful in the arid climate of the Middle East, where drought could mean life or death.
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