To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

PSALMS 60:1KJV
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Psalms 60:1 (KJV)

What does Psalms 60:1 mean?

Psalms 60:1 opens with a community speaking to God after a severe setback. The people understand their trouble as a sign of God’s displeasure, and they ask him to turn back toward them. The prayer speaks for a group, using “us” rather than “me.”

The words “cast us off” and “scattered us” picture a people driven apart and left vulnerable. The heading places the song in the time of David’s struggles with Aram and Joab’s victory over Edom, giving the prayer a setting of war.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 60:1

  • “Michtam” — מִכְתָּם (mikhtam): This is a title found in several psalm headings. Its precise meaning is uncertain, so the KJV leaves it as a name rather than translating it.
  • “scattered” — פָּרַץ (parats): This word can carry the sense of breaking through or breaking apart. Here, the KJV uses “scattered” to describe the people’s disrupted condition.
  • “again” — שׁוּב (shuv): This word often means to turn or return. In the request “turn thyself to us again,” it expresses a plea for God to renew his attention toward the people.

Why Psalms 60:1 matters

  • The heading gives the song a teaching purpose as well as a musical setting. It is addressed “to the chief Musician” and marked “to teach.”
  • The verse holds military success and distress close together. The heading reports that Joab struck twelve thousand in Edom, while the prayer begins with a complaint about the people’s own troubles.
  • The community addresses its complaint directly to God. “Thou hast been displeased” leads into the request “O turn thyself to us again.”

Where else these words appear

“Shushaneduth” Hebrew H7802 · used in 2 verses

  • Psalms 80:1 To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

“Michtam” Hebrew H4387 · used in 6 verses

  • Psalms 16:1 Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
  • Psalms 56:1 To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
  • Psalms 58:1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

“Aramnaharaim” Hebrew H763 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 24:10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
  • Deuteronomy 23:4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
  • Judges 3:10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

“strove” Hebrew H5327 · used in 10 verses

  • Exodus 2:13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
  • Numbers 26:9 And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:
  • 2 Kings 19:25 Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.