The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
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Psalm 61 (60):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To thee have I cried from the ends of the earth: when my heart was in anguish, thou hast exalted me on a rock. Thou hast conducted me;

Douay-Rheims · Hebrew numbering, Septuagint numbering in brackets.

מִקְצֵ֤ה הָאָ֨רֶץ ׀ אֵלֶ֣יךָ אֶ֭קְרָא בַּעֲטֹ֣ף לִבִּ֑י בְּצוּר־יָר֖וּם מִמֶּ֣נִּי תַנְחֵֽנִי׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

6 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Augustine of Hippo

5th centuryChurch Father

Thus, there is not merely one, but rather one, for Christ is One, of whom we are all members. What does a solitary voice call out from the farthest reaches of the earth? It cries solely for that inheritance of which it was said to the Son, "Thou shalt claim of Me, and I will give Thee nations for Thy inheritance, and for Thy possession the ends of the earth." This inheritance belongs to Christ, this Body of Christ, this singular Church of Christ, this Unity of which we are a part, calls out from the very ends of the earth. But what was I proclaiming this for? As my heart was troubled, He shall manifest Himself to all nations in immense glory, yet accompanied by deep sorrow.

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Our life in this sojourn cannot be free from trials; our growth comes through these trials, and one cannot truly know oneself without facing them. A person cannot receive a crown unless they conquer, and cannot achieve victory without pursuing the disciplined life, nor can they ascend unless they confront adversities and temptations. Thus, this Man is troubled as He cries out from the farthest corners of the earth, yet He is not abandoned. We, as His Body, are represented by Him in that Body of His, in which He had already died, risen, and ascended to Heaven, assuring that where the Head has gone, the members will surely follow. Hence, He symbolically brought us into Himself when He chose to be tempted by Satan. Now, the Gospel narrates how the Lord Jesus Christ faced temptation from the devil in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:1) Christ was genuinely tempted by the devil. In Christ you faced temptation, for Christ took on flesh for you—salvation from Him for you; you confronted death for Him—life from Him for you; you had reproach for Him—honor from Him for you; thus, from you for Him comes temptation, and from Him for you arises victory. If we have experienced temptation in Him, we triumph over the devil through Him. Upon the Rock Thou hast exalted me. Here we see the voices crying out from the ends of the earth. Let us recall the Gospel: "Upon this Rock I will build My Church." (Matt. 16:18) Thus, She cries out from the farthest reaches of the earth, where He intended to establish His Church on the Rock. But who was made the Rock for the Church to be built upon Him? Listen to Paul proclaiming, "But the Rock was Christ." Therefore, we were built upon Him. This is why the Rock on which we stand (Matt. 7:24) was first battered by winds, floods, and rain when Christ faced temptation from the devil. Observe the solidity upon which He desired to establish you. Our voice is not without purpose; it is heard for we place our trust in great hope: upon the Rock Thou hast exalted me.

Athanasius the Great

4th centuryChurch Father

From the farthest reaches of the earth I cry out to You, as those exiled in Babylon—far removed from Palestine—believed they inhabited the endpoints of the world. You have raised me up upon a rock, demonstrating that my call was promptly answered, as it is written: ‘And I also say unto thee, I say, Behold, I am come’ (Isaiah 58:9). This clearly proclaims the means of salvation, as I am described as being lifted upon a stone, strong and above all malevolent spirits, in Christ, who is referred to as the cornerstone by the blessed Paul. You have guided me.

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

The text identifies the individuals who offer prayers. From the farthest corners of the earth, I cry out to You. Because Babylon was located far from Palestine, those who were taken captive and forced to reside in Babylon felt as though they were at the edge of the world. When my spirit was low, You raised me up and set me on solid ground. I earnestly seek comfort from You, for in my times of illness and mourning over the troubles that beset me, I found Your support and triumphed over my adversaries. You have led me. See v. 4.

Euthymios Zigabenos

11th centuryCommentator

From the farthest reaches of the earth, I cry out to You. In a narrative context, the farthest reaches refer to Babylon, as it was situated on the periphery of the known world at that time. On a deeper level, the farthest reaches can symbolize the worldly concerns that create a barrier between humanity and God. Theodoret explains that since Babylon was far removed from Palestine, the captives residing there perceived themselves as living at the very edge of the earth, thus they cried out from the ends of the universe. Athanasius notes that the phrase "from the ends of the earth" signifies a prayer directed towards the entirety of creation.

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The Nameless Interpreter points out that Ecclesiastes states: Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be quick to utter a word before God: for God is in heaven—woe to you; but you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few (Ecclesiastes 5:1); this implies not a physical distance but a distinction between the uncreated and the created; God is referred to as residing on the mountain—meaning heaven—due to His exalted position, while humanity is placed on the earth, arising from nothingness. When my heart was desolate, You lifted me upon a rock. David likens his trust in God to a rock, noting its steadfastness and elevation: he expresses that whenever he felt discouraged, overwhelmed by sorrow, You, O Lord, raised him up in hope, much like being positioned on a high, solid rock. St. Athanasius adds that every person who loves God and dwells in this earthly life experiences discouragement and sorrow due to the human condition, particularly upon witnessing the countless souls who are lost. In a similar manner, David, observing the aggression and cruelty of demons, fell into despair; thus, he implores the Lord for help to save us from those who commit violence. Through Christ, whom blessed Paul refers to as the Stone, we have risen above the demons.

Irenaeus (Klementjewsky)

18th centuryCommentator

The phrase "the ends of the earth" can be understood as not just the geographical boundaries of the world where David found himself in exile, but also signifies the vast separation between the one who pleads and the One to whom he pleads. The Creator, who receives human cries, resides above the heavens, while the one in desperation resides at the earth's edges, in the very depths, as the Prophet declared, “Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord” (Psalm 129:1). For one in the depths of despair must raise his voice with urgency, longing to be heard by the One who occupies the throne of glory, above the expanse of creation. He who recognizes the immense chasm between his insignificance and the perfection of the Divine cannot communicate in any other manner.

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In times of turmoil, “When my heart was desolate, Thou hast lifted me up upon a rock, and hast guided me.” His reason for calling out to God with fervent hope is grounded in his realization that throughout his trials, mourning, and hopelessness, he was never abandoned by God. The Lord, observing his heart heavy with grief, swiftly provided aid, rescuing him from the depths of affliction and despair and establishing him upon a solid foundation of faith. He continues: “Thou hast been (to me) a pillar of strength against the face of the enemy.” One who places his trust in God reflects on the sufferings endured by Christ, who is our Head, and through this contemplation learns the path to take, the trials to withstand in this life, and the promises awaiting in the next. Such a faithful heart rises assuredly to a pillar of great strength, remaining steadfast not only in evading the arrows aimed by adversaries but also in retaliating against them. David stood secure on that pillar, which led him to proclaim:

Psalter with Commentaries (Cave Monastery in Kiew)

19th centuryCommentator

Ultimately, in Christ, we will sing praises from the depths of our hearts for eternity, celebrating His glory. This psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit through David, is intended to be sung until the end of time; in it, the prophet earnestly calls out to God amidst his trials and offers thanks for divine rescue. This prayer particularly resonates with the Jewish exiles in Babylon and, more significantly, with the faithful, the Church of Christ, as they navigate various hardships, looking towards their heavenly homeland and the eternal peace promised to those who lament. It is essential to conclude our prayers with sincere intent and a pure desire for a righteous life, for it is written: “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). The stone—the Mount of Golgotha—where Christ ascended the cross, signifies the lifting of fallen Adam.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.