Psalms 41:3-13

3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.

4 I said, “Have mercy on me, LORD; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

5 My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?”

6 When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.

7 All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying,

8 “A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.”

9 Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned^[a] against me.

10 But may you have mercy on me, LORD; raise me up, that I may repay them.

11 I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.

12 Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.

13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

Psalms 41:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. In this psalm is a prophecy concerning Christ, and concerning Judas Iscariot, as runs part of the title in the Syriac version; and in the Arabic version it is called a prophecy concerning the incarnation, and the salutation of Judas; and certain it is that Psalm 41:9 is to be understood of him, and of his betraying Christ into the hands of his enemies, since it is cited and applied to him by our Lord himself, John 13:18; so that having such a sure rule of interpretation, we may safely venture to explain the whole psalm of Christ, which treats both of his humiliation and exaltation; for it neither agrees with David wholly, nor with Hezekiah, to whom some ascribe it, as Theodoret remarks.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 6:6
• 2. 2 Samuel 13:5; 2 Kings 1:4
• 3. Psalms 6:2; S Psalms 9:13
• 4. S Deuteronomy 32:39
• 5. Psalms 51:4
• 6. S Psalms 38:12
• 7. Psalms 12:2; Psalms 101:7; Matthew 5:11
• 8. Proverbs 26:24
• 9. S Leviticus 19:16
• 10. Psalms 71:10; Psalms 56:5; Psalms 71:10-11
• 11. S 2 Kings 1:4
• 12. S 2 Samuel 15:12; S Job 19:14; Psalms 55:12
• 13. Numbers 30:2; Job 19:19; Psalms 55:20; Psalms 89:34; Matthew 26:23; Luke 22:21; John 13:18*
• 14. ver 4
• 15. Psalms 3:3; Psalms 9:13
• 16. S 2 Samuel 3:39
• 17. S Numbers 14:8; Psalms 147:11
• 18. Psalms 25:2
• 19. S Psalms 25:21
• 20. Psalms 18:35; S Psalms 37:17; Psalms 63:8
• 21. S Job 4:7; Psalms 21:6; Psalms 61:7; Job 36:7
• 22. S Genesis 24:27
• 23. Psalms 72:18
• 24. Psalms 72:19; Psalms 89:52; Psalms 106:48

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "has lifted up his heel"