Psalms 38:6

6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.

Psalms 38:6 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 38:6

I am troubled
Discomposed and perplexed in mind; his thoughts were disturbed and irregular, and in the utmost confusion and distress: this trouble was not only on account of the affliction that was upon him, but chiefly because of his sin; and which was increased by the view he had of the displeasure of God, concluding he was come forth against him in wrath and fury;

I am bowed down greatly;
not in his body, at least not in that only, as if he was bowed together by his disorder, that he could not lift himself up; for he is said to walk in the next clause: or rather he bowed down his head as a bulrush voluntarily, and through sorrow and shame could not lift it up before the Lord; though it may chiefly design the pressure of his mind, that his soul was cast down within him, and with all his spiritual reasonings he could not erect himself; it is the Lord that raiseth up those that are bowed down in this sense; see ( Psalms 42:5 Psalms 42:6 Psalms 42:11 ) ( 145:14 ) ;

I go mourning all the day long;
or "I go black", or "in black" F9; meaning either that his skin was black, through the disease upon him, and the trouble that was in him, ( Job 30:30 ) ; or that he was clothed in black garments, as a token of mourning; as white garments were of joy and cheerfulness, ( Ecclesiastes 9:7 Ecclesiastes 9:8 ) ; and he was blacker still in his own apprehension, by reason of inward corruptions and outward transgressions, which appeared in a very black hue, attended with aggravating circumstances; see ( Song of Solomon 1:5 ) ( Psalms 51:7 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (rdwq) "atratus", Montanus, Tigurine version, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 38:6 In-Context

4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
5 My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness;
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.
7 For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.