Psalms 102:4
Psalms 102:4 in Multiple Translations
My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; For I forget to eat my bread.
My heart is broken; it has become dry and dead like grass, so that I give no thought to food.
I'm like grass that's dried up, withered away—I even forget to eat!
Mine heart is smitten and withereth like grasse, because I forgate to eate my bread.
Smitten as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.
My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion.
I feel like I am drying up like grass [SIM] that has been beaten/trampled down, and I no longer have a desire to eat food.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 102:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 102:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כִּֽי
כָל֣וּ
בְ/עָשָׁ֣ן
יָמָ֑/י
וְ֝/עַצְמוֹתַ֗/י
כְּ/מוֹ
קֵ֥ד
נִחָֽרוּ
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
כָל֣וּ
kâlâh
H3615
to end
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
בְ/עָשָׁ֣ן
ʻâshân
H6227
smoke
Prep | N-ms
יָמָ֑/י
yôwm
H3117
day
N-mp | Suff
וְ֝/עַצְמוֹתַ֗/י
ʻetsem
H6106
bone
Conj | N-fp | Suff
כְּ/מוֹ
kᵉmôw
H3644
like
Prep | Pron
קֵ֥ד
môwqêd
H4168
burning
N-ms
נִחָֽרוּ
chârar
H2787
to scorch
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 102:4
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
כָל֣וּ
kâlâh
H3615
"to end"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
This Hebrew word means to finish or end something, like completing a task or using up a resource, as seen in Genesis 2:2 where God finished creating the heavens and earth.
Definition: : finish 1) to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be complete, be at an end 1a2) to be completed, be finished 1a3) to be accomplished, be fulfilled 1a4) to be determined, be plotted (bad sense) 1a5) to be spent, be used up 1a6) to waste away, be exhausted, fail 1a7) to come to an end, vanish, perish, be destroyed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to complete, bring to an end, finish 1b2) to complete (a period of time) 1b3) to finish (doing a thing) 1b4) to make an end, end 1b5) to accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass 1b6) to accomplish, determine (in thought) 1b7) to put an end to, cause to cease 1b8) to cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend 1b9) to destroy, exterminate 1c) (Pual) to be finished, be ended, be completed
Usage: Occurs in 199 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine, destroy (utterly), be (when... were) done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, [idiom] fully, [idiom] have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste. See also: Genesis 2:1; 2 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 18:38.
בְ/עָשָׁ֣ן
ʻâshân
H6227
"smoke"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for smoke, whether literal or figurative, is used throughout the Bible. In Exodus, God appears to Moses in a cloud of smoke, while in other places it represents God's anger or judgment. Smoke can also symbolize prayer rising to God.
Definition: 1) smoke 1a) smoke 1b) in metaphor, simile 1c) smoke (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: smoke(-ing). See also: Genesis 15:17; Proverbs 10:26; Psalms 18:9.
יָמָ֑/י
yôwm
H3117
"day"
N-mp | Suff
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
וְ֝/עַצְמוֹתַ֗/י
ʻetsem
H6106
"bone"
Conj | N-fp | Suff
In the original Hebrew, this word refers to a bone or the body, and can also mean the substance or essence of something. It is used in many parts of the Bible, including in the book of Genesis and Psalms, to describe the physical body.
Definition: : bone/limb 1) bone, essence, substance 1a) bone 1a1) body, limbs, members, external body 1b) bone (of animal) 1c) substance, self
Usage: Occurs in 108 OT verses. KJV: body, bone, [idiom] life, (self-) same, strength, [idiom] very. See also: Genesis 2:23; Job 33:19; Psalms 6:3.
כְּ/מוֹ
kᵉmôw
H3644
"like"
Prep | Pron
This word means like or as, used to compare things. It appears in the Bible to describe similarities or to make comparisons, such as in the book of Psalms.
Definition: adv 1) like, as, the like of which conj 2) when, according as, as it were
Usage: Occurs in 126 OT verses. KJV: according to, (such) as (it were, well as), in comparison of, like (as, to, unto), thus, when, worth. See also: Genesis 19:15; Job 40:17; Psalms 29:6.
קֵ֥ד
môwqêd
H4168
"burning"
N-ms
This word refers to a large fire or a burning mass of material. It can also mean a fireplace or hearth, like in Genesis 22:7.
Definition: a burning mass, burning, hearth
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: burning, hearth. See also: Psalms 102:4; Isaiah 33:14.
נִחָֽרוּ
chârar
H2787
"to scorch"
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp
To scorch means to burn or dry up something, like a plant in the desert. In the Bible, this word can also mean to be angry or passionate, like in Psalm 69:9 where it describes a strong emotion.
Definition: 1) to burn, be hot, be scorched, be charred 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be hot, be scorched 1a2) to burn, be burned 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be scorched, be burned 1b2) to burn 1b3) to be dry, be angry 1c) (Pilpel) to cause to burn Aramaic equivalent: cha.rakh (חֲרַךְ "to singe" H2761)
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: be angry, burn, dry, kindle. See also: Job 30:30; Isaiah 24:6; Psalms 69:4.
Study Notes — Psalms 102:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 102:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 102:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 102:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 102:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 102:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 102:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 102:4
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 102:4
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 102:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 102:4
- Sermons on Psalms 102:4
Context — The Prayer of the Afflicted
2Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.
3For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
4My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
5Through my loud groaning my skin hangs on my bones. 6I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 40:7 | The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. |
| 2 | Psalms 37:2 | For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. |
| 3 | Psalms 77:3 | I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint. Selah |
| 4 | Ezra 10:6 | Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. |
| 5 | Psalms 102:11 | My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass. |
| 6 | 2 Samuel 12:17 | The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. |
| 7 | 1 Samuel 1:7–8 | And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat. “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” |
| 8 | Psalms 55:4–5 | My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me. |
| 9 | Psalms 69:20 | Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one. |
| 10 | Matthew 26:37–38 | He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” |
Psalms 102:4 Summary
[This verse, Psalms 102:4, describes a moment of deep sorrow and trouble, where the person's heart feels troubled and weak, like grass that has dried up and lost its beauty. The comparison to withered grass shows just how deeply affected the psalmist is, and forgetting to eat is a sign of how much distress they are in, similar to times of great sorrow described in Lamentations 3:17-18. In such moments, it's a reminder that God is near to the brokenhearted, as seen in Psalms 34:18, and that He can bring comfort and peace, as promised in Matthew 11:28-30.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the heart to be 'afflicted' in Psalms 102:4?
In this context, 'afflicted' means deeply troubled or distressed, as seen in other scriptures like Psalms 119:67, where the psalmist talks about being afflicted before being comforted by God's Word.
Why does the psalmist compare their heart to 'withered like grass'?
The comparison to withered grass, as in Psalms 102:4, signifies a loss of vitality and strength, much like how grass withers and loses its beauty and function when it lacks water, illustrating the psalmist's emotional and spiritual state.
What does forgetting to eat bread signify in this verse?
Forgetting to eat bread, as mentioned in Psalms 102:4, indicates a level of distress so severe that it affects the most basic needs and routines of life, similar to how Daniel 6:18-20 describes the king's distress affecting his appetite and sleep.
How does this verse relate to other expressions of sorrow in the Bible?
This expression of sorrow is reminiscent of Job 30:31, where Job's harp is turned to mourning, and his pipe to the sound of those who weep, showing that the Bible frequently expresses deep emotional pain and sorrow in the face of suffering and hardship.
Reflection Questions
- What are the times in my life when I felt my heart was 'afflicted' and 'withered like grass', and how did I seek comfort?
- How do I prioritize my relationship with God when I am going through a difficult time, and what scriptures can I turn to for comfort?
- In what ways can I, like the psalmist, express my deepest emotions and troubles to God, and what can I learn from his example of honesty before God?
- What are the 'basic needs' in my life that I often take for granted, and how can I use times of distress to re-evaluate my priorities and seek God's perspective?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 102:4
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass,.... Like grass in the summer solstice (d), which being smitten with the heat of the sun, or by some blast of thunder and lightning, is dried up, and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 102:4
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. My heart - the seat of vital power.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 102:4
Like grass; which is smitten and withered by the heat of the sun, either whilst it stands, or after it is cut down. I forget to eat my bread, because my mind is wholly swallowed up with the contemplation of my own miseries.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 102:4
Psalms 102:4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.Ver. 4. My heart is smitten] Blasted with thine indignation, that ventus urens et exsiccans. So that I forget to eat my bread] I am stomachless, through want of that heat that my heart should supply.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 102:4
(4) Smitten.—As by the sun. Exactly as in Hosea 9:16. So that I forget.—Better, for I have forgotten, &c. For this mark of deep sorrow comp. 1 Samuel 1:7; 1 Samuel 20:34, &c. (Comp. Homer, Iliad, xxiv. 129.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 102:4
Verse 4. My heart is smitten, and withered like grass] The metaphor here is taken from grass cut down in the meadow. It is first smitten with the scythe, and then withered by the sun. Thus the Jews were smitten with the judgments of God; and they are now withered under the fire of the Chaldeans.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 102:4
4. My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; Yea, I forget to eat my bread. His heart, the centre of vital force and vigour, is dried up like a plant struck by the fierce heat of the sun and withered (Psalms 121:6; Hosea 9:16). Sorrow and sickness have deprived him of all appetite for food. Cp. 1 Samuel 1:7-8; Job 33:20.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 102:4
My heart is smitten - Broken; crushed with grief. We now speak of “a broken heart.” Even death is often caused by such excessive sorrow as to crush and break the heart.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 102:4
4. My heart is smitten, and withered like grass—The word here translated “smitten,” in Psalms 121:6, denotes a sunstroke.
Sermons on Psalms 102:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Spirit in Creation by G. Campbell Morgan | G. Campbell Morgan explores the profound role of the Holy Spirit in creation, emphasizing that His generative work is often overlooked compared to His regenerative role. He illustr |
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1 Corinthians 12:1-2 by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches about the importance of understanding spiritual gifts and the manifestation of the Spirit, emphasizing the diversity of gifts given by the same Spirit for |
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The Glorious Opposites by Teresa Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about his son going skydiving and the intense emotions he experienced during the jump. He relates this to the need for believers |
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The Christian in Complete Armour - Part 12 by William Gurnall | William Gurnall emphasizes the necessity of faith as a shield for Christians to quench the fiery darts of the wicked, which represent the temptations and attacks from the enemy. He |
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The Illogic of Complaining by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer addresses the detrimental effects of complaining on the soul and the Christian testimony, emphasizing that this sin is often overlooked despite its prevalence. He argues |
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Recollections of God Painful to the Wicked by Edward Payson | Edward Payson preaches about the significance of remembering God, highlighting how the recollection of God can evoke either joy or distress based on our relationship with Him. He d |
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Exposition on Psalm 77 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches about the Psalms, interpreting the congregation as those who leap over to reach Christ Jesus, emphasizing the importance of seeking God for Himself and not j |