Psalms 109:18
Psalms 109:18 in Multiple Translations
The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.
As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment, And it came into his inward parts like water, And like oil into his bones.
He put on cursing like a robe, and it has come into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.
He cursed as often as he got dressed. May his curses go into him like the water he drinks, like the olive oil he rubs on his skin that enters his bones.
As he clothed himselfe with cursing like a rayment, so shall it come into his bowels like water, and like oyle into his bones.
And he putteth on reviling as his robe, And it cometh in as water into his midst, And as oil into his bones.
He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones.
As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
He cursed other people as often/easily as he put on his clothes [SIM]; cause that the terrible things that he wanted to happen to others will happen to him and enter his body like water that he drinks [SIM], like olive oil soaks into a person’s bones when it is rubbed on his skin [SIM].
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 109:18
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 109:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יִּלְבַּ֥שׁ
קְלָלָ֗ה
כְּ/מַ֫דּ֥/וֹ
וַ/תָּבֹ֣א
כַ/מַּ֣יִם
בְּ/קִרְבּ֑/וֹ
וְ֝/כַ/שֶּׁ֗מֶן
בְּ/עַצְמוֹתָֽי/ו
וַ/יִּלְבַּ֥שׁ
lâbash
H3847
to clothe
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
קְלָלָ֗ה
qᵉlâlâh
H7045
curse
N-fs
כְּ/מַ֫דּ֥/וֹ
mad
H4055
garment
Prep | N-ms | Suff
וַ/תָּבֹ֣א
bôwʼ
H935
Lebo
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs
כַ/מַּ֣יִם
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
Prep | N-mp
בְּ/קִרְבּ֑/וֹ
qereb
H7130
entrails
Prep | N-ms | Suff
וְ֝/כַ/שֶּׁ֗מֶן
shemen
H8081
oil
Conj | Prep | N-ms
בְּ/עַצְמוֹתָֽי/ו
ʻetsem
H6106
bone
Prep | N-fp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 109:18
וַ/יִּלְבַּ֥שׁ
lâbash
H3847
"to clothe"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
To clothe means to wrap something around or put on a garment. In the Bible, it can be used literally or figuratively, as in putting on clothes or being clothed with a certain attitude.
Definition: 1) to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to put on clothes, be clothed, wear 1a2) to put on, be clothed with (fig.) 1b) (Pual) to be fully clothed 1c) (Hiphil) to clothe, array with, dress Aramaic equivalent: le.vash (לְבֵשׁ "to clothe" H3848)
Usage: Occurs in 102 OT verses. KJV: (in) apparel, arm, array (self), clothe (self), come upon, put (on, upon), wear. See also: Genesis 3:21; Job 27:17; Psalms 35:26.
קְלָלָ֗ה
qᵉlâlâh
H7045
"curse"
N-fs
This Hebrew word means a curse, which is a wish for harm or evil to come to someone. It is used in many places, including the book of Numbers and Deuteronomy. Curses were taken seriously in biblical times.
Definition: curse, vilification, execration
Usage: Occurs in 33 OT verses. KJV: (ac-) curse(-d, -ing). See also: Genesis 27:12; 1 Kings 2:8; Psalms 109:17.
כְּ/מַ֫דּ֥/וֹ
mad
H4055
"garment"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
A garment or measure, describing something that is measured or fitted. This word is used in the Bible to describe clothing, armor, or a carpet.
Definition: 1) measure, cloth garment 1a) measure 1b) cloth, carpet 1c) garment (outer)
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: armour, clothes, garment, judgment, measure, raiment, stature. See also: Leviticus 6:3; 1 Samuel 17:39; Psalms 109:18.
וַ/תָּבֹ֣א
bôwʼ
H935
"Lebo"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Definition: A shortened name of Lebo Hamath complined withcha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574) This name means to go in, enter
Usage: Occurs in 2307 OT verses. KJV: abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. See also: Genesis 2:19; Genesis 32:7; Exodus 1:19.
כַ/מַּ֣יִם
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
Prep | N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
בְּ/קִרְבּ֑/וֹ
qereb
H7130
"entrails"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means the inner part or midst of something, whether physical or emotional, and can refer to the entrails of an animal or the seat of thought and emotion. In 1 Kings 17:21, it describes Elijah's emotional plea to God.
Definition: : among/within 1) midst, among, inner part, middle 1a) inward part 1a1) physical sense 1a2) as seat of thought and emotion 1a3) as faculty of thought and emotion 1b) in the midst, among, from among (of a number of persons) 1c) entrails (of sacrificial animals) Also means: qe.rev (קֶ֫רֶב ": inner_parts" H7130H)
Usage: Occurs in 220 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self. See also: Genesis 18:12; Joshua 7:12; Psalms 5:10.
וְ֝/כַ/שֶּׁ֗מֶן
shemen
H8081
"oil"
Conj | Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for oil, often referring to olive oil, which was highly valued in ancient times. It symbolizes richness, anointing, and healing, and is used in various biblical contexts, including rituals and medicinal practices.
Definition: 1) fat, oil 1a) fat, fatness 1b) oil, olive oil 1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent 1b2) for anointing 1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaph)
Usage: Occurs in 176 OT verses. KJV: anointing, [idiom] fat (things), [idiom] fruitful, oil(-ed), ointment, olive, [phrase] pine. See also: Genesis 28:18; Deuteronomy 8:8; Psalms 23:5.
בְּ/עַצְמוֹתָֽי/ו
ʻetsem
H6106
"bone"
Prep | 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.
Study Notes — Psalms 109:18
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 109:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 109:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 109:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 109:18
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 109:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 109:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 109:18
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 109:18
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 109:18
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 109:18
- Sermons on Psalms 109:18
Context — The Song of the Slandered
16For he never thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted, even to their death.
17The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.
18The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.
19May it be like a robe wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him. 20May this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers, to those who speak evil against me.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 73:6 | Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them. |
| 2 | Numbers 5:22 | May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to shrivel.’ Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’ |
| 3 | Matthew 27:3–5 | When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. |
| 4 | Colossians 3:12 | Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. |
| 5 | Numbers 5:27 | When he has made her drink the water, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then the water that brings a curse will enter her and cause bitter suffering; her belly will swell, her thigh will shrivel, and she will become accursed among her people. |
| 6 | Job 20:12–16 | Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue, though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth, yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him. He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach. He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him. |
| 7 | Job 29:14 | I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban. |
| 8 | Acts 1:25 | to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.” |
| 9 | 1 Peter 5:5 | Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” |
| 10 | Matthew 26:24 | The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.” |
Psalms 109:18 Summary
This verse is saying that the bad things the wicked person has done will come back to hurt them deeply, like water and oil spreading through their whole body. It's like when we do something wrong and it affects every part of our life, as seen in Proverbs 26:27. The psalmist is trusting that God will make things right and bring justice, even if it doesn't seem like it right now (Psalm 37:5-6). We can learn from this to always consider how our actions might affect us and others in the long run, and to trust in God's goodness and justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the cursing to 'soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil'?
This phrase is a poetic way of saying that the consequences of the person's actions will deeply penetrate and affect every part of their being, much like water and oil permeate surfaces they come into contact with, as seen in Psalm 38:3 where the psalmist says 'there is no health in my bones' due to his sin.
Is the psalmist seeking revenge or justice in this verse?
The psalmist is seeking justice, not revenge, as he is asking God to judge the wicked person according to their actions, which is in line with God's character as seen in Deuteronomy 32:4 and Psalm 119:75.
Why does the psalmist seem to be calling for harm to come to his enemy?
The psalmist is not calling for harm out of hatred, but rather out of a desire to see God's justice upheld, as seen in Psalm 109:20 where he says 'May this be the LORD's reward to my accusers', which is in line with the teachings of Proverbs 11:21 and Romans 12:19.
How does this verse relate to Jesus' teachings on loving our enemies?
While Jesus does teach us to love our enemies in Matthew 5:44, this verse is not necessarily about the psalmist's personal feelings towards his enemy, but rather about his trust in God's justice, which is also reflected in Jesus' teachings on God's judgment in Matthew 25:31-46.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which we can see the consequences of our actions affecting our lives, just like the cursing soaking into the person's body?
- How can we trust in God's justice, even when it seems like the wicked are prospering, as seen in Psalm 73:3?
- In what ways can we seek to uphold God's justice in our own lives, without seeking revenge or harm towards others?
- What does this verse teach us about the importance of considering the long-term effects of our actions, as warned in Galatians 6:7-8?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 109:18
As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment,.... He was full of it; his mouth was full of cursing and bitterness; it was visible in him, easy to be discerned; he took pride as well as
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 109:18
Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour. -God's visitation on the wicked man's property (Psalms 109:11-12); on his name and memorial (Psalms 109:13-15).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 109:18
A garment; which a man wears constantly, and that as Like water; which when a man drinks, goes bowels, and searcheth all the inwards of his belly. Like oil; which is more piercing than water, and being applied to outward parts, reacheth even to the bones and marrow
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 109:18
Psalms 109:18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.Ver. 18. As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment] Ut vestis commensurata corpori, as the inner garment that sticks closest to the body, and is not done off but with much ado, as he hath wrapped, and trussed up himself in cursing. So let it come into his bowels like water] Let him have his belly full of it, and his bones full too. And like oil] Which easily soaketh through. See Numbers 5:22.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 109:18
(17, 18) Let.—The optatives in the English are wrong. These verses express facts, and the imprecation follows in Psalms 109:19. Render— He loved cursing; and it comes; He delighted not in blessing; and it departs; Yea, he clothed himself in cursing as with his cloak, And it came like water into his bowels, And like oil into his bones; May it be, &c. Comp. the proverb, “Curses, like chickens, always come home to roost.” The fabled shirt of Nessus, which ate into the mighty form of Hercules, has suggested itself to commentators in illustration of this image. In a good sense the same figure is a favourite one with the Hebrews. (See Isaiah 11:5.) Psalms 109:19 has struck most commentators as an anticlimax, and the quotation theory is supported by this fact. But imprecations show their impotence in this way; the angry soul can never be quite “unpacked with curses;” the language of passion exhausts itself too soon, and a violent speech often dies away in unintelligible mutterings or even gestures of rage.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 109:18
Verse 18. Let it come into his bowels like water] Houbigant thinks this is an allusion to the waters of jealousy; and he is probably right, - the bitter waters that produce the curse. See Numbers 5:18.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 109:18
18. And he clad himself with cursing as with his robe, And It came into his inward parts like water, and like oil into his bones:
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 109:18
As he clothed himself with cursing like as with a garment - Moral qualities are often compared with raiment - as that in which we “appear” to our fellow-men. See 1 Peter 5:5; Job 29:14.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 109:18
18. Into his bowels—Hebrew, his inward parts; penetrating like oil his whole being. It is an advance upon the figure of clothing—garment—as an outside covering, in the previous member.
Sermons on Psalms 109:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Exposition on Psalm 73 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches about the journey of the soul towards God, reflecting on the temptations and struggles faced in desiring earthly riches over the eternal reward of God's pres |
|
The Father’s Cup: A Crucifixion Narrative by Rick Gamache | In this sermon transcript, the preacher vividly describes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Jesus is seen walking towards Golgotha, the Skull, where he will be crucified alongside t |
|
2000 Advent Week 2 - Joseph of Arimathea by John Piper | The sermon transcript discusses the concept that death does not define the measure of a person's life. It emphasizes that the true impact of a life is not determined by its length, |
|
Living Memorials by Don Courville | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the significance of baptism as a symbol of deliverance from sin's penalty and power. He refers to Romans 6:1-4, explaining that it is not just |
|
Name Your Price by Chuck Smith | This sermon delves into the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot for 30 pieces of silver, highlighting the concept of 'seller's remorse' and the tragic consequences of selling out o |
|
Are You Born Again? Have You Repented? by Mose Stoltzfus | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being born again and having a transformed heart through repentance. He urges the audience to not settle for superficial be |
|
All That Jesus Taught Bible Study - Part 76 by Zac Poonen | This sermon delves into the events surrounding Jesus' trial and crucifixion, drawing lessons from how Jesus dealt with betrayal, false accusations, and suffering. It emphasizes the |