Psalms 109:24
Psalms 109:24 in Multiple Translations
My knees are weak from fasting, and my body grows lean and gaunt.
My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness.
My knees are feeble for need of food; there is no fat on my bones.
I am so weak from lack of food that my legs give way; my body is just skin and bones.
My knees are weake through fasting, and my flesh hath lost all fatnes.
My knees have been feeble from fasting, And my flesh hath failed of fatness.
My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.
My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
My knees are weak because I have ◄fasted/abstained from eating food► very often, and my body has become very thin.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 109:24
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 109:24 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בִּ֭רְכַּ/י
כָּשְׁל֣וּ
מִ/צּ֑וֹם
וּ֝/בְשָׂרִ֗/י
כָּחַ֥שׁ
מִ/שָּֽׁמֶן
בִּ֭רְכַּ/י
berek
H1290
knee
N-fd | Suff
כָּשְׁל֣וּ
kâshal
H3782
to stumble
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
מִ/צּ֑וֹם
tsôwm
H6685
fast
Prep | N-ms
וּ֝/בְשָׂרִ֗/י
bâsâr
H1320
flesh
Conj | N-ms | Suff
כָּחַ֥שׁ
kâchash
H3584
to deceive
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
מִ/שָּֽׁמֶן
shemen
H8081
oil
Prep | N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 109:24
בִּ֭רְכַּ/י
berek
H1290
"knee"
N-fd | Suff
The knee represents a part of the body used for movement and flexibility. In the Bible, kneeling is often a sign of respect, fear, or weakness. The word for knee is also related to feelings of fear or trembling.
Definition: 1) knee 2) weak from fear (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: be.rekh (בְּרַךְ "knee" H1291)
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: knee. See also: Genesis 30:3; 2 Chronicles 6:13; Psalms 109:24.
כָּשְׁל֣וּ
kâshal
H3782
"to stumble"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
To stumble means to lose your balance and almost fall, often because of weakness. In the Bible, it can also mean to falter or fail spiritually. This word is used in many books, including Psalms and Proverbs.
Definition: 1) to stumble, stagger, totter 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stumble 1a2) to totter 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to stumble 1b2) to be tottering, be feeble 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to stumble, bring injury or ruin to, overthrow 1c2) to make feeble, make weak 1d) (Hophal) to be made to stumble 1e) (Piel) bereave
Usage: Occurs in 59 OT verses. KJV: bereave (from the margin), cast down, be decayed, (cause to) fail, (cause, make to) fall (down, -ing), feeble, be (the) ruin(-ed, of), (be) overthrown, (cause to) stumble, [idiom] utterly, be weak. See also: Leviticus 26:37; Jeremiah 6:15; Psalms 9:4.
מִ/צּ֑וֹם
tsôwm
H6685
"fast"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fast or go without food, often for spiritual reasons. It appears in various forms, such as fasting or a fast. This concept is seen in the lives of prophets and leaders like Moses and Elijah.
Definition: fast, fasting
Usage: Occurs in 22 OT verses. KJV: fast(-ing). See also: 2 Samuel 12:16; Isaiah 58:3; Psalms 35:13.
וּ֝/בְשָׂרִ֗/י
bâsâr
H1320
"flesh"
Conj | N-ms | Suff
The Hebrew word for flesh refers to the body or a person, and can also describe living things or animals. In the Bible, it is used to describe humans and animals, as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: 1) flesh 1a) of the body 1a1) of humans 1a2) of animals 1b) the body itself 1c) male organ of generation (euphemism) 1d) kindred, blood-relations 1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God) 1f) all living things 1g) animals 1h) mankind Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)
Usage: Occurs in 241 OT verses. KJV: body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. See also: Genesis 2:21; Numbers 11:21; Psalms 16:9.
כָּחַ֥שׁ
kâchash
H3584
"to deceive"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
To deceive or lie, as seen in Psalm 116:11 where the psalmist says all people are liars. It means to be untrue in word or deed, disappointing or failing others. This concept is also found in Proverbs 10:18.
Definition: 1) to deceive, lie, fail, grow lean, be disappointing, be untrue, be insufficient, be found liars, belie, deny, dissemble, deal falsely 1a) (Qal) to become lean 1b) (Niphal) to cringe, feign obedience 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to deceive, deny falsely 1c2) to act deceptively 1c3) to cringe 1c4) to disappoint, fail 1d) (Hithpael) to cringe, feign obedience
Usage: Occurs in 22 OT verses. KJV: deceive, deny, dissemble, fail, deal falsely, be found liars, (be-) lie, lying, submit selves. See also: Genesis 18:15; Psalms 18:45; Psalms 66:3.
מִ/שָּֽׁמֶן
shemen
H8081
"oil"
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.
Study Notes — Psalms 109:24
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 109:24 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 109:24
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 109:24
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 109:24
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 109:24
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 109:24
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 109:24
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 109:24
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 109:24
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 109:24
- Sermons on Psalms 109:24
Context — The Song of the Slandered
22For I am poor and needy; my heart is wounded within me.
23I am fading away like a lengthening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.
24My knees are weak from fasting, and my body grows lean and gaunt.
25I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. 26Help me, O LORD my God; save me according to Your loving devotion.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 32:3–4 | When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah |
| 2 | Hebrews 12:12 | Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees. |
| 3 | Matthew 4:2 | After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. |
| 4 | Psalms 22:14 | I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me. |
| 5 | Psalms 35:13–14 | Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered. I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother. |
| 6 | Job 19:20 | My skin and flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth. |
| 7 | Psalms 38:5–8 | My wounds are foul and festering because of my sinful folly. I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning. For my loins are full of burning pain, and no soundness remains in my body. I am numb and badly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. |
| 8 | 2 Corinthians 11:27 | in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure. |
| 9 | Psalms 102:4–5 | My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread. Through my loud groaning my flesh clings to my bones. |
| 10 | Psalms 69:10 | I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach. |
Psalms 109:24 Summary
[Psalms 109:24 describes the physical effects of the speaker's fasting, which has left them with weak knees and a lean body. This verse shows that the speaker is not just spiritually struggling, but also physically suffering, similar to the physical and emotional struggles of the prophet David in Psalms 38:3-10. The speaker's fasting is likely a result of their emotional pain and distress, as seen in Psalms 109:22-23. As we reflect on this verse, we can remember that our physical and emotional struggles can be opportunities to cry out to God for help, as the speaker does in Psalms 109:26, and to trust in His loving devotion, as expressed in Psalms 23:4 and Romans 8:28.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the context of the speaker's fasting in Psalms 109:24?
The speaker's fasting is likely a result of their distress and sorrow, as seen in Psalms 109:22-23, where they express their poverty, need, and emotional pain, similar to the emotional distress expressed in Psalms 42:1-2.
How does the speaker's physical condition reflect their spiritual state?
The speaker's weak knees and lean body in Psalms 109:24 may symbolize their spiritual exhaustion and desperation, highlighting their need for God's intervention, as expressed in Psalms 109:26, where they cry out to God for help.
Is fasting always a sign of spiritual devotion?
While fasting can be a sign of spiritual devotion, as seen in Matthew 6:16-18, it is not always the case, as the speaker's fasting in Psalms 109:24 seems to be more a result of their distress than a deliberate act of spiritual discipline, similar to the involuntary fasting of the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19:3-8.
How can we apply the speaker's experience to our own lives?
We can learn from the speaker's experience by recognizing that our physical and emotional struggles can be opportunities to cry out to God for help, as the speaker does in Psalms 109:26, and to trust in His loving devotion, as expressed in Psalms 23:4 and Romans 8:28.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can cry out to God in my own times of distress, like the speaker in Psalms 109:24?
- How can I balance my physical and spiritual needs, especially during times of fasting or spiritual discipline, as mentioned in Matthew 6:16-18 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20?
- What are some ways that I can trust in God's loving devotion, even when I feel weak and helpless, as expressed in Psalms 109:26 and Romans 8:28?
- How can I use my own experiences of struggle and desperation to deepen my relationship with God, as the speaker seems to be doing in Psalms 109:24-26?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 109:24
My knees are weak through fasting,..... Either voluntary or forced, through want of food or refreshment; this was verified in Christ, when he kneeled and prayed, and his sweat was as it were great
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 109:24
My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 109:24
Through fasting; either with voluntary fasts, to which the frequency and long continuance of my calamities obliged me; or with forced fasts, sometimes through want of necessary provisions, but most commonly from that loathing of meat, which was occasioned by his excessive sorrows and terrors. See Poole "". Of fatness; or, for want of fatness. See the like Hebrew phrases .
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 109:24
Psalms 109:24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.Ver. 24. My knees are weak through fasting] Either for lack of meat or stomach to it; genua labant, my knees buckle under me, the strong men bow themselves, Ecclesiastes 12:3. My flesh faileth of fatness] I am lean and low brought. Christ might well cry out, "My leanness, my leanness"; so busy he was for his Father, and so worn out, that they judged him well nigh fifty, when he was not much over thirty, John 8:57.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 109:24
(24) Faileth of fatness.—Literally, has failed me from fat, i.e., has dwindled away.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 109:24
Verse 24. My knees are weak through fasting] That hunger is as soon felt in weakening the knees, as in producing an uneasy sensation in the stomach, is known by all who have ever felt it. Writers in all countries have referred to this effect of hunger. Thus Tryphioderus Il. Excid. ver 155: - Τειρομενουβαρυθειενατερπεΐγουναταλιμῳ. "Their knees might fail, by hunger's force subdued; And sink, unable to sustain their load." MERRICK. SO PLAUTUS, Curcul, act. ii., scen. 3: - Tenebrae oboriuntur, genua inedia succidunt. "My eyes grow dim; my knees are weak with hunger." And LUCRETIUS, lib. iv. ver. 950: - Brachia, palpebraeque cadunt, poplitesque procumbunt. "The arms, the eyelids fall; the knees give way." Both the knees and the sight are particularly affected by hunger.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 109:24
24. faileth of fatness] Hath grown lean and lost fatness may be the meaning. But more probably, is shrunken for want of oil. In his distress he had no appetite for food (Psalms 102:4), and like a mourner (2 Samuel 14:2) abstained from the use of oil.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 109:24
My knees are weak through fasting - Hunger; want of food. Strength to stand is connected with firmness in the knee-joints, and hence, weakness and feebleness are denoted by the giving way of the knees. Compare Hebrews 12:12.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 109:24
24. Fasting— “The word is never used of that want of eating which proceeds from want of appetite, but always of the exercise of penitence, as practised by men when overwhelmed, or when threatened,
Sermons on Psalms 109:24
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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When Preachers Do Not Preach Against Sin by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher tells the story of Nathan confronting King David about his sin. Nathan uses a parable about a rich man who steals a beloved lamb from his neighbor to i |
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Biblical Assurance 2 - Austin, Tx by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher addresses the issue of a man of God committing a heinous sin and the despair that can follow. He emphasizes that Jesus not only forgives sin but also c |
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Terrible Convictions and Gentle Drawings by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, Reverend C.H. Spurgeon discusses the different ways in which people come to know the Lord. He acknowledges that while some individuals experience intense conviction |
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(Through the Bible) 2 Samuel 8-16 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of following God's rules and the consequences of violating them. He uses the story of Tamar, who was publicly humiliated and e |
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Sleep Disorders by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the pastor emphasizes the importance of getting enough sleep and addresses the spiritual reasons behind it. He shares how David's silence about his sin caused him p |
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A Deeper Spiritual Life by Keith Price | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the importance of confessing our sins to God. He emphasizes that keeping our sins hidden will ultimately lead to failure and a paralyzed spir |
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Manifest Presence - Part 3 by Richard Owen Roberts | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of serving God with genuine spiritual devotion rather than relying solely on talents and abilities. He uses examples from the B |