Psalms 143:4
Psalms 143:4 in Multiple Translations
My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is desolate.
Because of this my spirit is overcome; and my heart is full of fear.
I sense myself fading away inside; I am overwhelmed by a sense of desolation.
And my spirit was in perplexitie in me, and mine heart within me was amased.
And my spirit in me is become feeble, Within me is my heart become desolate.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate.
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
Man is like to vanity: his days pass away like a shadow.
So I am very discouraged; I am very dismayed/worried.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 143:4
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 143:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/תִּתְעַטֵּ֣ף
עָלַ֣/י
רוּחִ֑/י
בְּ֝/תוֹכִ֗/י
יִשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם
לִבִּֽ/י
וַ/תִּתְעַטֵּ֣ף
ʻâṭaph
H5848
to turn aside
Conj | V-Hithpael-ConsecImperf-3fs
עָלַ֣/י
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
רוּחִ֑/י
rûwach
H7307
spirit
N-cs | Suff
בְּ֝/תוֹכִ֗/י
tâvek
H8432
midst
Prep | N-ms | Suff
יִשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם
shâmêm
H8074
be desolate
V-r-Imperf-3ms
לִבִּֽ/י
lêb
H3820
heart
N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 143:4
וַ/תִּתְעַטֵּ֣ף
ʻâṭaph
H5848
"to turn aside"
Conj | V-Hithpael-ConsecImperf-3fs
This Hebrew word means to feel weak or faint, like when someone is overwhelmed and can't cope. It appears in the Bible when people are struggling, like in Psalm 61:2. The word also means to be covered or hidden.
Definition: 1) to turn aside 1a) (Qal) to turn aside, turn (in order to cover)
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: cover (over), fail, faint, feebler, hide self, be overwhelmed, swoon. See also: Genesis 30:42; Psalms 107:5; Psalms 61:3.
עָלַ֣/י
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
רוּחִ֑/י
rûwach
H7307
"spirit"
N-cs | Suff
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) 1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being 1e) spirit (as seat of emotion) 1e1) desire 1e2) sorrow, trouble 1f) spirit 1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts 1f2) rarely of the will 1f3) as seat especially of moral character 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). See also: Genesis 1:2; Job 6:26; Psalms 1:4.
בְּ֝/תוֹכִ֗/י
tâvek
H8432
"midst"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
This word refers to the middle or center of something, such as a group of people or a physical space. It can also mean among or between things, as seen in various Bible translations.
Definition: 1) midst, middle 1a) midst, middle 1b) into, through (after verbs of motion) 1c) among (of a number of persons) 1d) between (of things arranged by twos) 1e) from among (as to take or separate etc)
Usage: Occurs in 390 OT verses. KJV: among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:6; Numbers 35:5; 2 Chronicles 32:4.
יִשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם
shâmêm
H8074
"be desolate"
V-r-Imperf-3ms
The word 'shamem' means to be desolate or devastated, like a place left empty and destroyed, often used to describe the aftermath of war or disaster.
Definition: : destroyed/deserted 1) to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be desolated, be deflowered, be deserted, be appalled 1a2) to be appalled, be awestruck 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be desolated, be made desolate 1b2) to be appalled 1c) (Polel) 1c1) to be stunned 1c2) appalling, causing horror (participle) 1c2a) horror-causer, appaller (subst) 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to devastate, ravage, make desolated 1d2) to appal, show horror 1e) (Hophal) to lay desolate, be desolated 1f) (Hithpolel) 1f1) to cause to be desolate 1f2) to be appalled, be astounded 1f3) to cause oneself desolation, cause oneself ruin
Usage: Occurs in 80 OT verses. KJV: make amazed, be astonied, (be an) astonish(-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make) desolate(-ion, places), be destitute, destroy (self), (lay, lie, make) waste, wonder. See also: Leviticus 26:22; Jeremiah 50:13; Psalms 40:16.
לִבִּֽ/י
lêb
H3820
"heart"
N-ms | Suff
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Definition: 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding 1a) inner part, midst 1a1) midst (of things) 1a2) heart (of man) 1a3) soul, heart (of man) 1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory 1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will) 1a6) conscience 1a7) heart (of moral character) 1a8) as seat of appetites 1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
Usage: Occurs in 552 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. See also: Genesis 6:5; 2 Samuel 13:33; Psalms 4:8.
Study Notes — Psalms 143:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 143:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 143:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 143:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 143:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 143:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 143:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 143:4
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 143:4
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 143:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 143:4
- Sermons on Psalms 143:4
Context — I Stretch Out My Hands to You
2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
3For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.
4My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I consider the work of Your hands. 6I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. SelahCross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 142:3 | Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me. |
| 2 | Psalms 77:3 | I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint. Selah |
| 3 | Psalms 102:3–4 | For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers. My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread. |
| 4 | Luke 22:44 | And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. |
| 5 | Psalms 124:4 | then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us, |
| 6 | Psalms 61:2 | From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. |
| 7 | Job 6:27 | You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend. |
| 8 | Psalms 102:1 | Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You. |
| 9 | Psalms 119:81–83 | My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word. My eyes fail, looking for Your promise; I ask, “When will You comfort me?” Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke, I do not forget Your statutes. |
| 10 | Psalms 55:5 | Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me. |
Psalms 143:4 Summary
[Psalms 143:4 tells us that even the strongest believers can feel their spirit grow faint and their heart become dismayed, which means feeling extremely weak and discouraged, like David when he wrote this Psalm. This can happen when we face big challenges or pressures in life, similar to what is described in 2 Corinthians 1:8. But even in these hard times, we can remember God's love and power, as seen in Psalms 103:8, and turn to Him for help, just like David did in the following verses, Psalms 143:5 and Psalms 143:6, where he remembers God's works and stretches out his hands to Him.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to have a spirit that grows faint within me?
This phrase, as seen in Psalms 143:4, indicates a deep emotional and spiritual exhaustion, similar to what Elijah experienced in 1 Kings 19:4, where he felt so overwhelmed that he asked God to take his life.
Can a believer's heart be dismayed, and if so, why?
Yes, a believer's heart can be dismayed, as expressed in Psalms 143:4, due to the pressures of life, the enemy's pursuit, as mentioned in Psalms 143:3, and the awareness of one's own sinfulness, as stated in Psalms 143:2, referencing the righteousness of God.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual warfare?
This verse is a cry from the heart of someone under spiritual attack, as described in Ephesians 6:12, where we are told that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil, and in Psalms 143:3, the enemy is pursuing the soul.
What can we learn from David's emotional honesty in this verse?
David's expression of his emotional state in Psalms 143:4 teaches us the importance of honesty before God, as seen in Psalms 51:17, where a broken and contrite heart is what God desires, and in Hebrews 4:16, where we are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace to find help in our time of need.
Reflection Questions
- How do you feel when your spirit grows faint within you, and what do you usually do in such moments?
- Reflect on a time when your heart was dismayed; how did you find comfort, and what Scriptures did you turn to for solace?
- In what ways can the pressures of life and the enemy's pursuit cause dismay in your heart, and how can you apply the truths of Psalms 143:4 to these situations?
- Consider the concept of spiritual warfare as mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-18; how does this relate to your personal experiences of feeling faint and dismayed, and what are your defenses against such attacks?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 143:4
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me,.... Covered over with grief, borne down with sorrow, ready to sink and fail; [See comments on Psalms 142:3]; my heart within me is desolate; destitute of
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 143:4
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 143:4
My spirit overwhelmed within me. See Poole "" See Poole "". Is desolate; deprived of all hope and comfort. Or, is astonished.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 143:4
Psalms 143:4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.Ver. 4. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed] God’ s dearest children have their passions; against that stoic apathy. A sheep bitten by a dog is no less sensible of the pain thereof than a swine is; though he make not such an outcry.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 143:4
(4) See Psalms 142:3, and Notes. Is desolate.—Or, more literally, as in Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 63:5, &c, wondered; literally, fills itself with astonishment.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 143:4
Verse 4. Therefore is my spirit] I am deeply depressed in spirit, and greatly afflicted in body. My heart within me is desolate.] It has no companion of its sorrows, no sympathetic friend. I am utterly destitute of comfort.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 143:4
4. And my spirit has fainted upon me; My heart within me is appalled. my spirit &c.] Cp. Psalms 142:3, note. is desolate] Rather, is appalled, stupefied and paralysed at the apparent hopelessness of my position. Cp. Daniel 8:27. “The root-idea of the word seems to have been to be motionless,—sometimes in the stillness of desolation, sometimes through amazement” (Driver on Daniel 4:19).
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 143:4
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me - See the notes at Psalms 77:3. Compare Psalms 42:5-7. His spirit was broken and crushed. He was in a state of despair as to any human help.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 143:4
4. My heart… is desolate—A physical allusion signifying, “Is failing to beat,” “is getting torpid.” In sorrow the nervous currents diminish, and organic activity of the body declines.
Sermons on Psalms 143:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Why Suffering?--Glorifying God--His Riches by John Newton | John Newton preaches about the infinite compassion and power of God in the midst of trials, emphasizing that God afflicts not for His pleasure but for our profit, to make us partak |
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John 10:1-6. the Parable of the Good Shepherd. by Favell Lee Mortimer | Favell Lee Mortimer preaches about the Pharisees' misunderstanding of Jesus' parable of the good shepherd, likening them to thieves and robbers who cared more about their own gain |
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All at Once by Mary Wilder Tileston | Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about trusting in God's guidance and provision, emphasizing the importance of taking each moment as it comes and viewing it as a manifestation of God' |
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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 |
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Recollections of God Painful to the Wicked. by Edward Payson | Edward Payson preaches about the impact of remembering God, highlighting how the recollection of God can evoke either pleasing or painful emotions in individuals. The sermon delves |