Psalms 38:2
Psalms 38:2 in Multiple Translations
For Your arrows have pierced me deeply, and Your hand has pressed down on me.
For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
For thine arrows stick fast in me, And thy hand presseth me sore.
For your arrows have gone into my flesh, and I am crushed under the weight of your hand.
Your arrows have pierced me deeply, your hand has come down hard on me.
For thine arrowes haue light vpon me, and thine hand lyeth vpon me.
For Thine arrows have come down on me, And Thou lettest down upon me Thy hand.
For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me.
For thy arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand falleth heavy upon me.
I said: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my tongue. I have set guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me.
Now it is as though you have shot your arrows at me and wounded me; you have struck me and knocked me down.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 38:2
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 38:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יְֽהוָ֗ה
אַל
בְּ/קֶצְפְּ/ךָ֥
תוֹכִיחֵ֑/נִי
וּֽ/בַ/חֲמָתְ/ךָ֥
תְיַסְּרֵֽ/נִי
יְֽהוָ֗ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
בְּ/קֶצְפְּ/ךָ֥
qetseph
H7110
wrath
Prep | N-ms | Suff
תוֹכִיחֵ֑/נִי
yâkach
H3198
to rebuke
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms | Suff
וּֽ/בַ/חֲמָתְ/ךָ֥
chêmâh
H2534
rage
Conj | Prep | N-fs | Suff
תְיַסְּרֵֽ/נִי
yâçar
H3256
to discipline
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 38:2
יְֽהוָ֗ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
בְּ/קֶצְפְּ/ךָ֥
qetseph
H7110
"wrath"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
This word can mean a small splinter or twig, but also figuratively describes rage or strife, like the foam on a furious animal's mouth in Job 39:24. It signifies intense emotion or turmoil, often used to convey a sense of urgency or danger. The Bible uses it to describe intense feelings.
Definition: 1) wrath, anger 1a) of God 1b) of man
Usage: Occurs in 29 OT verses. KJV: foam, indignation, [idiom] sore, wrath. See also: Numbers 1:53; Esther 1:18; Psalms 38:2.
תוֹכִיחֵ֑/נִי
yâkach
H3198
"to rebuke"
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means to rebuke or correct, and is used in the Bible to describe arguing, judging, or convincing someone of their wrongdoings. It is seen in the KJV translation as rebuke or reprove. The word is used in various forms, including to describe God's correction of his people.
Definition: 1) to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to decide, judge 1a2) to adjudge, appoint 1a3) to show to be right, prove 1a4) to convince, convict 1a5) to reprove, chide 1a6) to correct, rebuke 1b) (Hophal) to be chastened 1c) (Niphal) to reason, reason together 1d) (Hithp) to argue
Usage: Occurs in 55 OT verses. KJV: appoint, argue, chasten, convince, correct(-ion), daysman, dispute, judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove(-r), surely, in any wise. See also: Genesis 20:16; Psalms 38:2; Psalms 6:2.
וּֽ/בַ/חֲמָתְ/ךָ֥
chêmâh
H2534
"rage"
Conj | Prep | N-fs | Suff
This word means intense anger or rage, like a burning fire. It's used in the Bible to describe God's wrath and human anger, often warning against the dangers of unchecked emotions. In Proverbs and Psalms, it cautions against the destructive power of anger and rage.
Definition: 1) heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles 1a) heat 1a1) fever 1a2) venom, poison (fig.) 1b) burning anger, rage Aramaic equivalent: che.ma (חֱמָא "rage" H2528)
Usage: Occurs in 117 OT verses. KJV: anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(-ful). See H2529 (חֶמְאָה). See also: Genesis 27:44; Isaiah 63:5; Psalms 6:2.
תְיַסְּרֵֽ/נִי
yâçar
H3256
"to discipline"
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms | Suff
To discipline or correct someone, often by teaching or punishing them, as seen in Proverbs where parents are told to instruct their children. This word is used to describe God's correction of his people.
Definition: 1) to chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to chasten, admonish 1a2) to instruct 1a3) to discipline 1b) (Niphal) to let oneself be chastened or corrected or admonished 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to discipline, correct 1c2) to chasten, chastise 1d) (Hiphil) to chasten 1e) (Nithpael) to teach
Usage: Occurs in 38 OT verses. KJV: bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach. See also: Leviticus 26:18; Psalms 94:12; Psalms 2:10.
Study Notes — Psalms 38:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 38:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 38:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 38:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 38:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 38:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 38:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 38:2
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 38:2
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 38:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 38:2
- Sermons on Psalms 38:2
Context — Do Not Rebuke Me in Your Anger
1O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.
2For Your arrows have pierced me deeply, and Your hand has pressed down on me.
3There is no soundness in my body because of Your anger; there is no rest in my bones because of my sin. 4For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 6:4 | For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me. |
| 2 | Psalms 32:4 | For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah |
| 3 | Psalms 64:7 | But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded. |
| 4 | Ruth 1:13 | would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 5:6 | Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors. |
| 6 | Psalms 39:10–11 | Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand. You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor. Selah |
| 7 | Psalms 21:12 | For You will put them to flight when Your bow is trained upon them. |
| 8 | 1 Samuel 5:11 | Then the Ekronites assembled all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was heavy upon it. |
| 9 | Lamentations 3:12 | He bent His bow and set me as the target for His arrow. |
| 10 | Deuteronomy 2:15 | Indeed, the LORD’s hand was against them, to eliminate them from the camp, until they had all perished. |
Psalms 38:2 Summary
This verse, Psalms 38:2, means that God is actively involved in our lives, and sometimes He allows us to feel the weight of our sin and His discipline. This can be a painful and difficult experience, but it is also a sign of God's love for us, as seen in Proverbs 3:11-12. When we feel God's hand pressing down on us, we should respond in humility and repentance, acknowledging our sin and seeking God's forgiveness, as in 1 John 1:9. By doing so, we can experience God's healing and restoration in our lives, just like the psalmist in Psalms 38.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God's arrows to pierce us?
This is a metaphor for God's discipline or correction in our lives, as seen in Psalms 38:2, where the psalmist feels the weight of God's hand upon him, similar to Job 6:4 where Job describes God's arrows as being within him.
Why would God press down on us?
God presses down on us to bring us to a place of repentance and humility, as stated in Psalms 38:2, and to help us recognize our sin, as in Proverbs 3:11-12 where it says that God disciplines those He loves.
Is God's hand pressing down on me a sign of His anger?
While God's hand pressing down can be a sign of His anger, as in Psalms 38:2, it is also a sign of His love and desire to correct us, as seen in Hebrews 12:6 where it says that God disciplines those He loves.
How can we respond when we feel God's hand pressing down on us?
We can respond by humbling ourselves, acknowledging our sin, and seeking God's forgiveness, as in 1 John 1:9 where it says that if we confess our sins, God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I feel God's hand pressing down on me, and how can I respond in humility and repentance?
- How do I distinguish between God's discipline and the enemy's attacks in my life?
- What are some arrows of God that have pierced me in the past, and how did I respond to them?
- In what ways can I cooperate with God's discipline in my life, and what are the benefits of doing so?
- How can I balance the fear of God's discipline with the knowledge of His love and mercy for me?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 38:2
For thine arrows stick fast in me,.... Meaning either words with which as a father the Lord rebuked him; and which were sharp and cutting, entered into him and abode with him, and gave him much pain
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 38:2
For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 38:2
Thine arrows, i.e. thy judgments inflicted upon my outward and inward man, oft compared to arrows, as 45:5 91:5. Presseth me sore; or, comes down upon me; as when a strong man lifts up his hand and weapon, that it may fall down with greater violence, and make the deeper wound.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 38:2
Psalms 38:2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.Ver. 2. For thine arrows stick fast in me] i.e. Sicknesses of body and troubles of mind, Job 6:4 Psalms 18:14. The Jewish doctors say, that he had a leprosy for six months; and that the Divine presence was taken away from him; so that he complained not without uause (R. Obadiah). But these were sagittae salutis, saith Chrysostom; arrows of salvation, love tokens from the Lord, Dens amat quos sagittat (Aug.), not unlike Jonathan’ s arrows, 1 Samuel 20:36, and he had been forewarned of them by Nathan the prophet, 2 Samuel 12:9-12, and so bore them the better. Praevisa iacula minus feriunt, Darts foreseen are in a manner dintless. And thy hand presseth me sore] Heb. Thou lettest down thy hand upon me. Now, God’ s hand is a mighty hand, 1 Peter 5:6, and the weight of it is importable, but that una eademque manus, &c.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 38:2
(2) For thine arrows . . .—The same figure is used of the disease from which Job suffered (elephantiasis? Job 6:4); of famine (Ezekiel 5:16); and generally of divine judgments (Deuteronomy 32:23). By itself it therefore decides nothing as to the particular cause of the Psalmist’s grief. Stick fast.—Better, have sunk into, from a root meaning to descend. Presseth, in the next clause, is from the same verb. Translate, therefore, For thine arrows have fallen deep into me, And fallen upon me has thine hand.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 38:2
Verse 2. Thine arrows stick fast in me] This no doubt, refers to the acute pains which he endured; each appearing to his feeling as if an arrow were shot into his body.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 38:2
2. God’s ‘arrows’ are His judgements in general (Psalms 7:12 : Deuteronomy 32:23); here in particular pain and sickness (Job 6:4; Job 16:12-13; Lamentations 3:12-13). Blow after blow from God’s ‘hand’ (Psalms 32:4; Psalms 39:10) has lighted upon him. Stick fast and presseth sore are renderings of different voices of the same verb, meaning literally to come down, to light upon.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 38:2
For thine arrows stick fast in me - See the notes at Job 6:4.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 38:2
2. Arrows—See Job 6:4. The arrows sticking fast, are a proof that they had entered deep into the flesh.
Sermons on Psalms 38:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Exposition on Psalm 39 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine delves into the Psalms, exploring the significance of being a sojourner with God and a stranger in this world, longing for the eternal home. He reflects on the challe |
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Exposition on Psalm 78 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches about the journey of the Israelites in the desert, highlighting their ungratefulness towards God despite His blessings and the consequences of their disobedi |
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The Stroke of God by John Follette | John Wright Follette preaches about the transformative power of being struck dumb by God, emphasizing the blessings that come from surrendering to His will and experiencing the rap |
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Consider the Lilies of the Field, How They Grow by A.B. Simpson | The preacher discusses the Greek word 'skopos,' which refers to a distant mark or goal that one aims to hit, emphasizing its importance as the first word in a Greek sentence. 'Skop |