Psalms 102:23 — Word Study
WLCעִנָּ֖ה בַדֶּ֥רֶךְ כֹּחִ֗י קִצַּ֥ר יָמָֽי׃
BSAto gatherqâbats Amawʻam unitednessyachad kingdommamlâkâh to serveʻâbad Obj.ʼêth The LordYᵉhôvâh
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עִנָּ֖ה | he has humbled | Verb, Piel, perfect third person masculine singular |
| בַדֶּ֥רֶךְ | in the way | Preposition, noun common both singular absolute |
| כֹּחִ֗י | strength my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| קִצַּ֥ר | he has cut short | Verb, Piel, perfect third person masculine singular |
| יָמָֽי׃ | days my | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days. |
| KJV | He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. |
| ASV | He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days. |
| YLT | He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath shortened my days. |
| WEB | He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days. |
| BBE | He has taken my strength from me in the way; he has made short my days. |
The translations agree on the meanings of the key terms in this verse.
The verse contains two main clauses, each expressing a distinct aspect of the psalmist's lament.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבְּ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 102:23
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Lament of Distressgenerated
Psalm 102:23 expresses the psalmist's deep sorrow as he feels weakened during his journey. He laments that his days are being cut short, reflecting a profound sense of loss and urgency. This lament is part of a broader theme in the psalm, where the speaker cries out for God's attention and help amidst suffering, similar to other laments found in the Psalms.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 89:38–47 | Now, however, You have spurned and rejected him; You are enraged by Your anointed one. |
| 2 | 2 Thessalonians 2:3–12 | Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. |
| 3 | 1 Timothy 4:1–3 | Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, |
| 4 | 2 Timothy 3:1–17 | But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. |
| 5 | Revelation 11:2–19 | But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עִנָּ֖ה, 'i.Nahgenerated
The verb עָנָה (anah) is in the Piel stem, indicating a strong action of affliction or humbling. It conveys a sense of being made low or oppressed, often in a way that leads to a state of weakness or depression.
This word appears frequently in contexts of humility and suffering, emphasizing the psalmist's emotional state as he feels overwhelmed on his journey.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree that the psalmist feels weakened and that his days are being shortened.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs עִנָּ֖ה and קִצַּ֥ר govern the two main clauses of the verse, each expressing a distinct aspect of the psalmist's lament: his weakening and the shortening of his days.
The structure emphasizes the cause of the psalmist's distress, with a clear progression from the experience of affliction to the acknowledgment of life's brevity.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עִנָּ֖ה as ἐν (en), which can imply a sense of being within or amidst suffering. This choice may reflect a broader interpretation of the psalmist's experience.
The translation of קִצַּ֥ר aligns closely with the Hebrew, maintaining the sense of cutting short, which underscores the urgency of the psalmist's plea.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 102:23 shows the psalmist feeling weak and that his life is being cut short. He expresses these feelings of distress during his journey, calling out to God for help.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist feels weakened and overwhelmed, suggesting a state of vulnerability and despair.
This reflects a deep concern about mortality and the brevity of life, emphasizing the urgency of his plea for help.
Like other laments, this verse expresses personal suffering and a desire for divine intervention, highlighting the human experience of distress.
The psalmist's honesty about his struggles encourages us to bring our own feelings of weakness and distress before God.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I felt my strength wane during difficult times?
- How can I express my feelings of distress to God in prayer?
- What does it mean for me to recognize the brevity of life?
- How can I support others who are experiencing similar feelings of weakness?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Christian writers referenced this psalm to discuss the nature of human suffering and God's sovereignty over time.
And this is true. For no one is able to comprehend the works of God altogether. Moreover, the world is the work of God. No one, then, can find out as to this world what is its space from the beginning and to the end, that is to say,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 102 →
Now as these things are written in the Scriptures, the case is clear, that the saints know that a certain time is measured to every person, but that no one knows the end of that time is plainly intimated by the words of David,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 102 →
For although it is hidden and unknown to all, what period of time is allotted to each and how it is allotted, yet every one knows this, that as there is a time for spring and for summer, and for autumn and for winter, so, as it is written,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 102 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 102:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe weakened my strength in the way,.... The psalmist here returns to his complaint of his afflictions, weakness, and frailty, which ended Psalms 102:11, after which some hints are given of the latter
Read John Gill on Psalms 102 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThis shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 102 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe, to wit, God, to whom he ascribes these calamities, ; to whom therefore he addresseth himself for relief. In the way; either, 1. In the midst of our expectations. Whilst we are expecting the accomplishment of thy promise, either of bringing us out of Babylon, or of sending the Messias, we faint, and one of us perish after another, and our hope is like the giving up of the ghost. Or rather, 2. In the midst of the course of our lives; which sense is confirmed, 1. From the following clause; which, after the manner, explains the former, he shortened my days; as also from the next verse, where he begs relief from God against this misery in these words, take me not away in the midst of my…
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 102 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 102:23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.Ver. 23. He weakened my strength in the way] This is the complaint of the poor captives yet undelivered, In via, hoc est in vita, quia hic sumus viatores, in coelo comprehensores, here we are but on our way to heaven, and we meet with many discouragements. He shortened my days] viz. According to my account; for otherwise in respect of God our days are numbered. Stat sua cuique dies.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 102 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(23) In the way—i.e., in the course of life. Others render, “by reason of the way,” but the meaning is the same. The clause is exactly parallel to “shortened my days.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 102 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 23. He weakened my strength in the way] We are brought so low in our captivity by oppression, by every species of hard usage, and by death, that there is now no hope of our restoration by any efforts of our own.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 102 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges23–28. From the contemplation of the glorious future the Psalmist returns to the present, and takes up the thought of Psa 102:11.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 102 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe weakened my strength in the way - Margin, as in Hebrew, “afflicted.” The idea is, that God had taken his strength away; he had weakened him - humbled him - brought him low by sorrow.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 102 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.
He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.
He has taken away my strength in the middle of life; he has cut short my days.
Tyndale line
He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.
He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
He abated my strength in the way, and shortened my dayes.
Strictly literal
He weakened my strength in the way, he shortened my days.
He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath shortened my days.
He has humbled my power in the way, || He has shortened my days.
(102:24) He hath weakened on the way my strength; he hath shortened my days.
He has taken away my strength in the middle of life. He has shortened my days.
Simplified
But as for me, he broke my health while I was still young, cutting my life short.
He has taken my strength from me in the way; he has made short my days.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text presents the verse as עִנָּ֖ה בַדֶּ֥רֶךְ כֹּחִ֗י קִצַּ֥ר יָמָֽי׃. The Septuagint aligns closely with this wording, while the Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations with several words restored by editors, indicating a level of textual consistency.
עִנָּ֖ה בַדֶּ֥רֶךְ כֹּחִ֗י קִצַּ֥ר יָמָֽי׃
4 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[בהקבץ] עמים יחדו [וממלכות] [לעבד] את יהוה
3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.
בהקבץ עמים [יחדו] [וממלכות] [לעבד] [את] יהוה
3 words on the leather — 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 102:23
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
עָנָה (anah) is a Hebrew verb with a range of meanings related to affliction and humility. It can denote being occupied, as well as being bowed down, depressed, or afflicted. The word has various forms, including ways to humble oneself or to afflict others, and it appears in contexts of discipline and humility, particularly in relation to fasting.
[עָנָה] vb. be occupied, busied with
base
[עָנָה] vb. be bowed down, afflicted
Qal
be put down or become low, of song of triumph
be depressed, downcast
be afflicted
Niph.
humble oneself
be afflicted
Pi.
humble, mishandle, afflict
humble, a woman by cohabit.
afflict as a discipline
humble, weaken
Pu.
be afflicted, in discipline by God
be humbled by fasting
Hiph. afflict, in discipline
Hithp.
humble oneself
be afflicted
humble oneself in fasting
base
H6031a עָנָה be occupied, busied with H6031b עָנָה be bowed down, afflicted .. be put down or become low, of song of triumph
. be depressed, downcast
. be afflicted
. . humble oneself
. be afflicted
. . humble, mishandle, afflict
. humble, a woman by cohabit.
. afflict as a discipline
. humble, weaken
. . be afflicted, in discipline by God
. be humbled by fasting
. afflict, in discipline
. . humble oneself
. be afflicted
. humble oneself in fasting
6031 `anah aw-naw'
a primitive root (possibly rather ident. with 6030 through
the idea of looking down or browbeating); to depress literally
or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various
applications, as follows):--abase self, afflict(-ion, self),
answer (by mistake for 6030), chasten self, deal hardly with,
defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble (self), hurt,
ravish, sing (by mistake for 6030), speak (by mistake for
6030), submit self, weaken, X in any wise.
see HEBREW for 06030
see HEBREW for 06030
see HEBREW for 06030
see HEBREW for 06030
עָנָה (a.nah) — be occupied.
(Qal) to be occupied, be busied with
עָנָה (a.nah) — to afflict.
1) to afflict, oppress, humble, be afflicted, be bowed down
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be put down, become low
1a2) to be depressed, be downcast
1a3) to be afflicted
1a4) to stoop
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to humble oneself, bow down
1b2) to be afflicted, be humbled
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to humble, mishandle, afflict
1c2) to humble, be humiliated
1c3) to afflict
1d4) to humble, weaken oneself
1d) (Pual)
1d1) to be afflicted
1d2) to be humbled
1e) (Hiphil) to afflict
1f) (Hithpael)
1f1) to humble oneself
1f2) to be afflicted
Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָי "to afflict" H6033)
HVpp3ms — Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singularHVpp3ms
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.
דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner
way, road, path
journey
of direction, almost or quite = toward
way, manner
fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
of moral action and character
of duty
specif.: in good sense
oftener in bad sense
way of י׳
base
H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path
. journey
. of direction, almost or quite = toward
. way, manner
. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
. . of moral action and character
. of duty
. specif.: in good sense
. oftener in bad sense
. way of י׳
1870 derek deh'-rek
from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of
life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because
of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,
passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),
whither(-soever).
see HEBREW for 01869
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.
: conduct/lifestyle
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.
This name means way, road
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.
This name means way, road
Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.
: direction
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.
: road/route
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.
: journey
HRd/Ncbsa — Preposition · noun common both singular absoluteHRd/Ncbsa
wa ('orach, orcha', 'erets, bo', derekh, halikhah, ma`galah, nathibh; hodos, parodos, poreia, tropos; "highway," mecillah, meclul; diexodoi ton hodon): The list just cited contains only a portion of the words translated "way" or "highway" in the King James Version. Most of them have the primary meaning of "road," "customary path," "course of travel" (Ge 3:24; Ex 23:20; Nu 20:17, etc.). By a very easy and natural figure "way" is applied to the course of human conduct, the manner of life which one lives (Ex 18:20; 32:8; Nu 22:32; 1Sa 8:3;
כֹּחַ (koach) refers to both a small reptile, likely a type of lizard, and the concepts of strength and power. The entries highlight its use in contexts of human and divine strength, as well as its association with wealth and capacity. Notably, it appears in Leviticus 11:30 regarding unclean animals.
כֹּחַ n.[m.] a small reptile, prob. a kind of lizard, in list of unclean creeping things Lv 11:30; chameleon
ref
כֹּחַ and כּוֹחַ n.m. strength, power
base
H3581a כֹּחַ a small reptile, prob. a kind of lizard, in list of unclean creeping things; chameleon H3581b כֹּחַ and כּוֹחַ strength, power
3581 koach ko'-akh
or (Dan. 11:6) kowach {ko'-akh}; from an unused root meaning
to be firm; vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense)
or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its
hardiness) a large lizard: -ability, able, chameleon, force,
fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth.
כֹּחַ (ko.ach) — reptile.
1) a small reptile, probably a kind of lizard, which is unclean
1a) perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning is unknown
כֹּחַ (ko.ach) — strength.
1) strength, power, might
1a) human strength
1b) strength (of angels)
1c) power (of God)
1d) strength (of animals)
1e) strength, produce, wealth (of soil)
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
קָצֵר (qatsar) is a Hebrew word that primarily means 'to be short' or 'to reap.' It is built from a primitive root that conveys the idea of curtailing or harvesting, applicable in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate that it can express feelings of impatience or grief, as well as the act of harvesting crops.
[קָצֵר], I. קָצַר vb. be short
Qal be short
Pi. shorten
Hiph. id.
base
[קָצַר] vb. reap, harvest
H7114a קָצֵר, קָצַר be short H7114b קָצַר reap, harvest
7114 qatsar kaw-tsar'
a primitive root; to dock off, i.e. curtail (transitive or
intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest
(grass or grain):--X at all, cut down, much discouraged,
grieve, harvestman, lothe, mourn, reap(-er), (be, wax)
short(-en, -er), straiten, trouble, vex.
קָצֵר (qa.tser) — be short.
1) to be short, be impatient, be vexed, be grieved
1a) (Qal) to be short
1b) (Piel) to shorten
1c) (Hiphil) to shorten
קָצַר (qa.tsar) — to reap.
1) to reap, harvest
1a) (Qal) to reap, harvest
1b) (Hiphil) to reap, harvest
HVpp3ms — Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singularHVpp3ms
יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
day, opp. night
Day as division of time
יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
Pl. days of anyone
Days
יוֹם = time
Phrases
base
H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night
. Day as division of time
. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
. Pl. days of anyone
. Days
. יוֹם = time
. Phrases
3117 yowm yome
from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm
hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one
sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by
an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +
chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)
day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +
(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as
(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,
presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,
then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,
weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole
(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
יוֹם (yom) — day.
: 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
יוֹם (yom) — day: old.
: old/(full/many)[days]
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
יוֹם (yom) — day: year.
: year[of_days]
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
HNcmpc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs