Psalms 69:10 — Word Study
WLCוָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה בַצּ֣וֹם נַפְשִׁ֑י וַתְּהִ֖י לַחֲרָפ֣וֹת לִֽי׃
BSAreproachcherpâh
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה | and I wept | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect first person common singular |
| בַצּ֣וֹם | with fasting | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| נַפְשִׁ֑י | self my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וַתְּהִ֖י | and it became | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person feminine singular |
| לַחֲרָפ֣וֹת | reproach | Preposition, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| לִֽי׃ | to me | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach. |
| KJV | When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. |
| ASV | When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, That was to my reproach. |
| YLT | And I weep in the fasting of my soul, And it is for a reproach to me. |
| WEB | When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach. |
| BBE | My bitter weeping, and my going without food, were turned to my shame. |
The translations agree on the overall meaning of the verse, maintaining the key elements of weeping, fasting, and reproach.
The structure emphasizes the contrast between the psalmist's actions and the resulting reproach.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbקִנְאָה
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 69:10
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 — The Lament of the Righteous Sufferergenerated
Psalm 69:10 captures the psalmist's emotional turmoil as he weeps and fasts in devotion, yet faces ridicule instead of support. This lament reflects the struggles of those who earnestly seek God but find themselves in distress, paralleling themes found in other psalms where the faithful cry out in their anguish. The psalmist's experience resonates with those who feel misunderstood or scorned for their faithfulness, as seen in the surrounding verses where he continues to describe his plight and the mockery he endures.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 102:8–9 | All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me. |
| 2 | Psalm 109:24–25 | My knees are weak from fasting, and my body grows lean and gaunt. |
| 3 | Luke 7:33–34 | For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה, va.'ev.Kehgenerated
The verb בָּכָה (bakah) means to weep or cry, often associated with deep sorrow or mourning. In this verse, it indicates the psalmist's profound grief as he turns to God in his time of need.
The Qal form suggests a straightforward action of weeping, emphasizing the sincerity and raw emotion behind the act. This word is frequently used in the context of lamentation, highlighting the psalmist's vulnerability and the intensity of his feelings.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse reads I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach, a rendering that aligns with the KJV, ASV, and YLT.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse is structured around two main actions connected by 'but': וָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה (and I wept) and בַצּ֣וֹם (with fasting). The contrast emphasizes the psalmist's sincere efforts and the unexpected outcome of reproach.
The finite verbs וָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה and תְּהִ֖י anchor the clauses, with the first expressing the psalmist's action and the second indicating the resulting shame, creating a poignant contrast between devotion and its consequences.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה as ζῆλος (zelos), which can imply zeal or fervor, suggesting a broader interpretation of the psalmist's emotional state. This choice indicates a shift from a focus solely on weeping to an emphasis on passionate devotion.
The term ὀνειδισμοὶ for reproach in the LXX reinforces the idea of scorn and humiliation, aligning with the Hebrew meaning while also reflecting the cultural context of the Greek-speaking audience.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 69:10 shows the psalmist weeping and fasting in sorrow, but instead of finding relief, he experiences shame. This verse highlights the struggles of those who seek God earnestly but face ridicule instead.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist expresses deep sorrow and humility through his actions, seeking God's help and favor during a difficult time.
The reproach signifies the misunderstanding and scorn he faces from others, even when he is sincerely trying to connect with God.
This verse reflects common themes in the psalms where the faithful lament their suffering and express their devotion, often facing ridicule from others.
The psalmist's experience teaches us that sincere devotion can sometimes lead to misunderstanding or scorn, yet it remains a vital part of the faith journey.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life have I experienced ridicule for my beliefs or actions?
- How can I respond to scorn in a way that reflects my faith and devotion?
- What does fasting mean to me, and how can I incorporate it into my spiritual practice?
- How can I support others who may be facing shame or ridicule for their faith?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers have commented on this verse, noting the psalmist's lament and the spiritual significance of his fasting and weeping.
"And I have covered in fasting My Soul, and it became to Me for a reviling" [Psalms 69:10].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 69 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 69:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhen I wept,.... Because of the sins of his people imputed to him; the hardness and unbelief of the Jews that rejected him; their impiety and profaneness in polluting the temple with their
Read John Gill on Psalms 69 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryO God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 69 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWept for their impiety and reproaches which they cast upon God and godliness. Chastened; which word is here understood out of ; as it is also in ,14, out of , where it is expressed. My soul; either my body, or myself; the soul being oft used both ways. That was to my reproach; they derided me for my piety and devotion, and for my faith in God’ s promises, and hopes of assistance from him.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 69 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 69:10 When I wept, [and chastened] my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.Ver. 10. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting] That I might thereby beat down my body, and tame that rebel flesh of mine. That was to my reproach] They said I did it in hypocrisy and design. So they dealt by the Baptist, that crucifix of mortification, Luke 7:33.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 69 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(10) When I wept . . .—The expression I wept (or lamented) my soul with fasting is hardly intelligible, though perhaps we might say I wept out my soul with fasting. The LXX. and Psalms 35:13 suggest an emendation to “I humbled my soul with fasting.” To my reproach.—Quite literally and better, a reproach to me. Those who made light of the covenant altogether, who were in heart apostates both to faith and patriotism, would naturally treat with contempt those outward signs by which an erring Israelite owned his offence and sought reconciliation.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 69 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges7–12. Such discouragement must be the inevitable consequence if he is abandoned, for it is for God’s sake that he is persecuted and defamed. Comp. the plea of the nation in Psalms 44:14 ff.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 69 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhen I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting - The words “and chastened” are not in the original.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 69 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible10, 11. When I wept… with fasting… sackcloth—Possibly because of the public depravation of morals, and the alienation from spiritual worship; perhaps for his own sin. Psalms 38, 41, 51.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 69 →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
I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.
When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.
I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.
I weep and refrain from eating food, which causes others to insult me.
Tyndale line
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, That was to my reproach.
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
I wept and my soule fasted, but that was to my reproofe.
Strictly literal
And I wept, my soul was fasting: that also was to my reproach; —
And I weep in the fasting of my soul, And it is for a reproach to me.
And I weep in the fasting of my soul, || And it is for a reproach to me.
(69:11) When I wept at the fasting of my soul, it became a reproach to me.
When I wept and did not eat food, they insulted me.
Simplified
I wept and I fasted, but they mocked me;
My bitter weeping, and my going without food, were turned to my shame.
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 reads, "וָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה בַצּ֣וֹם נַפְשִׁ֑י וַתְּהִ֖י לַחֲרָפ֣וֹת לִֽי׃" which translates to "I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in terms of the words used, although its word order and articles differ due to its own grammatical structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q83) provide a fragmentary text that includes three words, with some parts restored and others supplied by an editor, indicating a different wording that does not directly match the Masoretic Text but reflects a similar sentiment regarding reproach. Overall, the Septuagint aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, while the Dead Sea Scrolls show some variation in wording and restoration.
וָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה בַצּ֣וֹם נַפְשִׁ֑י וַתְּהִ֖י לַחֲרָפ֣וֹת לִֽי׃
6 of the 6 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.
כי קנאת [בית׳כה] אכלת׳ני וחרפות [חורפי׳כה] נפלו על׳י
3 words on the leather — 3 partly restored, 2 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 69:10
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.
בָּכָה (bakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to weep or bewail. It encompasses various forms of weeping, including expressions of grief, humiliation, or joy, and can denote lamentation or crying bitterly. The entries highlight its use in both the Qal and Piel stems, indicating different nuances of weeping.
בָּכָה 114 vb. weep, bewail
Qal
weep
weep bitterly
weep upon
bewail
in sense of burden, annoy with weeping
of penitent weeping
Pi. lament; bewail
base
H1058 בָּכָה weep, bewail
1058 bakah baw-kaw'
a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan:--X at all,
bewail, complain, make lamentation, X more, mourn, X sore, X
with tears, weep.
בָּכָה (ba.khah) — to weep.
1) to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to weep (in grief, humiliation, or joy)
1a2) to weep bitterly (with cognate acc.)
1a3) to weep upon (embrace and weep)
1a4) to bewail
1b) (Piel) participle
1b1) lamenting
1b2) bewailing
Hc/Vqw1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singularHc/Vqw1cs
צוֹם (tsom) refers to fasting or a fast. It is derived from a root meaning related to abstaining from food, as indicated in the entries. The term is used in contexts related to religious observance, though specific verse references are not provided.
צוֹם n.m. fasting, fast
base
H6685 צוֹם fasting, fast
6685 tsowm tsome
or tsom {tsome}; from from 6684; a fast: --fast(-ing).
see HEBREW for 06684
צוֹם (tsom) — fast.
fast, fasting
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
In all ages, and among all nations, fasting has been practiced in times of sorrow, and affliction, Jon 3:5. It may be regarded as a dictate of nature, which under these circumstances refuses nourishment, and suspends the cravings of hunger. In the Bible no example is mentioned of fasting, properly so-called, before Moses. His forty days’ fast, like that of Elijah and of our Lord, was miraculous, De 9:9 1Ki 19:8 Mt 4:2. The Jews often had recourse to this practice, when they had occasion to humble themselves before God, to confess their sins and deprecate his displeasure, Jud 20:26
The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.
נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
The נפשׁ becomes a living being
The נפשׁ is specif.
The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
נ׳ in D
base
H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
. The נפשׁ becomes a living being
. The נפשׁ is specif.
. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
. נ׳ in D
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,
accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,
appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,
X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),
(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,
mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,
thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,
thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
see HEBREW for 05314
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
1i1) uncertain
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
HNcfsc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Hc/Vqw3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqw3fs
חֶרְפָּה (cherpah) means reproach or taunt, often associated with shame or disgrace. It can refer to the condition of being reproached or the object of reproach itself. The word is derived from חָרַף (charaf), which relates to scorn or rebuke.
חֶרְפָּה n.f. reproach
taunt of enemy
reproach which rests upon one, condition of shame, disgrace
a reproach, the object of reproach, the person or thing reproached
base
H2781 חֶרְפָּה reproach . taunt of enemy
. reproach which rests upon one, condition of shame, disgrace
. a reproach, the object of reproach, the person or thing reproached
2781 cherpah kher-paw'
from 2778; contumely, disgrace, the pudenda:--rebuke,
reproach(-fully), shame.
see HEBREW for 02778
חֶרְפָּה (cher.pah) — reproach.
1) reproach, scorn
1a) taunt, scorn (upon enemy)
1b) reproach (resting upon condition of shame, disgrace)
1c) a reproach (an object)
Conj | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absoluteHR/Ncfpa
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HRd/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp1bs