Psalms 73:2 — Word Study
WLCוַאֲנִ֗י כִּ֭מְעַט נָטָ֣יוּ רַגְלָ֑י כְּ֝אַ֗יִן שֻׁפְּכ֥וּ אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃
BSABut as for meʼănîy [I, the psalmist] my feetregel [steps, the path I walk] had almostmᵉʻaṭ stumblednâṭâh [slipped, lost balance] my stepsʼâshur [the way I go, my journey] had nearlyʼayin slippedshâphak■ [gone astray, fallen]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַאֲנִ֗י | and I | Conjunction, pronoun |
| כִּ֭מְעַט | like a little | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| נָטָ֣יוּ | they had turned aside | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| רַגְלָ֑י | feet my | Noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| כְּ֝אַ֗יִן | like nothing | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| שֻׁפְּכ֥וּ | they had been poured out | Verb, Pual, perfect third person common plural |
| אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃ | steps 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 | But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. |
| KJV | But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. |
| ASV | But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped. |
| YLT | As nothing, have my steps slipped, For I have been envious of the boastful, |
| WEB | But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped. |
| BBE | But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping; |
The translations agree on the core meaning of the psalmist's struggle, emphasizing the near miss in his faith journey.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a subordinate clause, emphasizing the psalmist's personal experience of near failure.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָטָה
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 73:2
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 — Reflections on Faith and Strugglegenerated
Psalm 73:2 captures a moment of vulnerability for the psalmist, who acknowledges a close call with spiritual failure. This verse is part of a larger meditation on the apparent prosperity of the wicked and the challenges faced by the faithful. The psalmist's honesty about his struggles invites readers to reflect on their own faith journeys and moments of doubt.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 5:7 | But I will enter Your house by the abundance of Your loving devotion; in reverence I will bow down toward Your holy temple. |
| 2 | Psalm 17:15 | As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence. |
| 3 | Psalm 35:13 | Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered. |
| 4 | Joshua 24:15 | But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 12:23 | As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נָטָ֣יוּ, na.Ta.yugenerated
The verb נָטָה, transliterated as natah, means 'to stretch out' or 'to turn aside.' It can describe both physical movement and moral deviation. In this context, it conveys the idea of nearly losing one's balance in faith, suggesting a moment of weakness or faltering.
The parsing indicates that this is a perfect tense form, meaning the action is completed but has ongoing relevance. The psalmist's admission of nearly slipping emphasizes the fragility of faith and the constant need for vigilance against spiritual distractions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb governing the verse is נָטָ֣יוּ, they had turned aside, which is supported by a prepositional phrase indicating the subject's feet and another verb phrase describing the action of slipping. The structure highlights the psalmist's personal experience of near failure.
The order of the Hebrew words emphasizes the psalmist's personal struggle first, followed by the description of his feet and steps, illustrating a direct connection between his identity and his spiritual journey.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נָטָ֣יוּ with ἐσαλεύθησαν, meaning 'they were shaken' or 'moved.' This choice reflects a slight widening of the original meaning, emphasizing instability rather than just a literal slipping.
This translation choice indicates a focus on the emotional turmoil of the psalmist, suggesting that the struggle was not only physical but also deeply felt in his spirit.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 73:2 shows the psalmist admitting that he almost lost his way. He reflects on how close he came to stumbling in his faith, which highlights the challenges he faced when comparing himself to the apparent ease of the wicked.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates a moment of weakness in faith, where the psalmist felt he could easily fall away from his trust in God.
He shares his vulnerability to connect with others who may feel the same way, emphasizing that doubt can be a part of the faith journey.
This verse sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the contrasts between the lives of the wicked and the righteous, illustrating the psalmist's internal conflict.
We can learn that moments of doubt and struggle are common in the life of faith, and it's important to acknowledge them rather than hide them.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- Have I ever felt like my faith was slipping? What caused that feeling?
- How can I support others who are struggling in their faith?
- What practices help me maintain my spiritual footing during difficult times?
- In what ways can I remind myself of God's goodness when I feel tempted to doubt?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early interpretations, such as those by Augustine of Hippo, reflect on the psalmist's struggle, using this verse to illustrate the challenges of faith.
But what to you? "But my feet were almost moved" [Psalms 73:2]. When were the feet moved,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 73 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 73:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBut as for me,.... Who am one of the Israel of God whose heart has been renewed and purified by the grace of God, and to whom he has been kind and good in a thousand instances; yet, ungrateful
Read John Gill on Psalms 73 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBut as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. But as for me, my feet were almost gone. The "as for me" is emphatic.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 73 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleYet I must acknowledge this with grief and shame concerning myself; notwithstanding all my knowledge of this truth, and my own experience and observation of God’ s gracious dealings with me, and other good men, my feet were almost gone; my faith in God’ s promises and providence was almost overthrown by the three of this temptation; and I was almost ready to repent of my piety, , and to follow the example of ungodly men. Had well nigh slipped, Heb. were almost poured forth, like water upon the ground, which is unstable, and runs hither and thither, with great disorder and uncertainty, till it be irrecoverably lost. So was I almost transported by my own unruly passions into unworthy thoughts…
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 73 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.Ver. 2. But as for me, my feet were almost gone] i.e. I was well nigh brought to believe that there was no Divine providence; as the Athenians did when their good General Nicias was worsted and slain in Sicily (Thucyd.); as Pompey did, when having the better cause, he was overcome by Caesar; as Brutus did (that last of the Romans as he was called for his courage), when beaten out of the field by Antony, he cried out W τλημωναρετη, now I see that virtue is nothing, but all things are moderated by fortune, whom he charged his children therefore to worship, as a goddess of greatest power. My steps had well nigh…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 73 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) Slipped.—Literally, were poured out. This metaphor for weakness and instability is obvious. Comp. “Dissolvuntur enim turn demum membra fluuntque.” , iv. 920.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 73 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. My feet were almost gone] I had nearly given up my confidence. I was ready to find fault with the dispensations of providence; and thought the Judge of all the earth did not do right.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 73 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. But the Psalmist had almost lost his faith in God’s goodness. He had as it were all but swerved from the right path (Psalms 44:18); all but lost his footing in the slippery places of life’s journey (Psalms 17:5).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 73 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBut as for me - literally, “And I.” The meaning is, “And I, who so confidently now trust in God, and believe that he is good, was formerly in a far different state of mind; I was so hesitating, so
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 73 →The verse in English, compared — 17 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
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slid out from under me.
Tyndale line
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
As for me, my feete were almost gone: my steps had well neere slipt.
Strictly literal
But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;
As nothing, have my steps slipped, For I have been envious of the boastful,
As nothing, my steps have slipped, || For I have been envious of the boastful,
But as for me, it lacked but little that my feet had been moved: almost nothing was needed that my steps had slipped.
But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slipped out from under me
From the Latin
Remember thy congregation, which thou hast possessed from the beginning. The sceptre of thy inheritance which thou hast redeemed: mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt.
Simplified
But I was stumbling, my feet were starting to slide,
But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;
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 of Psalms 73:2 reads, "וַאֲנִ֗י כִּ֭מְעַט נָטָ֣יוּ רַגְלָ֑י כְּ֝אַ֗יִן שֻׁפְּכ֥וּ אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃" which translates to, "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all seven words correspond, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. There are no significant variations in the core message between these witnesses, indicating a strong consistency in this verse across the texts.
וַאֲנִ֗י כִּ֭מְעַט נָטָ֣יוּ רַגְלָ֑י כְּ֝אַ֗יִן שֻׁפְּכ֥וּ אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃
7 of the 7 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.
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 73:2
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.
אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I
base
H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I
589 'aniy an-ee'
contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X
which, X who.
see HEBREW for 0595
אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.
I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronounHC/Pp1bs
מְעַט (m`at) refers to something that is small in quantity or degree, encompassing meanings like 'a little' or 'few.' It can be used adverbially to indicate a small amount or to describe something as almost or hardly. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to be small' and is associated with concepts of littleness and fewness.
מְעַט 101 subst. a little, fewness, a few
base
H4592 מְעַט a little, fewness, a few
4592 m`at meh-at'
or miat {meh-awt'}; from 4591; a little or few (often
adverbial or compar.):--almost (some, very) few(-er, -est),
lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some,
soon, X very.
see HEBREW for 04591
מְעַט (me.at) — little.
1) littleness, few, a little, fewness
1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little
1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
נָטָה (natah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out, spread out, or extend. It encompasses a wide range of actions, including bending, inclining, and pitching a tent. The word can also imply moral deflection or turning aside. The entries suggest various applications, from physical actions to metaphorical uses, but do not indicate significant disagreement among the lexicons.
נָטָה 215 vb. stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
Qal
stretch out, extend, hand, rod
stretch line and plummet
= offer
Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
Bend, turn, incline
Niph. be stretched out
Hiph.
rarely stretch out, hand
rarely spread out cloth on rock
usu. turn, incline
base
H5186 נָטָה stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend .. . stretch out, extend, hand, rod
. stretch line and plummet
. = offer
. Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
. Bend, turn, incline
. be stretched out
. . rarely stretch out, hand
. rarely spread out cloth on rock
. usu. turn, incline
5186 natah naw-taw'
a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication,
to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great
variety of application (as follows):--+ afternoon, apply, bow
(down, - ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down,
be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched,
overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread
(out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away),
wrest, cause to yield.
נָטָה (na.tah) — to stretch.
1) to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer
1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent)
1a3) to bend, turn, incline
1a3a) to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down
1a3b) to bend, bow
1a3c) to hold out, extend (fig.)
1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to stretch out
1c2) to spread out
1c3) to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
a-sid': "Distinct from others," "privately," such is the sense of the word in 2Ki 4:4; Mr 7:33. Also "to withdraw" (Lu 9:10 the King James Version; Ac 23:19: hupochoreo, also anachoreo). One is said to have turned aside when he departs from the path of rectitude (Ps 14:3; Sirach 2:7; 1Ti 1:6). In a figurative sense it is used to express the thought of putting aside, to renounce, every hindrance or impediment to a consecrated earnest Christian life (Heb 12:1: apotithemi).
רֶ֫גֶל (regel) means 'foot' and can refer to a foot or leg in various contexts, including anthropomorphic references to God and other beings. It also implies steps or paces. The word is derived from a root meaning related to walking, and it appears in multiple forms, such as feet and paces.
רֶ֫גֶל 247 n.f. foot
foot
three times (feet, paces)
base
H7272 רֶ֫גֶל foot . foot
. three times (feet, paces)
7272 regel reh'-gel
from 7270; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a
step; by euphem. the pudenda:--X be able to endure, X
according as, X after, X coming, X follow,
((broken-))foot((-ed, -stool)), X great toe, X haunt, X
journey, leg, + piss, + possession, time.
see HEBREW for 07270
רֶ֫גֶל (re.gel) — foot.
1) foot
1a) foot, leg
1b) of God (anthropomorphic)
1c) of seraphim, cherubim, idols, animals, table
1d) according to the pace of (with prep)
1e) three times (feet, paces)
Aramaic equivalent: re.gal (רְגַל "foot" H7271)
N-fd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHNcfdc/Sp1bs
אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.
אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought
to nothing, as nothing
cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
in circumst. clauses
with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
with prefixes
base
H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing
. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
. in circumst. clauses
. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
. with prefixes
369 'ayin ah'-yin
as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not
exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative
particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,
in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,
thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),
well-nigh, without. Compare 370.
see HEBREW for 0370
אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.
1) nothing, not, nought n
1a) nothing, nought neg
1b) not
1c) to have not (of possession) adv
1d) without w/prep
1e) for lack of
Prep | Part — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
nuth'-ing (lo', lo' @me'umah, etc.; medeis, oudeis): "Nothing" is represented by various words and phrases, often with lo', which is properly a substantive with the meaning of "nothing." Most frequently we have lo' me'umah, "not anything" (Ge 40:15; Jud 14:6).
Other forms are lo' dhabhar, "not anything"; (Ge 19:8); lo'khol, "not any(thing)" (Ge 11:6; Pr 13:7); la' (Aramaic), "no," "nothing" (Da 4:35, "as nothing"); 'ephec, "end," "cessation" (Isa 34:12); bilti, "without," "save," "not" (
שָׁפַךְ (shaphak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pour out or spill. It encompasses a range of actions, including pouring liquids, shedding blood, and even expressing emotions like anger. The word can also imply figurative uses, such as expending life or resources. Various forms of the verb exist, indicating different nuances, such as being poured out or pouring oneself out.
שָׁפַךְ 113 vb. pour out, pour
Qal
lit.
fig.
Niph. be poured out
Pu. be poured out
Hithp. my soul pours itself out upon me
base
H8210 שָׁפַךְ pour out, pour
8210 shaphak shaw-fak'
a primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid
metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also (figuratively)
to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc.); intensively,
to sprawl out:--cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed(-der,
out), slip.
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: pour.
: pour
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to be poured out
1d2) to pour out oneself
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: kill.
: kill/shed(blood/life)
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to be poured out
1d2) to pour out oneself
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: build siege mound.
: build_siege_mound
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
V-Q-Perf-3fs — Verb · Pual · perfect third person common pluralHVPp3cp
אֲשׁוּר (ashur) and אַשֻּׁר (ashshur) both mean 'step' or 'going.' They are derived from the same root and represent the concept of movement or progression. The entries consistently emphasize this meaning without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[אֲשׁוּר, אָשׁוּר] n.f. step, going
base
[אַשֻּׁר] n.f. step, going
base
H838a אֲשׁוּר, אָשׁוּר step, going H838b אַשֻּׁר step, going
838 'ashur aw-shoor'
or ashshur {ash-shoor'}; from 833 in the sense of going; a
step:--going, step.
see HEBREW for 0833
אֲשׁוּר (a.shur) — step.
step, going
Also means: a.shur (אַשֻּׁר "step" H0838B)
אַשֻּׁר (a.shur) — step.
step, going
Another spelling of a.shur (אֲשׁוּר "step" H0838A)
N-fp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs