Psalms 109:22

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For I [am] poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For I am poor and needy, and my heart within me is wounded.

Berean Standard Bible:

For I am poor and needy; my heart is wounded within me.

American Standard Version:

For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For I am poor{H6041} and needy{H34}, and my heart{H3820} is wounded{H2490} within{H7130} me.

Cross-References (KJV):

Psalms 86:1

  • ¶ A Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I [am] poor and needy.

Psalms 22:6

  • But I [am] a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

Psalms 40:17

  • But I [am] poor and needy; [yet] the Lord thinketh upon me: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Psalms 102:4

  • My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

Job 6:4

  • For the arrows of the Almighty [are] within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Matthew 8:20

  • And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.

Psalms 88:15

  • I [am] afflicted and ready to die from [my] youth up: [while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

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Commentary for Psalms 109:22

Psalm 109:22 is part of a longer psalm traditionally attributed to King David, although the actual author is not definitively known. This particular verse falls within a section of the psalm that expresses deep personal anguish and suffering. The psalmist is crying out to God in a time of great distress, feeling both physically and emotionally afflicted.

The themes of this verse include the vulnerability and desperation of the psalmist. He describes himself as "poor and needy," indicating not only material poverty but also a profound sense of spiritual and emotional destitution. The phrase "my heart is wounded within me" suggests internal pain, possibly due to the betrayal or malice of enemies, as the broader context of Psalm 109 deals with unjust suffering and the desire for divine retribution against those who have wronged the psalmist.

Historically, this psalm is part of the genre of lament psalms, which were common in the ancient Near East. These laments served as a way for individuals to bring their complaints and petitions before God, often in the context of temple worship. The honest and raw expression of pain and the appeal for God's intervention reflect the psalmist's deep trust in God's justice and mercy, despite the harsh realities he faces.

In summary, Psalm 109:22 captures the psalmist's profound sense of personal anguish and neediness, with a heart that is internally wounded, likely due to the actions of adversaries. It reflects the broader themes of lament and trust in God's ultimate justice, common to the book of Psalms, and it serves as a powerful example of the personal relationship between the faithful and God in times of deep distress.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H6041
    There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָנִי
    Transliteration: ʻânîy
    Pronunciation: aw-nee'
    Description: from עָנָה; (practically the same as עָנָו, although the margin constantly disputes this, making עָנָו subjective and objective); depressed, in mind or circumstances; afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor.
  2. Strong's Number: H34
    There are 4910 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶבְיוֹן
    Transliteration: ʼebyôwn
    Pronunciation: eb-yone'
    Description: from אָבָה, in the sense of want (especially in feeling); destitute; beggar, needy, poor (man).
  3. Strong's Number: H3820
    There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לֵב
    Transliteration: lêb
    Pronunciation: labe
    Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [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.
  4. Strong's Number: H2490
    There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָלַל
    Transliteration: châlal
    Pronunciation: khaw-lal'
    Description: a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge'); to play (the flute); begin ([idiom] men began), defile, [idiom] break, defile, [idiom] eat (as common things), [idiom] first, [idiom] gather the grape thereof, [idiom] take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.
  5. Strong's Number: H7130
    There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קֶרֶב
    Transliteration: qereb
    Pronunciation: keh'-reb
    Description: from קָרַב; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition); [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self.