King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
Complete Jewish Bible:
My knees are weak from lack of food, my flesh wastes away for lack of nourishment.
Berean Standard Bible:
My knees are weak from fasting, and my body grows lean and gaunt.
American Standard Version:
My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
My knees{H1290} are weak{H3782} through fasting{H6685}; and my flesh{H1320} faileth{H3584} of fatness{H8081}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 32:3
- When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
Psalms 32:4
- For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
Psalms 22:14
- I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Matthew 4:2
- And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Hebrews 12:12
- Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Job 19:20
- My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
Psalms 35:13
- But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
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Commentary for Psalms 109:24
Psalm 109:24 is part of a longer psalm attributed to King David, which is a prayer for deliverance from enemies. This particular verse reflects the psalmist's deep distress and physical suffering as a result of the persecution he is enduring. The phrase "My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness" conveys the depth of the psalmist's anguish, indicating that his body has been so consumed by his troubles that he has lost strength and vitality. The fasting mentioned suggests a state of mourning or intense prayer, which has taken a physical toll on the psalmist.
In the historical context of the ancient Near East, fasting was a common practice during times of distress, repentance, or deep supplication to God. It was believed that by denying oneself physical sustenance, one could focus more intently on spiritual matters and demonstrate sincerity and urgency before God. The physical effects described in this verse, therefore, serve as a tangible expression of the psalmist's inner turmoil and his desperate need for divine intervention.
The broader themes of Psalm 109 include the cry for justice, the experience of unjust suffering, and the confidence in God's ultimate vindication of the righteous. The psalm alternates between imprecations against the wicked and expressions of trust in God's justice. In verse 24, the physical weakness of the psalmist underscores the severity of his situation and his reliance on God, setting the stage for the subsequent appeals for help and the affirmation of God's faithful love. This verse captures the profound impact that spiritual and emotional trials can have on the human body, and it serves as a powerful testament to the depth of faith required to endure such hardships while maintaining hope in God's deliverance.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1290
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֶּרֶךְ
Transliteration: berek
Pronunciation: beh'-rek
Description: from בָרַךְ; a knee; knee. - Strong's Number: H3782
There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּשַׁל
Transliteration: kâshal
Pronunciation: kaw-shal'
Description: a primitive root; to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall; bereave (from the margin), cast down, be decayed, (cause to) fail, (cause, make to) fall (down, -ing), feeble, be (the) ruin(-ed, of), (be) overthrown, (cause to) stumble, [idiom] utterly, be weak. - Strong's Number: H6685
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צוֹם
Transliteration: tsôwm
Pronunciation: tsome
Description: or צֹם; from צוּם; a fast; fast(-ing). - Strong's Number: H1320
There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּשָׂר
Transliteration: bâsâr
Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. - Strong's Number: H3584
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּחַשׁ
Transliteration: kâchash
Pronunciation: kaw-khash'
Description: a primitive root; to be untrue, in word (to lie, feign, disown) or deed (to disappoint, fail, cringe); deceive, deny, dissemble, fail, deal falsely, be found liars, (be-) lie, lying, submit selves. - Strong's Number: H8081
There are 176 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׁמֶן
Transliteration: shemen
Pronunciation: sheh'-men
Description: from שָׁמַן; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness; anointing, [idiom] fat (things), [idiom] fruitful, oil(-ed), ointment, olive, [phrase] pine.