Psalms 102:4

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

My heart {H3820} is smitten {H5221}, and withered {H3001} like grass {H6212}; so that I forget {H7911} to eat {H398} my bread {H3899}.

I am stricken and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.

My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.

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

Psalms 102:4 vividly expresses the profound suffering of the psalmist, whose distress is so severe that it affects his most basic physical needs. This verse is part of a larger lament, often referred to as a "prayer of the afflicted" when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord.

Context

Psalm 102 is one of the seven penitential psalms and a poignant individual lament. The speaker is in deep physical and emotional anguish, possibly facing illness, exile, or intense persecution. The psalm begins with a desperate plea for God to hear his prayer (Psalm 102:1-2) and then descends into a detailed description of his suffering, both internal and external. This verse, in particular, highlights the debilitating nature of his grief, which has rendered him unable to even sustain himself, showcasing the profound impact of his sorrow.

Key Themes

  • Overwhelming Grief and Despair: The phrase "My heart is smitten, and withered like grass" conveys a sense of complete emotional devastation, as if his very core has been struck and dried up. This imagery speaks to the profound sorrow that consumes the individual, leading to a state of deep despair.
  • Physical Manifestation of Emotional Pain: The psalmist's emotional agony is so intense that it manifests physically, leading to a complete loss of appetite. "So that I forget to eat my bread" illustrates how deep spiritual or emotional distress can impact the body, making even essential self-care impossible due to the overwhelming nature of the suffering.
  • Human Frailty and Transience: The simile "withered like grass" is a common biblical metaphor for the fleeting nature of human life and strength, especially when facing hardship (see also Psalm 37:2 or Isaiah 40:7). Here, it emphasizes the psalmist's sense of rapid decline and vulnerability.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "smitten" (נָכָה, nakah) can imply being struck or afflicted, often by God's hand as a form of judgment or discipline, though here it conveys the severe impact of his circumstances and the feeling of being struck down.
  • "Withered" (יָבֵשׁ, yabesh) literally means to dry up or shrivel, powerfully depicting the psalmist's vitality draining away as a result of his inner turmoil.
  • "Forget to eat my bread" is a stark and relatable image of severe distress, indicating a state where basic survival instincts are overridden by overwhelming sorrow, illustrating a complete lack of desire for nourishment.

Practical Application

Psalms 102:4 offers a profound validation of human suffering. It teaches us that it is permissible and even necessary to express the depth of our pain, even when it feels debilitating, to God. The psalmist's raw honesty provides a template for pouring out our complaints before the Lord. In moments when grief or anxiety are so overwhelming that we neglect ourselves, this verse reminds us that God understands and is present in our brokenness. It encourages empathy for those experiencing profound distress and highlights the interconnectedness of our emotional and physical well-being, urging us to seek comfort and solace in God.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 37:2

    For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

  • Isaiah 40:7

    The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people [is] grass.

  • Ezra 10:6

    ¶ Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and [when] he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

  • Psalms 77:3

    I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

  • Psalms 102:11

    My days [are] like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

  • Job 10:1

    ¶ My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

  • Psalms 69:20

    Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked [for some] to take pity, but [there was] none; and for comforters, but I found none.

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