Psalms 102:5

KJV

By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

KJV (with Strong's)

By reason of the voice {H6963} of my groaning {H585} my bones {H6106} cleave {H1692} to my skin {H1320}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Because of my loud groaning, I am just skin and bones.

Berean Standard Bible

Through my loud groaning my flesh clings to my bones.

American Standard Version

By reason of the voice of my groaning My bones cleave to my flesh.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 102:5 vividly portrays the psalmist's extreme physical and emotional distress, where profound inner anguish has manifested in severe bodily decay. The verse describes a state of emaciation so severe that "my bones cleave to my skin," directly attributing this physical wasting to the ceaseless "voice of my groaning." It is a raw, desperate cry from one overwhelmed by suffering, highlighting the deep connection between the soul's turmoil and the body's condition, even as the psalmist pours out his complaint before the Lord.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 102 is a deeply personal lament, indicated by its superscription: "A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD." This verse falls within the opening section of the psalm (vv. 1-11), where the psalmist details his desperate condition. He describes himself as withered like grass (v. 4), isolated like a desert owl or solitary sparrow (vv. 6-7), and consumed by sorrow. Verse 5 serves as a visceral description of the physical toll his suffering has taken, a stark image of a body literally wasting away due to internal anguish. This intense expression of personal suffering sets the stage for the psalmist's subsequent appeal to God's eternal nature and his plea for divine intervention and restoration, contrasting his fleeting existence with God's enduring faithfulness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The context for this psalm is that of an individual suffering intense affliction, though the specific historical circumstances are not detailed. In ancient Israel, suffering, particularly severe physical wasting, could be attributed to various factors, including illness, famine, or profound grief. The public expression of lament, often involving audible groaning and physical manifestations of distress, was a recognized and legitimate way for individuals to pour out their hearts before God. This was not merely a private experience but a communal one, reflecting a cultural understanding that deep sorrow could indeed consume a person, affecting both their spiritual and physical well-being. The psalmist's vivid imagery would have resonated deeply with an audience familiar with the harsh realities of life and the devastating effects of prolonged distress.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Psalm 102 and the broader book of Psalms. Primarily, it underscores the theme of **profound suffering**, portraying an individual at the brink of death due to overwhelming distress. It highlights the **holistic nature of human suffering**, demonstrating how deep emotional and spiritual anguish can directly impact the physical body, leading to severe emaciation. The "voice of my groaning" emphasizes the theme of **lament and honest prayer**, encouraging the afflicted to vocalize their pain before God, trusting that their cries are heard, as seen in [Psalm 38:9](/psalms/38-9 "Psalm 38:9 - God Hears Our Groaning"). Despite the despair, the very act of lamenting implies a underlying **reliance on God's mercy and intervention**, a hope that God will respond to the cries of the afflicted, a theme woven throughout the Psalms, even in passages describing intense physical decay, such as [Psalm 31:10](/psalms/31-10 "Psalm 31:10 - Life Spent with Grief").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Groaning (Hebrew, _'anachah'_):** This word signifies a deep sighing, moaning, or lamentation. It denotes a profound, often audible, expression of sorrow, pain, or distress. It's not merely an internal feeling but an outward manifestation of inner anguish that is so intense it consumes the individual. The "voice" of this groaning indicates a continuous, audible outpouring of suffering.
* **Cleave (Hebrew, _dabaq'_):** Meaning to stick fast, cling, or adhere, this verb powerfully describes the extreme physical state of the psalmist. In this context, it paints a stark picture of severe emaciation, where the skin has become so thin due to extreme weight loss that it literally adheres to the underlying bones. This imagery conveys a body ravaged by suffering, reduced to its bare skeletal form.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"By reason of the voice of my groaning":** This opening phrase establishes the direct causal link between the psalmist's profound internal and expressed anguish and his physical deterioration. The "voice" emphasizes the continuous, audible nature of his lament, suggesting that the very act of groaning, the constant outpouring of his sorrow, has consumed his vitality and substance. It implies that his suffering is not merely a quiet internal ache but a consuming, vocalized despair that has physically wasted him.
* **"my bones cleave to my skin":** This clause provides a vivid and stark image of the physical consequence of the psalmist's suffering. It describes extreme emaciation, a state where the body has lost so much flesh that the skin is stretched tautly over the bones, adhering to them directly. This imagery conveys a profound state of weakness, near-death, and utter physical depletion, underscoring the severity of the distress that has literally consumed his body.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey the psalmist's extreme suffering. **Imagery** is central, with the auditory image of "the voice of my groaning" and the visceral visual image of "my bones cleave to my skin" creating a deeply impactful and empathetic picture of distress. The phrase "my bones cleave to my skin" is a form of **hyperbole**, an exaggeration used to emphasize the extreme degree of emaciation and physical decay. While literal physical wasting can occur, the starkness of the image heightens the emotional impact. There is also a subtle use of **metonymy**, where "the voice of my groaning" stands in for the entire overwhelming experience of sorrow and lament that is consuming the psalmist. The direct causal link presented ("By reason of...") also highlights a form of **cause and effect**, underscoring the biblical understanding of the interconnectedness of inner spiritual/emotional states and outer physical manifestations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse underscores a profound biblical truth: human suffering is often holistic, impacting both our inner being and our physical body. The psalmist's experience validates the reality that deep emotional and spiritual distress can manifest in tangible physical symptoms, even leading to severe bodily decay. It highlights the legitimacy of honest lament, demonstrating that God not only permits but invites His people to pour out the full, unvarnished truth of their suffering before Him. The "voice of my groaning" implies a God who hears, even the most desperate and guttural cries of His afflicted children, reaffirming His compassionate attentiveness to those in pain. This connection between inner anguish and outer physical manifestation is a recurring theme in the laments, emphasizing the integrated nature of human existence before God.

* [Psalm 31:10](/psalms/31-10 "Psalm 31:10 - Sorrow and Bodily Decay")
* [Psalm 38:9](/psalms/38-9 "Psalm 38:9 - God Hears Our Groaning")
* [Lamentations 3:19-20](/lamentations/3-19 "Lamentations 3:19-20 - Remembering Affliction and Bitterness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 102:5 offers a profound validation for those experiencing holistic suffering, reminding us that the pain of our soul can indeed manifest in our physical body. In a world that often compartmentalizes health, this verse encourages us to acknowledge the intricate connection between our emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. It serves as a powerful invitation to radical honesty in prayer, demonstrating that no detail of our suffering, no matter how grim or physically debilitating, is too much for God to hear or too insignificant for Him to care about. The psalmist's raw vulnerability encourages us to bring our entire brokenness—our groans, our physical decay, our despair—before the Lord, trusting in His perfect empathy. Furthermore, understanding the depth of the psalmist's anguish can cultivate profound empathy within us for others who are suffering, especially those whose inner turmoil is visibly consuming them. It prompts us to look beyond the physical symptoms to the underlying anguish, fostering a more compassionate and holistic approach to caring for the afflicted.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse validate your own experiences of physical symptoms stemming from emotional or spiritual distress?**
* **In what ways can you be more honest and vulnerable with God about the full scope of your suffering, including its physical manifestations?**
* **How might understanding the psalmist's deep anguish help you cultivate greater empathy for others who are suffering, especially those whose pain is outwardly visible?**

### FAQ

**Does this verse imply that all physical suffering is a direct result of emotional or spiritual distress?**

Answer: No, this verse highlights a *connection* often observed in human experience, particularly in biblical laments where the psalmist attributes their physical decline to overwhelming sorrow or anguish. It emphasizes the holistic nature of human suffering, where the body and soul are intricately linked, and acknowledges that deep internal distress can indeed manifest physically. However, it does not negate other causes of illness or physical affliction. The Bible presents a multifaceted view of suffering, acknowledging various origins for physical ailments (e.g., natural causes, sin, spiritual attack, or simply living in a fallen world). This verse specifically points to the profound impact of internal anguish on the body, encouraging a holistic understanding of human pain.

**What is the significance of the "voice" of groaning in this verse?**

Answer: The "voice" of groaning is highly significant because it emphasizes the audible, expressed nature of the psalmist's suffering. It's not merely internal pain but a vocalized lament, a continuous cry that is meant to be heard. This aligns with the biblical theme that God hears the cries of the afflicted, even their unutterable groans. For instance, in [Exodus 2:23-24](/exodus/2-23 "Exodus 2:23-24 - God Hears Israel's Groaning"), God hears the "groaning" of the Israelites in bondage. The psalmist's audible groaning is an act of pouring out his complaint before the Lord, a desperate appeal to a God who listens and responds to the cries of His people. It signifies a profound level of distress that cannot be contained internally but must find an outlet.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound groaning and physical wasting described in Psalms 102:5 find their ultimate and most complete fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist's suffering was a consequence of his own affliction, Christ's groaning was for the sin of the world. In Gethsemane, Jesus experienced an anguish so deep that He "began to be very sorrowful and troubled," even to the point of sweating blood, a physical manifestation of extreme internal distress (Luke 22:44, though not in all manuscripts; see [Mark 14:33-34](/mark/14-33 "Mark 14:33-34 - Jesus' Deep Distress")). His physical body, though perfect, was prepared to bear the weight of humanity's sin, leading to a suffering that would literally break Him. The prophetic words of [Psalm 22:17](/psalms/22-17 "Psalm 22:17 - Bones Exposed")—"I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me"—find their harrowing fulfillment in the crucifixion, where His body was stretched and exposed, a vivid parallel to bones cleaving to skin. Jesus is the ultimate empathetic High Priest, one who can deeply sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Our Sympathetic High Priest")). He understands our groaning, not just intellectually, but experientially. Moreover, His suffering and death, the ultimate act of self-emptying, transform our groans of despair into groans of hope, as the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words ([Romans 8:26](/romans/8-26 "Romans 8:26 - The Spirit's Intercession")). Through Christ, our physical and spiritual brokenness is met with divine compassion and the promise of ultimate restoration.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 19:20

My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

Lamentations 4:8

Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

Proverbs 17:22

¶ A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Psalms 6:8

¶ Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.

Psalms 38:8

I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

Psalms 38:10

My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

Psalms 6:6

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.