Psalms 107:18

KJV

Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

KJV (with Strong's)

Their soul {H5315} abhorreth {H8581} all manner of meat {H400}; and they draw near {H5060} unto the gates {H8179} of death {H4194}.

Complete Jewish Bible

they couldn't stand to eat anything; they were near the gates of death.

Berean Standard Bible

They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death.

American Standard Version

Their soul abhorreth all manner of food; And they draw near unto the gates of death.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 107:18 powerfully depicts the dire state of those who, having suffered the consequences of their own rebellion and foolishness, find themselves in a profound physical and spiritual decline. This verse illustrates a complete loss of appetite and vitality, signifying an internal and external surrender to their affliction, bringing them to the very precipice of death and underscoring the severe and inescapable outcomes of straying from divine wisdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 107 is a masterful psalm of thanksgiving, structured around a recurring pattern of distress, crying out to the Lord, divine deliverance, and a call to praise God for His steadfast love (`hesed`). The psalm presents four distinct groups who experience God's saving power: wanderers lost in the wilderness (verses 4-9), prisoners in darkness (verses 10-16), those afflicted by their own transgression (verses 17-22), and sailors caught in a storm (verses 23-32). Verse 18 falls within the third section, specifically detailing the extreme physical and spiritual debilitation of the "fools" whose suffering is a direct consequence of their sin, as introduced in [Psalm 107:17](/psalms/107-17 "Psalm 107:17 - The Folly of Sin"). This verse serves as the climax of their suffering, setting the stage for their desperate cry to God and His subsequent miraculous healing, as described in [Psalm 107:19-20](/psalms/107-19 "Psalm 107:19-20 - God's Deliverance and Healing").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel and the broader Near East, illness and disease were often understood, though not exclusively, as potential consequences of sin or divine judgment. A complete loss of appetite, as described in this verse, was a clear sign of severe, life-threatening illness, indicating a body shutting down. The imagery of "drawing near unto the gates of death" is a pervasive ancient Near Eastern idiom for being on the very brink of the underworld or the grave, signifying an irreversible state without divine intervention. This idiom is found in various ancient texts and other biblical passages, reflecting a common understanding of the threshold between life and the realm of the dead. The cultural understanding of food as sustenance and a symbol of life makes the "abhorrence of meat" a particularly potent image of life ebbing away.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Psalm 107 and the broader biblical narrative. It starkly illustrates the **Consequences of Rebellion and Foolishness**, demonstrating how a life of disobedience or unwise choices can lead to profound physical, emotional, and spiritual decline, culminating in a loss of vitality and hope, as also seen in [Proverbs 1:31](/proverbs/1-31 "Proverbs 1:31 - Consequences of Rejecting Wisdom"). The phrase "abhorreth all manner of meat" highlights **Extreme Sickness and Despair**, depicting a complete and active aversion to life-sustaining nourishment, which is a classic symptom of severe illness or deep psychological distress, indicating a state where the body is failing and the will to live is diminished. Finally, to "draw near unto the gates of death" emphasizes **Proximity to Death**, a powerful poetic metaphor signifying being on the very threshold of the grave, a point of no return where life is ebbing away, and only a miracle can prevent demise. This imagery underscores the gravity of their situation and their desperate need for God's intervention, aligning with the psalm's overarching theme of God's steadfast love and His readiness to deliver those who cry out to Him, as highlighted in [Psalm 107:6](/psalms/107-6 "Psalm 107:6 - Crying Out to the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **abhorreth (Hebrew, _ta'ab'_):** This verb carries a strong connotation of detesting, loathing, or abominating. It is not merely a passive lack of desire or a simple loss of appetite, but an active, visceral revulsion. In a spiritual sense, it can imply a profound aversion to that which is good, life-giving, or divine, reflecting a deep spiritual malaise that mirrors the physical sickness.
* **meat (Hebrew, _okel'_):** This term broadly refers to any kind of food, nourishment, or sustenance. The phrase "all manner of meat" emphasizes the totality of their aversion—nothing appeals to them, nothing can sustain them. This signifies a complete physical breakdown, where the very means of life are rejected, and by extension, a spiritual rejection of life-giving truth or communion with God.
* **gates of death (Hebrew, _sha'arei mavet'_):** This is a common and powerful ancient Near Eastern idiom for the entrance to the underworld or the grave, signifying extreme danger and the very brink of mortality. It implies a point of no return, where one is so close to demise that escape seems impossible without supernatural intervention. The "gates" suggest a barrier, a point of entry into the realm of the dead, from which there is no natural return.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat":** This clause vividly describes the internal and physical state of the afflicted. The "soul" (`nephesh` in Hebrew) here refers not just to the spiritual essence but to the whole person—their life, appetite, desire, and very being. The active abhorrence of food signifies a profound and debilitating illness, a complete loss of vitality and will to live. It suggests that their physical suffering is so intense that the body rejects the very sustenance it needs, indicating a deep-seated sickness that extends beyond mere physical symptoms to a spiritual and psychological weariness with life itself.
* **"and they draw near unto the gates of death":** This second clause describes the external and ultimate consequence of their internal state. Having rejected life-sustaining nourishment, they are now on the precipice of death. The imagery of "drawing near" emphasizes the imminent danger and the progressive deterioration of their condition. They are not merely sick; they are at the very threshold of the grave, signifying a critical, near-fatal state from which human intervention is likely insufficient. This clause underscores the gravity and finality of their predicament without divine intervention.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 107:18 employs several potent literary devices to convey the depth of suffering. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, specifically in the phrase "gates of death," which vividly represents the threshold of the grave or the underworld, emphasizing the extreme proximity to demise. This is not a literal gate but a figurative boundary. There is also an element of **Hyperbole** in "abhorreth all manner of meat," which, while describing a real symptom, exaggerates the totality of the aversion to emphasize the severity of the illness and the complete loss of desire for life. The verse also exhibits a form of **Parallelism**, where the two clauses, though not strictly synonymous or antithetical, present a cause-and-effect or intensifying relationship: the internal rejection of life (abhorring meat) leads to the external consequence of nearing death. Finally, the use of "soul" to "abhor" can be seen as a subtle form of **Personification**, attributing a human action of detesting to the soul, highlighting the deeply personal and internal nature of their suffering and despair.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, situated within the broader narrative of Psalm 107, serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of sin and folly, which can lead to profound physical, emotional, and spiritual distress. While not all sickness is a direct consequence of specific sin, this passage highlights how rebellion against God's wisdom can indeed bring about conditions of severe suffering and even the brink of death. It underscores the biblical principle that actions have consequences, and that a life alienated from God's life-giving presence can result in a spiritual and physical wasting away. However, the verse also implicitly sets the stage for God's redemptive power, emphasizing that even at humanity's lowest and most desperate point, when all natural means of recovery are exhausted, God remains sovereign over life and death, ready to hear the cries of those who turn to Him in their trouble. It points to the ultimate need for divine intervention when humanity reaches its limit.

* [Psalm 9:13](/psalms/9-13 "Psalm 9:13 - Gates of Death and God's Mercy")
* [Proverbs 14:12](/proverbs/14-12 "Proverbs 14:12 - The Way That Seems Right")
* [James 1:15](/james/1-15 "James 1:15 - Sin and Death")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 107:18 offers a profound mirror for self-examination, inviting us to consider the often-unseen consequences of our choices, particularly when we stray from God's wise and life-giving paths. While we must be careful not to simplistically attribute all suffering to specific sins, this verse reminds us that rebellion and foolishness can indeed lead to a spiritual and even physical decline, a state where our "soul" loses its appetite for what truly nourishes it—God's Word, His presence, and His truth. It challenges us to honestly assess if we are "abhorring" the spiritual "meat" that sustains true life, perhaps by neglecting prayer, avoiding Scripture, or resisting the Holy Spirit's guidance. When we find ourselves in a state of spiritual apathy, despair, or even physical debilitation that stems from our own choices, this verse calls us not to self-pity, but to a recognition of our desperate need for God. It encourages us to cry out to the Lord, just as those in the psalm did, trusting that even when we are at the "gates of death"—spiritually, emotionally, or physically—His steadfast love is ready to deliver, heal, and restore.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be experiencing the consequences of choices that stray from God's wisdom?**
* **How does this verse challenge me to examine my spiritual "appetite"—am I truly hungering for God's word and presence, or am I rejecting spiritual nourishment?**
* **When I feel "at the gates of death" spiritually or emotionally, what is my first response? Do I cry out to the Lord?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse mean all sickness is a direct result of sin?**

Answer: No, this verse does not teach that all sickness is a direct result of sin. While it specifically describes a group whose affliction is a consequence of their "transgression" and "iniquities" ([Psalm 107:17](/psalms/107-17 "Psalm 107:17 - The Folly of Sin")), the Bible presents a more nuanced view of suffering. For example, the book of Job clearly demonstrates suffering not caused by personal sin, and Jesus explicitly states that a man born blind was not afflicted due to his own sin or his parents' sin ([John 9:1-3](/john/9-1 "John 9:1-3 - Man Born Blind")). This verse highlights a specific instance where foolish choices and rebellion lead to severe consequences, but it's not a universal theological principle for all illness.

**What does "abhorreth all manner of meat" mean literally and spiritually?**

Answer: Literally, "abhorreth all manner of meat" describes a complete and active aversion to food, a classic symptom of severe physical illness, deep depression, or a body shutting down. It signifies a profound loss of appetite and vitality, where the very means of sustenance are rejected. Spiritually, this phrase can be understood as a deep spiritual malaise or apathy. Just as the body rejects physical nourishment, the "soul" in this state rejects spiritual "meat"—God's Word, His truth, His presence, and the spiritual disciplines that sustain a vibrant faith. It represents a loss of desire for life-giving truth and communion with God, leading to spiritual weakness and a drawing near to spiritual death, much like the physical state described.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 107:18, with its vivid portrayal of humanity's desperate state due to sin, finds its ultimate fulfillment and answer in Jesus Christ. Humanity, in its fallenness, "abhorreth" the true spiritual "meat" of God's wisdom and life, preferring the fleeting pleasures of sin, thereby drawing near to the "gates of death" ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - Wages of Sin")). Christ, however, is the ultimate "Bread of Life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")) and the "living bread that came down from heaven" ([John 6:51](/john/6-51 "John 6:51 - Living Bread from Heaven")), offering true spiritual nourishment that the world cannot provide. He came to give life, and life more abundantly ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - The Good Shepherd")), rescuing those who are at death's door. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus conquered sin and death, effectively smashing the "gates of Hades" ([Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - The Gates of Hades")) and holding the keys of death and Hades ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - Keys of Death and Hades")). He is the Great Physician who heals not only physical ailments but also the spiritual sickness of the soul, restoring our appetite for God and leading us out of the shadow of death into His marvelous light ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - God's Marvelous Light")). In Christ, the cry for deliverance from the "gates of death" is eternally answered, offering resurrection life and eternal communion with God.

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

Psalms 88:3

For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

Psalms 9:13

Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble [which I suffer] of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

Job 33:19

¶ He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong [pain]:

Job 33:22

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

Isaiah 38:10

I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.

Job 38:17

Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?