Psalms 109:23

KJV

I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

KJV (with Strong's)

I am gone {H1980} like the shadow {H6738} when it declineth {H5186}: I am tossed up and down {H5287} as the locust {H697}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Like a lengthening evening shadow, I am gone; I am shaken off like a locust.

Berean Standard Bible

I am fading away like a lengthening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.

American Standard Version

I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 109:23 is a profound lament from the psalmist, expressing an intense sense of personal fragility and the rapid decline of his strength and life. Through vivid similes, he portrays himself as a fading shadow at dusk and a helpless locust scattered by the wind, conveying utter disorientation, vulnerability, and a complete lack of control in the face of overwhelming adversity. This verse encapsulates a desperate cry for divine intervention from a soul on the brink of collapse.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 109 is a deeply emotional lament psalm, primarily characterized by its imprecatory prayers against the psalmist's relentless enemies. While much of the psalm is dedicated to detailing the malicious actions of his adversaries and invoking divine judgment upon them (e.g., [Psalms 109:2-5](/psalms/109-2-5 "Psalms 109:2-5 - Accusations of Enemies")), verse 23 marks a poignant shift. Here, the psalmist turns inward, articulating his own desolate and vulnerable state. This personal confession of weakness is not a departure from the psalm's core but rather intensifies the plea for God's intervention. By revealing his extreme suffering and imminent collapse, the psalmist underscores the urgency and necessity of divine rescue, making his subsequent pleas for help (e.g., [Psalms 109:26-27](/psalms/109-26-27 "Psalms 109:26-27 - Plea for Deliverance")) all the more desperate and compelling.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery employed in Psalms 109:23 resonates deeply with the ancient Near Eastern understanding of life, time, and natural phenomena. Shadows were common markers of time, their lengthening signifying the approach of evening and the end of the day, thus symbolizing the brevity and fleeting nature of human existence. The "declining shadow" specifically evokes the long, fading shadows of late afternoon, preceding the complete darkness of night, a powerful metaphor for approaching death or complete physical and emotional exhaustion. Locusts, a recurring motif in biblical literature (e.g., [Joel 1:4](/joel/1-4 "Joel 1:4 - Locust Plague")), were known for their devastating swarms, but individually, they are small, easily scattered, and utterly helpless when caught in the wind. This comparison would have immediately communicated a sense of being utterly at the mercy of external forces, without stability or control, a common experience for individuals facing severe persecution or social ostracism in a society where community support was paramount.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **human frailty and transience**, underscoring the ephemeral nature of life and strength in the face of suffering, a theme echoed in passages like [Psalm 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "Psalm 90:10 - The Brevity of Life"). Secondly, it vividly portrays **deep distress and instability**, illustrating the profound emotional and existential turmoil experienced when one feels utterly disoriented and without direction, a feeling often associated with intense persecution or divine judgment in the Old Testament (e.g., [Psalm 69:1-3](/psalms/69-1-3 "Psalm 69:1-3 - Sinking in Deep Waters")). Finally, while not explicitly stated as a command, the psalmist's raw expression of vulnerability is implicitly a **desperate cry for divine intervention**. By presenting his dire state to God, he demonstrates a profound dependence on the Lord's power and compassion, trusting that only God can rescue him from his seemingly insurmountable circumstances, reflecting the consistent theme of calling upon God in times of trouble found throughout the Psalms (e.g., [Psalm 18:6](/psalms/18-6 "Psalm 18:6 - Calling on the Lord in Distress")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Shadow (Hebrew, _tsêl'_), declineth (Hebrew, _nâṭâh'_):** The Hebrew word for "shadow," צֵל (_tsêl_), refers to shade, both literal and figurative, often symbolizing the fleeting nature of life. The verb נָטָה (_nâṭâh_), translated "declineth," means "to stretch or spread out," and by implication, "to bend away" or "go down." When combined, "the shadow when it declineth" (כְּצֵל נָטוּי, _k'tzel natuy_) vividly portrays the lengthening, fading shadows of late afternoon that are on the verge of disappearing into night, symbolizing the psalmist's life force rapidly diminishing and nearing its end.
* **Tossed up and down (Hebrew, _nâʻar'_):** The Hebrew verb נָעַר (_nâʻar_) means "to tumble about," "shake (off, out, self)," or "overthrow." The form used, נִנְעַרְתִּי (_nin'arti_), is a passive voice, indicating that the psalmist is not actively shaking but is being violently shaken or dislodged by external forces. This conveys a profound sense of helplessness, disorientation, and a complete lack of control, as if being buffeted by overwhelming circumstances.
* **Locust (Hebrew, _ʼarbeh'_):** The Hebrew word אַרְבֶּה (_ʼarbeh_) refers to a "locust," a creature known for its rapid increase and destructive swarms. However, in this context, the imagery shifts to the individual locust, which, when separated from the swarm, is small, fragile, and easily carried away or "tossed up and down" by the wind. This comparison emphasizes the psalmist's feelings of insignificance, utter powerlessness, and inability to find stable footing in the face of overwhelming adversity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I am gone like the shadow when it declineth":** This clause expresses the psalmist's deep conviction that his life, strength, and vitality are rapidly ebbing away, much like the long, fading shadows that precede nightfall. It conveys a sense of approaching death, utter exhaustion, or the complete collapse of his physical and emotional well-being. He feels his existence is transient and on the verge of disappearing.
* **"I am tossed up and down as the locust":** This clause vividly portrays the psalmist's experience of being utterly disoriented, unstable, and without control. Like an individual locust caught in a strong wind, he feels he is being violently buffeted by circumstances, unable to find rest, direction, or stability. This imagery speaks to an overwhelming sense of helplessness, emotional turmoil, and perhaps physical affliction, where he is a passive victim of forces beyond his command.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 109:23 is rich in **Imagery** and employs two powerful **Simile**s to convey the psalmist's profound distress. The first simile, "I am gone like the shadow when it declineth," paints a vivid mental picture of a long, fading shadow at dusk. This imagery evokes a sense of life rapidly ebbing away, strength diminishing, and an impending end, highlighting the psalmist's feelings of transience and vulnerability. The second simile, "I am tossed up and down as the locust," creates another potent image of a small, helpless insect being violently buffeted by external forces. This conveys a profound sense of disorientation, lack of control, and instability, emphasizing the psalmist's feeling of being a plaything of circumstances. Together, these similes amplify the psalmist's desperate state, using familiar natural phenomena to make his internal anguish relatable and impactful. The language also borders on **Hyperbole**, as the psalmist uses extreme comparisons to articulate the depth of his suffering, which, while perhaps not literally true of his physical state, accurately reflects his overwhelming emotional and spiritual despair.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 109:23 offers a profound theological insight into the human condition, particularly in the face of suffering. It validates the raw expression of despair, demonstrating that it is permissible and even necessary to bring our deepest vulnerabilities before God. The psalmist's lament underscores the biblical theme of human frailty and the brevity of life, reminding us that our existence is finite and easily disrupted. Yet, within this confession of weakness lies an implicit act of faith: by articulating his desperate state to the Lord, the psalmist places his hope not in his own strength, which has failed, but in the sovereign power and compassion of God. This verse thus becomes a testament to the fact that even in our most unstable and fading moments, God is attentive to our cries and remains our ultimate source of stability and hope.

* [Job 14:1-2](/job/14-1-2 "Job 14:1-2 - Man's Brief and Troubled Life")
* [Psalm 39:4-5](/psalms/39-4-5 "Psalm 39:4-5 - The Brevity of Human Life")
* [2 Corinthians 4:8-9](/2_corinthians/4-8-9 "2 Corinthians 4:8-9 - Afflicted but Not Crushed")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 109:23 provides a profound validation for anyone experiencing deep despair, a sense of life slipping away, or feeling utterly overwhelmed and out of control. The psalmist's raw honesty models a crucial aspect of faith: the freedom to express our most profound weaknesses and fears directly to God, without pretense or reservation. In a world that often demands strength and composure, this verse reminds us that vulnerability is not a flaw but an invitation to lean fully on divine strength. When we feel like a fading shadow or a helpless locust, tossed about by life's storms, this passage encourages us to present our unvarnished reality to the Lord. It teaches us that God is not intimidated by our despair but is intimately acquainted with our sufferings and attentive to our cries. Our lament, far from being a sign of weak faith, can be an act of profound trust, acknowledging our limits and God's limitless power to sustain and deliver us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond when you feel your strength or hope declining, similar to the "shadow when it declineth"?**
* **In what specific ways do you feel "tossed up and down" by life's circumstances today, like the scattered locust?**
* **What does the psalmist's raw honesty in expressing his despair teach you about prayer and vulnerability before God?**
* **How does knowing that God hears such laments impact your willingness to share your deepest fears with Him?**

### FAQ

**Why does the psalmist use such extreme imagery to describe his suffering?**

Answer: The psalmist employs such vivid and extreme imagery—a fading shadow and a tossed locust—to powerfully convey the profound depth of his personal suffering, vulnerability, and sense of imminent collapse. In ancient Near Eastern lament traditions, exaggerated language (hyperbole) was a common and accepted rhetorical device to express intense emotional and physical distress, aiming to evoke divine compassion and intervention. By presenting himself in such a desperate state, the psalmist underscores the urgency of his plea and appeals to God's mercy, highlighting that he has no strength or control left of his own, and only divine action can rescue him. This raw honesty is characteristic of many lament psalms, which serve as models for how believers can bring their unvarnished pain and despair before God.

**Is it acceptable for a believer to feel such profound despair and helplessness, as expressed in this verse?**

Answer: Absolutely. The Psalms, including Psalms 109:23, are a testament to the full spectrum of human emotion, including deep despair, fear, and helplessness. The biblical narrative consistently validates the experience of suffering and sorrow, demonstrating that it is not a sign of weak faith to feel such emotions, but rather an authentic response to life's hardships. What is crucial, as modeled by the psalmist, is to bring these raw emotions directly to God in prayer. Even Jesus, in His humanity, experienced profound anguish and cried out to the Father (e.g., [Matthew 26:38](/matthew/26-38 "Matthew 26:38 - Jesus' Anguish in Gethsemane") and [Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). This verse teaches us that God is not distant from our pain but invites us to cast all our anxieties upon Him, for He cares for us (e.g., [1 Peter 5:7](/1_peter/5-7 "1 Peter 5:7 - Cast Your Anxieties on Him")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 109:23, with its poignant imagery of a fading shadow and a tossed locust, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist laments his own personal decline and instability, Christ, the true Man of Sorrows, experienced the depths of human frailty and suffering in a way unparalleled (e.g., [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Man of Sorrows")). He willingly embraced the human condition, including its transience and vulnerability, culminating in His agony in Gethsemane where His soul was "overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (e.g., [Matthew 26:38](/matthew/26-38 "Matthew 26:38 - Jesus' Anguish in Gethsemane")). On the cross, Jesus was truly "tossed up and down" by the forces of sin, death, and divine judgment, enduring abandonment and the ultimate dislodgment from the Father's presence (e.g., [Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). Yet, unlike the psalmist who *felt* like a fading shadow, Jesus, through His death and resurrection, conquered death and the grave, becoming the source of eternal life and stability for all who believe (e.g., [John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). Where we are prone to being tossed, He is the steadfast anchor for our souls (e.g., [Hebrews 6:19](/hebrews/6-19 "Hebrews 6:19 - Hope as an Anchor for the Soul")), and in Him, all things hold together (e.g., [Colossians 1:17](/colossians/1-17 "Colossians 1:17 - Christ, the Sustainer of All Things")). Our experience of feeling like fading shadows or tossed locusts is met by His perfect empathy as our High Priest (e.g., [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")), who promises that though we face tribulation in this world, He has overcome the world (e.g., [John 16:33](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - Christ Overcomes the World")). In Christ, our transient lives are given eternal significance, and our instability finds its ultimate rest and security.

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

Exodus 10:19

And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.

Job 14:2

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

Psalms 102:10

Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

Psalms 102:11

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

1 Chronicles 29:15

For we [are] strangers before thee, and sojourners, as [were] all our fathers: our days on the earth [are] as a shadow, and [there is] none abiding.

Ecclesiastes 8:13

But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Ecclesiastes 6:12

For who knoweth what [is] good for man in [this] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?