Psalms 109:24

KJV

My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.

KJV (with Strong's)

My knees {H1290} are weak {H3782} through fasting {H6685}; and my flesh {H1320} faileth {H3584} of fatness {H8081}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 109:24 vividly portrays the psalmist's profound physical and spiritual distress, a direct consequence of intense persecution and fervent prayer. His body, weakened by prolonged fasting and emaciation, reflects the depth of his anguish and his absolute desperation for divine intervention. This verse underscores a radical reliance on God, where the psalmist's physical failing serves as a testament to his unwavering devotion and a plea for the Almighty's strength in his utter weakness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 109 is a deeply emotional imprecatory psalm, a fervent prayer of a righteous individual (traditionally David) against malicious and deceitful enemies. The preceding verses (e.g., [Psalms 109:1-5](/psalms/109-1 "Psalms 109:1-5 - Prayer for Vindication Against Enemies")) detail the unjust accusations and curses hurled at the psalmist, while subsequent verses continue his plea for God's judgment upon his adversaries. Verse 24 marks a poignant shift from the external attacks to the internal, physical toll these trials have taken. It serves as a powerful testament to the psalmist's suffering, demonstrating the depth of his affliction and the earnestness of his supplication, thereby intensifying his plea for divine vindication. This personal suffering is presented as further evidence of his enemies' cruelty and the urgency of God's intervention.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Fasting was a common and significant spiritual discipline in ancient Israel, undertaken for various reasons: mourning (e.g., [1 Samuel 31:13](/1_samuel/31-13 "1 Samuel 31:13 - Mourning for Saul")), repentance (e.g., [Jonah 3:5](/jonah/3-5 "Jonah 3:5 - Nineveh's Repentance")), seeking divine guidance or intervention (e.g., [Ezra 8:21](/ezra/8-21 "Ezra 8:21 - Fasting for a Safe Journey")), or intense prayer during times of distress. The physical signs of emaciation ("flesh faileth of fatness") were not only a result of fasting but also a common outward manifestation of deep grief, humiliation, and intense suffering in the ancient Near East. A robust physique ("fatness" in this context meaning healthy vigor, not obesity) was associated with blessing and prosperity, while gauntness signified distress, poverty, or divine disfavor. The psalmist's description thus communicates an extreme state of physical decline, signaling profound spiritual and emotional anguish.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 109 and the Psalter. Firstly, it highlights **Profound Suffering and Physical Decline**, demonstrating how spiritual and emotional distress can manifest in severe physical deterioration. The psalmist's emaciation and weakness underscore the all-consuming nature of his anguish and the unjust persecution he faces. Secondly, the explicit mention of "fasting" emphasizes **Earnest Prayer and Desperate Devotion**. It reveals the psalmist's unwavering commitment to seeking God's face, even to the point of self-denial, illustrating the depth of his spiritual absorption in his plea for justice. This echoes the intensity of prayer seen in figures like [Daniel, who fasted and prayed for his people](/daniel/9-3 "Daniel 9:3 - Daniel's Prayer and Fasting"). Lastly, the verse implicitly points to **Human Weakness and Absolute Reliance on God**. The psalmist's failing body underscores that his deliverance must come from a source beyond himself, emphasizing that divine strength is perfected in human frailty, a concept powerfully articulated in the New Testament by figures like Paul in [2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's Strength in Weakness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Weak (Hebrew, _kashal'_):** This verb signifies to stumble, totter, or fail. When applied to the knees, it vividly portrays a loss of strength, stability, and the inability to stand firm. It conveys a profound physical depletion that renders the psalmist unsteady and on the verge of collapse, directly linking his physical state to the spiritual discipline of fasting and the overwhelming burden of his distress.
* **Fasting (Hebrew, _tzom'_):** Refers to the deliberate abstinence from food for religious or spiritual purposes. In this context, it indicates a period of intense, prolonged self-denial undertaken as an act of fervent prayer, mourning, or supplication. It signifies a complete absorption in seeking God's face, prioritizing spiritual communion over basic physical needs, underscoring the psalmist's desperation and unwavering commitment to his plea for divine intervention.
* **Fatness (Hebrew, _deshen'_):** This term does not refer to obesity but to a state of robust health, vigor, and well-being, often associated with prosperity and divine blessing. Thus, "my flesh faileth of fatness" means the psalmist's body has lost its healthy vitality, becoming gaunt, emaciated, and weak. It paints a picture of severe physical deterioration, a stark contrast to a thriving, nourished body, and a clear sign of deep suffering.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"My knees are weak through fasting":** This clause describes the immediate physical consequence of the psalmist's spiritual discipline. The "weak knees" symbolize a profound loss of bodily strength, stability, and endurance, indicating extreme physical exhaustion and emaciation. This weakness is directly attributed to "fasting," highlighting that the psalmist has undertaken a prolonged and intense period of self-denial in prayer, driven by the overwhelming distress caused by his enemies. It underscores his earnestness and the depth of his absorption in seeking God's help.
* **"and my flesh faileth of fatness":** This parallel clause further elaborates on the psalmist's physical decline. "Flesh" refers to his entire physical being, and "faileth of fatness" means it has lost its healthy vigor, robustness, and plumpness. Instead of being well-nourished and strong, his body has become gaunt, wasted, and devoid of its natural vitality. This signifies a state of severe emaciation and physical deterioration, a visible manifestation of the intense emotional, spiritual, and physical suffering he endures. It paints a picture of a body literally wasting away under the burden of affliction and fervent supplication.

#### Literary Devices
The psalmist employs several potent literary devices to convey the depth of his suffering. **Hyperbole** is evident in the extreme description of physical decay ("knees weak," "flesh faileth of fatness"), which, while potentially literal due to prolonged fasting, also serves to emphasize the overwhelming nature of his distress. **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, is used as "My knees are weak through fasting" and "my flesh faileth of fatness" convey similar ideas of physical deterioration, reinforcing the psalmist's dire condition. **Metonymy** is present where "knees" represent the overall bodily strength and stability, and "flesh" stands for the entire physical being. The vivid imagery evokes **pathos**, eliciting deep sympathy from the reader for the psalmist's plight, underscoring the cruelty of his enemies and the urgency of his plea for divine intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 109:24 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of human suffering and the posture of prayer. It reveals that intense spiritual and emotional distress can manifest in severe physical decline, demonstrating the holistic impact of affliction on the human person. Yet, this physical weakness is not a sign of spiritual failure but rather an indicator of profound devotion and desperate reliance on God. The psalmist's self-affliction through fasting underscores a radical commitment to seeking divine intervention, acknowledging that human strength is utterly insufficient in the face of such overwhelming adversity. Theologically, it points to the paradox that in our greatest weakness, we are often most compelled to lean entirely on God, allowing His strength to be made perfect in our frailty. This verse invites believers to bring their whole selves—including their physical suffering—before God, trusting that He sees, understands, and will ultimately respond to their earnest pleas.

* [2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's Strength in Weakness")
* [Philippians 4:13](/philippians/4-13 "Philippians 4:13 - All Things Through Christ")
* [Matthew 6:16-18](/matthew/6-16 "Matthew 6:16-18 - Jesus' Teaching on Fasting")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 109:24 serves as a powerful reminder that our spiritual and emotional battles often have tangible physical consequences. The psalmist's extreme physical decline due to intense distress and fervent prayer calls us to cultivate empathy for those who suffer, recognizing that their internal anguish can manifest in profound and debilitating ways. It also challenges us to consider the depth of our own devotion in times of crisis. While not every distress calls for such extreme physical self-denial, the psalmist's example highlights the earnestness and commitment with which we should approach God, laying bare our deepest needs and vulnerabilities before Him. In a world that often values strength and self-sufficiency, this verse reminds us that true spiritual power often emerges from acknowledging our utter weakness and dependence on God. It encourages us to lean into divine strength precisely when our own resources are depleted, trusting that God is present even in our most physically and emotionally drained states.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does physical suffering or weakness impact your spiritual life and prayer?**
* **In what ways might God use periods of personal depletion to draw you closer to Him?**
* **What does the psalmist's earnestness in prayer, even to the point of physical decline, teach us about our own devotion in times of crisis?**

### FAQ
**Is fasting still a relevant spiritual discipline today, given the psalmist's extreme physical state?**

Answer: Yes, fasting remains a relevant and powerful spiritual discipline for believers today, though its practice should be undertaken with wisdom and discernment. The psalmist's extreme physical state in Psalms 109:24 reflects a profound level of distress and devotion, and while not every fast will lead to such severe emaciation, the underlying principle of self-denial for spiritual focus remains. Fasting is a means to humble oneself before God, intensify prayer, seek clearer spiritual direction, express repentance, or show deep mourning. Jesus himself taught about the proper heart attitude for fasting in [Matthew 6:16-18](/matthew/6-16 "Matthew 6:16-18 - Jesus' Teaching on Fasting"), emphasizing sincerity over outward show. Modern fasting can take various forms—from abstaining from certain foods or meals to giving up other pleasures or activities—all with the aim of redirecting focus from earthly desires to spiritual communion with God. The goal is always to draw closer to God, not to inflict harm upon oneself.

**Does God cause physical suffering to make us pray more or to punish us?**

Answer: The Bible presents a complex view of suffering. While suffering can sometimes be a consequence of sin or a form of divine discipline, it is not always punitive, nor does God directly cause physical suffering to compel prayer in a manipulative way. In the psalmist's case, his physical decline is presented as a *result* of intense distress from his enemies and his *response* of fervent, prolonged fasting and prayer. God often *uses* suffering—which enters the world through the Fall and human sin—to refine believers, draw them into deeper dependence, teach perseverance, and reveal His strength in their weakness. As [Romans 5:3-5](/romans/5-3 "Romans 5:3-5 - Benefits of Suffering") indicates, suffering can produce endurance, character, and hope. God does not delight in our pain, but He is sovereign over all circumstances and can redeem even the most difficult experiences for His glory and our spiritual growth, often leading us to pray more earnestly and rely on Him more fully.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 109:24, depicting the psalmist's profound physical weakness through fasting and emaciation, finds its ultimate and most poignant fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist's suffering was a result of personal enemies and his own fervent prayer, Jesus, the true Suffering Servant, willingly embraced weakness and physical deprivation for the sake of humanity. He endured a forty-day fast in the wilderness, experiencing profound hunger and physical vulnerability as he resisted temptation from the devil ([Matthew 4:2](/matthew/4-2 "Matthew 4:2 - Jesus' Fasting in the Wilderness")). More significantly, the prophet Isaiah foretold of the Messiah as one "despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant")). On the cross, Jesus's body was utterly "faileth of fatness," not from self-imposed fasting, but from the brutal scourging, the weight of the cross, and the agonizing crucifixion, bearing the full weight of humanity's sin and weakness. He became weak so that we might become strong in Him ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). His physical suffering and ultimate sacrifice demonstrate His perfect empathy, for "we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses" ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")). Thus, the psalmist's lament of physical depletion prefigures the ultimate weakness and self-emptying of Christ, who, in His humanity, fully experienced the depths of human frailty to secure our eternal strength and salvation.

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 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.