Psalms 31:9

KJV

¶ Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, [yea], my soul and my belly.

KJV (with Strong's)

Have mercy {H2603} upon me, O LORD {H3068}, for I am in trouble {H6887}: mine eye {H5869} is consumed {H6244} with grief {H3708}, yea, my soul {H5315} and my belly {H990}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Show me favor, ADONAI, for I am in trouble. My eyes grow dim with anger, my soul and body as well.

Berean Standard Bible

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well.

American Standard Version

Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah, for I am in distress: Mine eye wasteth away with grief, yea, my soul and my body.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 31:9 is a poignant and deeply personal lament from the psalmist, likely David, expressing the overwhelming and holistic impact of profound distress. It serves as a raw cry for divine mercy, vividly portraying how intense grief and trouble can consume a person's physical, emotional, and spiritual being, underscoring the biblical precedent for bringing unvarnished suffering before God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 31 is a classic psalm of lament and trust, characteristic of David's prayers during periods of intense personal affliction. It opens with a strong declaration of faith and refuge in the Lord, as seen in [Psalms 31:1-3](/psalms/31-1 "Psalms 31:1-3 - David's Trust in God"), where the psalmist appeals to God as his rock and fortress. However, verse 9 immediately shifts to a visceral depiction of current suffering, demonstrating the profound honesty of biblical prayer that holds both unwavering faith and agonizing pain in tension. This verse is part of a larger section (verses 9-13) where the psalmist details the extent of his distress, including physical wasting, social isolation, and the scorn of enemies, before returning to expressions of trust and hope in later verses like [Psalms 31:14](/psalms/31-14 "Psalms 31:14 - Renewed Trust").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific historical circumstances behind Psalm 31 are not explicitly stated, many scholars attribute it to David during a time of great personal danger, possibly fleeing Saul or facing betrayal. In ancient Israel, suffering was often viewed holistically, affecting the entire person—body, mind, and spirit. Illness, social ostracism, and personal grief were not compartmentalized but understood as deeply interconnected. The act of lamenting, as demonstrated throughout the [Book of Psalms](/psalms "The Book of Psalms - Israel's Prayer Book"), was a culturally accepted and theologically rich practice, providing a structured way for individuals and communities to express pain, confusion, and anger to God, while simultaneously reaffirming His sovereignty and mercy. The "eye," "soul," and "belly" were not merely anatomical references but deeply symbolic of the entire being, reflecting a worldview that did not separate the physical from the spiritual or emotional.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Psalms and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **necessity and legitimacy of honest lament** before God, affirming that true faith allows for the full expression of human pain and vulnerability. Secondly, it underscores the **holistic nature of human suffering**, illustrating how deep emotional and spiritual grief can manifest physically, impacting the entire person. The psalmist's plea for mercy also emphasizes the theme of **divine compassion and intervention**, portraying God as the ultimate source of help and deliverance in times of overwhelming trouble. This aligns with the consistent biblical portrayal of God as one who hears the cries of His people, as seen in passages like [Exodus 3:7](/exodus/3-7 "Exodus 3:7 - God Hears Israel's Cry").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Mercy (Hebrew, חָנַן, _chanan'_):** This verb signifies showing favor, pity, or compassion, often from a superior to an inferior. It denotes an unmerited act of grace, a benevolent inclination towards one who is in need and helpless. The psalmist is not appealing to justice or merit, but solely to God's inherent character of loving-kindness and willingness to intervene on behalf of the afflicted. It's a plea for God to lean down in compassion.
* **Consumed (Hebrew, עָשַׁשׁ, _ashash'_):** This word carries the sense of wasting away, growing dim, or being worn out. When applied to the "eye" and implicitly to the "soul" and "belly," it vividly depicts the physical and emotional toll of unrelenting sorrow and trouble. It suggests a progressive deterioration, a fading of vitality and strength, rather than a sudden, acute pain. The psalmist feels his very being is being eroded by the intensity of his suffering.
* **Eye...Soul...Belly (Hebrew, עַיִן, _ayin'_...נֶפֶשׁ, _nephesh'_...בֶּטֶן, _beten'_):** This triad represents the comprehensive, holistic nature of the psalmist's suffering. The **"eye"** (עַיִן) here refers to physical sight, often dimming or failing due to constant weeping or the physical strain of grief. The **"soul"** (נֶפֶשׁ) denotes the inner being, the seat of emotions, will, and personality – the entire self. The **"belly"** (בֶּטֶן) in this context is not merely the physical stomach but refers to the innermost parts, the visceral core of one's being, often associated with deep emotions, anguish, and physical distress, similar to the "bowels" in [Lamentations 2:11](/lamentations/2-11 "Lamentations 2:11 - Grief Affecting the Bowels"). Together, these terms convey that the psalmist's trouble is not superficial but penetrates every dimension of his existence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble":** This opening clause is a direct, urgent, and foundational plea. The psalmist appeals to YHWH, the covenant God, for an act of unmerited favor and compassion. The declaration "for I am in trouble" provides the immediate justification for the plea, indicating a state of overwhelming distress, difficulty, or adversity that the psalmist cannot overcome on his own. It sets the tone for a prayer of desperate dependence.
* **"mine eye is consumed with grief":** This phrase vividly portrays the physical manifestation of deep emotional suffering. The "eye" (the organ of sight and often associated with vitality and expression) is described as "consumed" or wasted away by "grief" (כַּעַס, _ka'as_, meaning vexation, anger, or sorrow). This could imply dimming vision from weeping, sunken eyes from lack of sleep, or simply the physical exhaustion and deterioration that accompany profound sorrow. It highlights the tangible impact of internal anguish.
* **"[yea], my soul and my belly.":** This concluding phrase expands the scope of the "consumed" state to encompass the entirety of the psalmist's being. The conjunction "yea" (or "and") emphasizes the continuation of the previous thought. "My soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, _nephesh_) signifies his inner self, his mind, emotions, and very life force, indicating spiritual and emotional exhaustion. "My belly" (בֶּטֶן, _beten_) represents his innermost being, the seat of visceral emotions and physical sensations of distress, suggesting deep anguish, perhaps even physical illness or a gnawing emptiness caused by his trouble. The combination underscores that the suffering is total, affecting him physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 31:9 employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey the depth of the psalmist's suffering. The most prominent is **Holistic Imagery**, where the psalmist uses specific body parts—the "eye," "soul," and "belly"—not merely as isolated organs but as synecdoches representing the entire person. This creates a vivid picture of suffering that permeates every aspect of existence, from the physical to the emotional and spiritual core. **Hyperbole** is also evident in the phrase "consumed with grief," which exaggerates the effect of sorrow to emphasize its overwhelming and debilitating power, suggesting a complete wasting away rather than just discomfort. Furthermore, a subtle form of **Personification** might be perceived in "grief" itself, almost as an active agent that "consumes" or devours the psalmist, giving it a menacing, tangible quality. These devices combine to create a deeply empathetic and relatable portrayal of profound human distress.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly connects to the biblical understanding of God's character as one who is deeply compassionate and attentive to the cries of the afflicted. It affirms that God is not distant from human suffering but welcomes our raw, unfiltered laments. The psalmist's plea for mercy underscores humanity's utter dependence on divine grace, especially when overwhelmed by circumstances beyond personal control. It highlights the theological truth that suffering, while painful, can drive us into deeper reliance on God, revealing His sufficiency even in our weakness. This honest expression of pain also serves as a testament to the integrity of faith, demonstrating that trust in God does not preclude the experience of profound distress, but rather provides the context for its expression and eventual solace.

* [Psalms 6:2](/psalms/6-2 "Psalms 6:2 - David's Plea for Mercy in Distress")
* [Lamentations 3:19-23](/lamentations/3-19 "Lamentations 3:19-23 - The Lord's Mercies Never Cease")
* [Hebrews 4:15-16](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15-16 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 31:9 offers profound solace and permission for anyone experiencing overwhelming grief, anxiety, or physical affliction. It reminds us that our faith journey is not one of perpetual triumph over all difficulty, but often a wrestling with pain and weakness, which God not only permits but invites us to bring directly to Him. The psalmist's raw honesty validates our own struggles, affirming that it is not a sign of weak faith to feel utterly consumed by trouble. Instead, it is an act of profound trust to vocalize that pain to the One who understands it most deeply. This verse encourages us to shed any pretense of strength and to lay bare our physical ailments, emotional anguish, and spiritual distress before the Lord without reservation, knowing that His boundless mercy is sufficient even when our strength is depleted. In our darkest moments, our first and best recourse is to cry out to the Lord for His enduring compassion, confident that He hears and cares.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific "trouble" or grief might be consuming your "eye," "soul," or "belly" today, and how does this verse give you permission to acknowledge it honestly before God?**
* **How does the psalmist's holistic description of suffering (eye, soul, belly) resonate with your own experience of pain, and what does it teach you about the interconnectedness of your being?**
* **In what practical ways can you bring your "consumed" state before the Lord, trusting in His mercy even when you feel utterly helpless?**

### FAQ
**Why does the psalmist mention "eye," "soul," and "belly" specifically as being "consumed with grief"?**

Answer: The psalmist mentions the "eye," "soul," and "belly" to convey the comprehensive, holistic nature of his suffering. In ancient Hebrew thought, the human person was understood as an integrated whole, not a collection of separate parts. The "eye" (עַיִן, _ayin'_) represents physical vitality and the outward manifestation of one's state; constant weeping or the physical toll of sorrow could make the eyes appear sunken or dim, hence "consumed." The "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, _nephesh'_) refers to the inner being, the core of one's emotions, mind, and life force. When the soul is consumed, it signifies deep emotional and spiritual exhaustion, a profound weariness of the very will to live. The "belly" (בֶּטֶן, _beten'_) is often used metaphorically for the innermost parts, the seat of visceral emotions and deep-seated physical sensations. This is akin to our modern understanding of feeling "gut-wrenching" pain or anxiety. By listing these three, the psalmist powerfully communicates that his trouble is not superficial but has permeated every dimension of his existence—physical, emotional, and spiritual—leaving him utterly depleted. This holistic language emphasizes that grief affects the entire person, a truth echoed in other biblical laments like [Lamentations 2:11](/lamentations/2-11 "Lamentations 2:11 - Bowels Troubled by Grief").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 31:9, with its raw cry of a soul consumed by grief and trouble, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist laments his own suffering, Christ perfectly embodies the "man of sorrows, acquainted with grief" (as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant")). Jesus, in His earthly ministry, experienced the full spectrum of human suffering—physical exhaustion, emotional anguish in Gethsemane where His "soul is very sorrowful, even to death" ([Matthew 26:38](/matthew/26-38 "Matthew 26:38 - Jesus' Anguish in Gethsemane")), and spiritual desolation on the cross when He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). He truly was "consumed" by the weight of human sin and the wrath of God, not for His own transgression, but for ours. His cry for mercy, though unspoken in the same terms, is implicit in His submission to the Father's will and His intercession for humanity. Through His suffering, death, and resurrection, Christ became the ultimate answer to every lament, demonstrating God's perfect mercy and providing a path for humanity to find true solace and healing from all consuming troubles. He invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")), for He is our compassionate High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")). In Christ, the psalmist's plea for mercy is not just heard, but eternally answered and transformed into hope.

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 6:7

Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

Psalms 73:26

My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psalms 88:9

Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

Job 17:7

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members [are] as a shadow.

Psalms 6:1

¶ To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

Psalms 6:2

Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I [am] weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

Psalms 88:3

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