Psalms 38:7

KJV

For my loins are filled with a loathsome [disease]: and [there is] no soundness in my flesh.

KJV (with Strong's)

For my loins {H3689} are filled {H4390} with a loathsome {H7033}{H8737)} disease: and there is no soundness {H4974} in my flesh {H1320}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For my insides burn with fever, and my whole body is sick.

Berean Standard Bible

For my loins are full of burning pain, and no soundness remains in my body.

American Standard Version

For my loins are filled with burning; And there is no soundness in my flesh.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 38:7 is a visceral lament from David, expressing the profound and pervasive nature of his physical suffering, which he perceives as deeply intertwined with his spiritual condition and the consequences of his sin. The verse vividly portrays a debilitating illness that has consumed his body, specifically affecting his core strength and leaving him with no semblance of health or wholeness in his flesh, highlighting his utter vulnerability and despair.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 38 is one of the seven traditional penitential psalms (alongside Psalms 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, 143), characterized by an outpouring of confession, deep remorse, and a plea for divine mercy. David, as the psalmist, connects his severe physical ailments directly to his iniquities, viewing his suffering as a consequence of God's displeasure and a manifestation of His discipline (e.g., [Psalm 38:3](/psalms/38-3 "Psalm 38:3 - No Soundness Because of Wrath")). The entire psalm functions as a desperate lament, detailing the physical pain, the emotional anguish of feeling abandoned, the scorn of enemies, and the hope for God's intervention despite his unworthiness. This verse, therefore, serves as a stark description of the physical manifestation of David's inner turmoil and spiritual distress, setting the stage for his subsequent pleas for relief and restoration.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite thought, there was often a strong, though not exclusive, correlation between sin and physical affliction. Illness, especially severe and debilitating conditions, could be interpreted as a sign of divine judgment or discipline, a consequence of breaking covenant with God. While the Book of [Job](/job/1 "The Book of Job") later challenges a simplistic cause-and-effect understanding, David's lament in Psalm 38 reflects this common worldview, where personal suffering is directly linked to personal sin. For a king like David, physical infirmity could also imply weakness, vulnerability, and a loss of divine favor, potentially emboldening enemies and undermining his authority. The public nature of his distress, even if expressed privately to God, underscores the cultural weight placed on health and wholeness as indicators of blessing.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in Psalm 38 and the Psalter as a whole. Foremost is the theme of **Profound Physical and Spiritual Suffering**, where the physical body becomes a canvas for spiritual anguish and the perceived consequences of sin. David's description of his "loins" being filled with "loathsome disease" and "no soundness in my flesh" vividly portrays a suffering that is not superficial but deep-seated, affecting his very core and vitality. This leads to the theme of the **Consequences of Sin**, where David explicitly links his distress to his "iniquities" (e.g., [Psalm 38:4](/psalms/38-4 "Psalm 38:4 - Iniquities Overwhelm")). While not every illness is a direct punishment for specific sin, David's lament reflects a theological framework where divine discipline is understood as a means of correction. Finally, the verse highlights the theme of **Vulnerability and Despair**, as the imagery of a body consumed by disease underscores David's extreme helplessness and the sense of hopelessness that can accompany severe, chronic illness, driving him to desperate prayer.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Loins (Hebrew, חֲסָלִים _chasaliym_):** This term typically refers to the lower back, hips, or the region of the kidneys, often associated with strength, vitality, and procreation. When David states his "loins are filled," it suggests an affliction that has penetrated to the very core of his being, debilitating his strength and vital functions, rather than merely a superficial ailment. It implies a deep, internal, and pervasive illness that saps his life force.
* **Loathsome (Hebrew, נִקְלֶה _niqleh_):** This word carries connotations of something despised, vile, contemptible, or putrid. It describes the repulsive and severe nature of the ailment, indicating not just pain but a condition that is offensive, perhaps visually or by its odor, making David an object of disgust to himself and potentially to others. It emphasizes the shame and degradation associated with his suffering.
* **Soundness (Hebrew, מְתֹם _m'thom_):** This noun signifies wholeness, integrity, health, or completeness. Its absence, "no soundness in my flesh," indicates a total lack of physical well-being. It suggests that his body is not merely ailing in parts but is fundamentally broken, perhaps with festering sores, decay, or a complete systemic breakdown. This phrase underscores the all-encompassing nature of his physical distress, leaving no part of his body untouched by illness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For my loins are filled with a loathsome [disease]:"** This clause vividly portrays the depth and pervasiveness of David's affliction. The "loins," symbolizing strength and vitality, are not merely affected but "filled" with a condition described as "loathsome," implying a repulsive, perhaps festering or decaying, internal ailment. This suggests a systemic breakdown, a deep-seated illness that has invaded the very core of his physical being, robbing him of strength and making him feel vile. The KJV's supplied word "[disease]" accurately captures the nature of the affliction.
* **"and [there is] no soundness in my flesh."** This second clause reinforces and expands upon the first, emphasizing the absolute lack of health or wholeness in David's entire body. It indicates that his physical integrity is completely compromised; there is no part of his flesh that is healthy or intact. This phrase conveys a sense of total physical decay, weakness, and an overwhelming absence of well-being, highlighting his extreme vulnerability and the comprehensive nature of his suffering.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 38:7 employs potent **Imagery** to convey David's suffering. The phrase "my loins are filled with a loathsome [disease]" creates a visceral image of internal corruption and decay, suggesting a deep-seated illness that is not only painful but also repulsive. This is reinforced by the subsequent phrase, "and [there is] no soundness in my flesh," which uses the imagery of a body utterly devoid of health or integrity, implying widespread sores, weakness, or decay. The use of "loathsome" is a form of **Emotive Language**, designed to evoke a strong feeling of disgust and pity, amplifying the severity of his condition. The two clauses together form a type of **Parallelism**, where the second clause ("no soundness in my flesh") reiterates and intensifies the idea presented in the first ("loins are filled with a loathsome disease"), emphasizing the comprehensive and debilitating nature of his physical distress. This combination of vivid imagery, emotive language, and reinforcing parallelism effectively communicates the psalmist's profound physical and emotional agony.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 38:7 powerfully articulates the human experience of suffering, often perceived in biblical thought as intertwined with spiritual brokenness or divine discipline. While modern theology differentiates between illness as a direct punishment for sin and the general fallenness of creation, David's lament reflects a common ancient understanding where physical distress could be a direct consequence of iniquity. The verse highlights the holistic nature of human existence, where physical health, emotional well-being, and spiritual standing are deeply interconnected. It underscores the reality that even devout individuals can experience profound physical and spiritual anguish, prompting honest lament and a desperate cry for God's mercy and healing. This raw vulnerability serves as a model for bringing our deepest pains and perceived failures before the Lord, trusting in His compassion even when we feel utterly broken.

* [Psalm 32:3-4](/psalms/32-3 "Psalm 32:3-4 - Confession and Physical Wasting")
* [Job 2:7-8](/job/2-7 "Job 2:7-8 - Job's Affliction")
* [Isaiah 1:5-6](/isaiah/1-5 "Isaiah 1:5-6 - Israel's Wounds")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's raw and unflinching description of his physical decay in Psalms 38:7 offers a profound invitation to acknowledge the reality of suffering in our lives. It reminds us that physical ailments, emotional turmoil, and spiritual distress are often deeply interconnected, and that the Bible does not shy away from depicting the harsh realities of a fallen world. This verse encourages us to cultivate a posture of radical honesty before God, bringing our deepest pains, our feelings of shame, and our perceived brokenness directly into His presence, just as David did. It challenges us to resist the urge to mask our vulnerabilities or pretend we are "fine" when we are not, instead embracing the freedom to lament and to appeal to God's mercy even when we feel "loathsome" or have "no soundness in our flesh." Ultimately, it points us towards God as the ultimate source of healing and restoration, both physically and spiritually, reminding us that our hope lies not in our own strength or perceived righteousness, but in His unfailing compassion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's raw honesty in this verse encourage you to be more transparent with God about your own suffering, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual?**
* **In what ways do you experience the interconnectedness of your physical, emotional, and spiritual health in your own life?**
* **When facing profound distress or a sense of inner brokenness, what is your first impulse, and how might David's example redirect you towards a deeper reliance on God?**

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

Answer: While Psalm 38:7, and indeed much of Psalm 38, connects David's physical suffering to his iniquities, it's crucial to understand this within the broader biblical narrative. In ancient Israelite thought, there was often a strong correlation between sin and physical affliction, seen as divine discipline or judgment. However, the Bible also presents instances of suffering not directly caused by personal sin, such as in the [Book of Job](/job/1 "The Book of Job"), where Job's immense suffering is explicitly stated not to be a result of his sin. Similarly, [John 9:1-3](/john/9-1 "John 9:1-3 - Blindness Not Due to Sin") records Jesus correcting the disciples' assumption that a man's blindness was due to his or his parents' sin. Therefore, while David attributes his specific distress here to his sin, this verse does not establish a universal theological rule that all illness is a direct punishment for individual sin. Instead, it highlights the profound impact of sin on a holistic human being (body, soul, spirit) and the reality of divine discipline, while also affirming God's sovereignty over all forms of suffering.

**What is the significance of "loins" in this context?**

Answer: The term "loins" (Hebrew: חֲסָלִים, _chasaliym_) in biblical language often refers to the lower back, hips, or the region around the kidneys. Beyond a mere anatomical reference, it symbolically represents the seat of strength, vitality, and even procreative power. When David says his "loins are filled with a loathsome [disease]," he is conveying that the affliction is not superficial but has penetrated to the very core of his being, debilitating his fundamental strength and life force. It suggests a deep, pervasive, and internal illness that saps his energy and vitality, affecting him at the very source of his physical and perhaps even his spiritual strength. This emphasizes the comprehensive and devastating nature of his suffering, affecting him from the inside out.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
David's lament in Psalms 38:7, with its raw depiction of a body consumed by "loathsome disease" and "no soundness in my flesh," finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While David's suffering was, in part, a consequence of his own sin, Jesus, the sinless Son of God, willingly bore the "loathsome disease" of humanity's sin upon Himself. He became the ultimate suffering servant, taking on the infirmities and sorrows of mankind, as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - The Suffering Servant"). On the cross, Jesus's body was indeed broken, experiencing a depth of physical agony and spiritual abandonment that left "no soundness in his flesh" for our sake. He bore our diseases and carried our pains, not as a consequence of His own sin, but as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Through His suffering, Jesus fully identifies with our deepest pains and vulnerabilities ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus Our Sympathetic High Priest")), offering not only spiritual healing but also the promise of ultimate physical restoration. His sacrifice transforms our lament into hope, for "by His wounds we are healed" ([1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - By His Wounds We Are Healed")), and He continues to heal all who come to Him, just as He healed many during His earthly ministry ([Matthew 8:16-17](/matthew/8-16 "Matthew 8:16-17 - Jesus Heals the Sick")).

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 41:8

An evil disease, [say they], cleaveth fast unto him: and [now] that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

2 Chronicles 21:18

And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

2 Chronicles 21:19

And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.

Psalms 102:3

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

Acts 12:23

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Job 7:5

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

Job 30:18

By the great force [of my disease] is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.