Psalms 41:3

The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

The LORD {H3068} will strengthen {H5582}{H8799)} him upon the bed {H6210} of languishing {H1741}: thou wilt make {H2015}{H8804)} all his bed {H4904} in his sickness {H2483}.

ADONAI sustains them on their sickbed; when they lie ill, you make them recover.

The LORD will sustain him on his bed of illness and restore him from his bed of sickness.

Jehovah will support him upon the couch of languishing: Thou makest all his bed in his sickness.

Context

Psalm 41 is a prayer of David, likely composed during a time of serious illness when he faced not only physical affliction but also the treachery of his enemies, including one close friend. The psalm opens with a blessing upon those who consider the poor and afflicted (verse 1), setting a compassionate tone before the psalmist appeals for God's mercy and healing. Verse 3 specifically highlights God's tender care and intervention for the righteous individual who is suffering from sickness, providing a powerful statement of divine comfort amidst human frailty.

Key Themes

  • Divine Compassion in Suffering: This verse beautifully illustrates God's deep empathy and active involvement in the lives of those who are ill. It assures the believer that God does not abandon them in their weakness but draws near to offer support.
  • God as the Ultimate Caregiver: The imagery of the LORD strengthening the sick and "making all his bed" speaks to God's meticulous and personal care. It portrays God as tending to the comfort and recovery of the afflicted, transforming a place of pain into one of solace. This theme resonates with the divine promise to strengthen and uphold His people.
  • Hope Amidst Affliction: For those on a "bed of languishing," a term suggesting a prolonged and debilitating illness, this verse offers profound hope. It reminds us that even when human strength fails, divine power is available to sustain and restore.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "bed of languishing" translates the Hebrew mishkav dāwâ. Mishkav refers to a bed or couch, while dāwâ implies weakness, faintness, or being wasted away, vividly depicting a state of severe and weakening illness. The latter part of the verse, "thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness," uses the Hebrew verb hāpak (to turn, overturn, transform) in relation to the bed. While often interpreted as God literally smoothing or turning the bed for comfort, the verb hāpak can also suggest a more profound transformation—God changes the very nature of the sickbed from a place of suffering to one of healing and restoration. This implies God's active involvement in alleviating distress and facilitating recovery.

Practical Application

Psalms 41:3 offers immense comfort and encouragement to anyone facing illness, whether personally or through a loved one. It teaches us several vital truths:

  • God is Present in Pain: This verse assures us that God is intimately aware of our suffering and is actively involved in our care during times of sickness. We are not alone on our "bed of languishing."
  • Trust in Divine Sustenance: Even when healing seems distant, we can trust that the LORD provides strength and comfort. This can be spiritual, emotional, or even physical strength to endure. This echoes the broader biblical truth that God is the "God of all comfort".
  • Inspiration for Caregivers: The imagery of God tending to the bed can inspire human caregivers to show similar compassion and diligent care to those who are sick, mirroring God's own lovingkindness.
  • A Source of Prayer: This verse provides a foundation for prayers for healing and strength, reminding us to appeal to the LORD who is capable and willing to "make all our bed in our sickness."
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 73:26

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

  • 2 Kings 20:5

    Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

  • 2 Kings 20:6

    And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

  • Philippians 2:26

    For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

  • Philippians 2:27

    For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:16

    For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:17

    For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;

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