Psalms 41:6

KJV

And if he come to see [me], he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; [when] he goeth abroad, he telleth [it].

KJV (with Strong's)

And if he come {H935}{H8804)} to see {H7200}{H8800)} me, he speaketh {H1696}{H8762)} vanity {H7723}: his heart {H3820} gathereth {H6908}{H8799)} iniquity {H205} to itself; when he goeth {H3318}{H8799)} abroad {H2351}, he telleth {H1696}{H8762)} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

When they come to see me they speak insincerely, their hearts meanwhile gathering falsehoods; then they go out and spread bad reports.

Berean Standard Bible

My visitor speaks falsehood; he gathers slander in his heart; he goes out and spreads it abroad.

American Standard Version

And if he come to see me, he speaketh falsehood; His heart gathereth iniquity to itself: When he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 41:6 profoundly exposes the duplicitous nature of those who visit the psalmist during his time of severe suffering, revealing their insincere words and malevolent intentions. While feigning concern, their hearts are actively accumulating wickedness, which they then eagerly disseminate as malicious gossip and slander upon leaving, highlighting a profound betrayal of trust and the deep pain inflicted by insincere relationships and public defamation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 41 concludes Book 1 of the Psalter, serving as a deeply personal lament, traditionally attributed to King David. It expresses profound distress over a severe illness and the agonizing experience of betrayal, particularly by close acquaintances. The psalm opens with a blessing for those who show compassion to the weak ([Psalms 41:1-3](/psalms/41-3 "Psalms 41:1-3 - Blessings for the One Who Considers the Poor")), creating a stark thematic contrast with the behavior of the psalmist's enemies described in the subsequent verses. Verse 6 specifically details the deceitful conduct of individuals who visit the psalmist in his vulnerable state, setting the stage for the climactic and prophetic betrayal highlighted in [Psalms 41:9](/psalms/41-9 "Psalms 41:9 - The Betrayal of a Familiar Friend"), a verse famously quoted in the New Testament regarding Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus. Thus, [Psalms 41:6](/psalms/41-6 "Psalms 41:6 - The Deceitful Visitor") functions as a critical narrative bridge, illustrating the immediate, personal treachery that foreshadows a greater, messianic fulfillment.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, illness was frequently perceived as a sign of divine displeasure or as an opportune moment for enemies to gloat over one's misfortune. Visiting the sick was a deeply ingrained social custom, an act of compassion and communal solidarity. Therefore, the behavior described in [Psalms 41:6](/psalms/41-6 "Psalms 41:6 - The Deceitful Visitor") represents a particularly egregious violation of both social norms and basic human decency. The psalmist, likely King David, was a prominent public figure, and his illness would have been widely known, attracting both genuine sympathy and opportunistic malice. The act of "going abroad" and "telling it" speaks to the pervasive nature of gossip and slander in a close-knit society where reputation was paramount. Words carried immense weight, capable of inflicting significant further harm on an already vulnerable individual, underscoring the severity of this betrayal.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several foundational themes within the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it starkly highlights **hypocrisy and deceit**, contrasting the visitors' feigned concern ("he speaketh vanity") with their true, malevolent intentions ("his heart gathereth iniquity to itself"). This exposes the profound danger of those who appear sympathetic but are inwardly corrupt, echoing warnings found throughout wisdom literature, such as in [Proverbs 26:23-26](/proverbs/26-23 "Proverbs 26:23-26 - Deceptive Lips and Malicious Hearts"). Secondly, it underscores the destructive power of **malicious gossip and slander**. Not content with internal wickedness, these individuals actively spread harmful reports and rumors upon leaving, demonstrating how words can inflict further pain and damage a person's reputation, a theme consistently warned against in the wisdom literature (e.g., [Proverbs 18:8](/proverbs/18-8 "Proverbs 18:8 - The Words of a Whisperer")). Finally, the verse contributes to the overarching theme of the **suffering of the righteous**, as David, despite his devotion to God, endures profound physical and emotional distress, compounded by the treachery of those around him. This resonates with the experiences of believers who face adversity and betrayal, often without apparent cause, as seen in the book of [Job](/job/1 "The Book of Job - Suffering of the Righteous").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Vanity (Hebrew, _shâvᵉʼ_):** The Hebrew term שָׁוְא (_shâvᵉʼ_) denotes emptiness, falsehood, worthlessness, or deceit. When applied to speech, as here, it signifies words that are not merely idle or meaningless, but actively deceptive, insincere, and devoid of genuine compassion or truth. The visitor's words are a hollow pretense, a mask for their true, malicious intent, aiming to mislead or to conceal their true intentions.
* **Gathereth iniquity (Hebrew, _qâbats ʼâven_):** This phrase combines the verb קָבַץ (_qâbats_), meaning "to collect" or "to gather," with the noun אָוֶן (_ʼâven_), which signifies wickedness, trouble, or sorrow. The imagery suggests a deliberate, active process of accumulating or storing evil intent within the heart. It implies premeditated malice, a conscious cultivation of harmful thoughts and plans, rather than a fleeting or accidental negative emotion. This is a heart that is not merely tempted by evil but actively embraces and hoards it, preparing for its eventual release.
* **Telleth (Hebrew, _dâbar_):** The Hebrew verb דָּבַר (_dâbar_) means "to speak" or "to tell," but its root often implies arranging or ordering words. In this context, it highlights the deliberate and organized nature of the visitor's harmful communication. It is not an accidental slip of the tongue but a purposeful dissemination of information, likely slanderous or damaging, that has been carefully "gathered" in their heart. This emphasizes the intentionality behind the act of spreading malicious reports.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And if he come to see [me], he speaketh vanity:"** This clause sets the scene, describing the superficial act of a visitor coming to the psalmist, ostensibly to offer comfort or sympathy during his illness. However, their words are immediately exposed as "vanity"—empty, false, and insincere. There is a stark contrast between the outward appearance of concern and the inward reality of deceit. The very act of visiting, which should be an act of kindness, is corrupted by their ulterior motives, turning a gesture of care into an act of disingenuousness.
* **"his heart gathereth iniquity to itself;"** This is the core of the visitor's treachery and the source of their duplicity. While their lips utter empty words, their heart is engaged in a sinister activity: it is actively collecting and accumulating wickedness. This suggests a deliberate, internal process of nurturing malicious thoughts, evil intentions, or plans for harm. It's not a passive reception of evil but an active, willful embrace and storage of it, indicating a deep-seated corruption that belies their outward facade of sympathy.
* **"[when] he goeth abroad, he telleth [it]."** The final clause reveals the culmination and external manifestation of their internal malice. Once the visitor leaves the psalmist's presence ("when he goeth abroad"), the iniquity gathered in their heart is unleashed through their words. "Telleth it" implies spreading rumors, gossip, or malicious reports about the psalmist's condition or character. This completes the cycle of deceit: feigned sympathy, internal malice, and external slander, demonstrating the destructive power of a corrupt heart expressed through a deceitful tongue that seeks to harm the vulnerable.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs several **literary devices** to convey its message of profound betrayal and hypocrisy. **Irony** is prominently featured, as the act of visiting the sick, typically a gesture of compassion and solidarity, is inverted into an opportunity for malice and exploitation. The visitors feign concern while harboring ill will, creating a stark and unsettling contrast between their outward appearance and their inward reality. **Personification** is subtly used when the psalmist states, "his heart gathereth iniquity to itself," attributing an active, volitional capacity to the heart to collect and store evil. This emphasizes the deliberate and internal nature of their wickedness, portraying the heart as an active agent in cultivating malice. Furthermore, the verse uses **contrast** to highlight the profound duplicity: the "vanity" of their spoken words stands in sharp opposition to the "iniquity" gathered in their hearts, and the private accumulation of malice is contrasted with its public dissemination upon their departure. This tripartite structure—appearance, internal reality, and external action—powerfully illustrates the insidious and destructive nature of the betrayal.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 41:6 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of human depravity and the pervasive reality of betrayal, even among those who appear sympathetic. It underscores the biblical emphasis on the heart as the wellspring of human action, revealing that true wickedness often begins internally before manifesting externally through deceitful words and slanderous actions. This verse serves as a sober warning against hypocrisy and the insidious damage caused by gossip and slander, urging believers to cultivate discernment and to guard their own hearts against similar corruption. It reminds us that God, unlike humans, sees beyond superficial appearances to the true intentions of the heart, a theme consistently affirmed throughout Scripture, providing comfort that ultimate justice rests with Him.

* [Proverbs 4:23](/proverbs/4-23 "Proverbs 4:23 - Guard Your Heart Above All Else")
* [Matthew 15:18-19](/matthew/15-18-19 "Matthew 15:18-19 - What Comes Out of the Mouth Defiles")
* [Luke 6:45](/luke/6-45 "Luke 6:45 - Good and Evil from the Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 41:6 serves as a timeless warning, urging us to cultivate spiritual discernment and to look beyond superficial pleasantries to discern true character. In our contemporary world, we may encounter individuals who offer hollow sympathy while secretly harboring ill will or spreading harmful rumors, whether in personal relationships, professional settings, or even within religious communities. This verse encourages us to be aware of such duplicity and to place our ultimate trust not in the fickle nature of human relationships, but in God, who [looks at the heart](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart, Not Outward Appearance") and knows all things. It also challenges us to examine our own hearts, ensuring our words and actions align with genuine love, integrity, and truth, rather than deceit and malice. We are called to be people of integrity, whose outward expressions genuinely reflect inward purity, resisting the temptation to engage in gossip or to harbor ill will against others, especially those in vulnerable positions. Our compassion should be sincere, our words truthful, and our hearts free from the "gathering of iniquity."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge my perception of outward appearances versus inward character in myself and others?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to speak "vanity" or allow my heart to "gather iniquity" in my daily interactions, perhaps subtly or unconsciously?**
* **How can I cultivate greater discernment to recognize insincere words and malicious intentions in others, while still extending grace and seeking reconciliation where possible?**
* **What practical steps can I take to guard my heart and my tongue from engaging in gossip, slander, or any form of deceit, especially concerning those who are suffering or vulnerable?**

### FAQ
**What does "he speaketh vanity" truly mean in this context?**

Answer: "He speaketh vanity" means that the visitor's words are empty, false, and insincere. They are not merely idle chatter but are deceptive and devoid of genuine compassion or truth. While the visitor might offer polite condolences or feigned sympathy, their words lack substance and are a mere pretense, masking their true, malicious intentions. This highlights the hypocrisy of their visit, as their outward expression does not match their inward disposition. It's a deliberate act of verbal deceit, designed to conceal a corrupt heart.

**How does "his heart gathereth iniquity to itself" relate to their actions?**

Answer: This phrase describes a deliberate internal process where the visitor's heart actively accumulates and stores wickedness, evil thoughts, or malicious intentions. It's not a fleeting negative emotion but a conscious cultivation of ill will. This internal gathering of iniquity directly fuels their subsequent actions: the "vanity" they speak while present, and the malicious gossip they spread ("he telleth it") once they leave. The heart, as the biblical seat of will, emotion, and intellect, is shown here to be actively engaged in preparing for and executing harm, demonstrating a deep-seated corruption that precedes and drives their deceitful behavior. It reveals that their outward actions are merely the fruit of an inward, cultivated malice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 41:6, with its poignant depiction of betrayal by a seemingly sympathetic visitor, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the life and passion of Jesus Christ. The psalmist's experience of suffering and the treachery of those who feigned concern foreshadows the perfect suffering of the Messiah. While many came to Jesus during His ministry, some, like the Pharisees and scribes, came with "vanity" on their lips, seeking to trap Him with questions, their hearts "gathering iniquity" against Him ([Matthew 22:15](/matthew/22-15 "Matthew 22:15 - The Pharisees Plot to Entrap Jesus") and [Luke 11:53-54](/luke/11-53-54 "Luke 11:53-54 - Lawyers and Pharisees Oppose Jesus")). Most strikingly, the betrayal described in [Psalms 41:9](/psalms/41-9 "Psalms 41:9 - The Betrayal of a Familiar Friend")—"Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me"—is directly quoted by Jesus in [John 13:18](/john/13-18 "John 13:18 - Jesus Predicts His Betrayal") concerning Judas Iscariot. Judas, one of the twelve disciples, shared intimate meals and ministry with Jesus, yet his heart was gathering iniquity, leading him to betray the Son of Man for thirty pieces of silver ([Matthew 26:14-16](/matthew/26-14-16 "Matthew 26:14-16 - Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus")). After his visit to Jesus in Gethsemane, Judas indeed "went abroad" and "told it," leading the authorities to arrest Him ([John 18:2-3](/john/18-2-3 "John 18:2-3 - Judas Leads Soldiers to Jesus")). Thus, the psalmist's personal lament becomes a prophetic voice, articulating the very depths of the betrayal that Christ would endure, demonstrating that even in the face of the most profound human treachery, God's redemptive plan for humanity would prevail through the ultimate sacrifice of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God").

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 12:2

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak.

Proverbs 26:24

¶ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

Proverbs 26:26

[Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] congregation.

Luke 11:53

And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge [him] vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:

Luke 11:54

Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

Luke 20:20

¶ And they watched [him], and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

Luke 20:23

But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?