Psalms 6:6

KJV

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

KJV (with Strong's)

I am weary {H3021} with my groaning {H585}; all the night {H3915} make I my bed {H4296} to swim {H7811}; I water {H4529} my couch {H6210} with my tears {H1832}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I am worn out with groaning; all night I drench my bed with tears, flooding my couch till it swims.

Berean Standard Bible

I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

American Standard Version

I am weary with my groaning; Every night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 6:6 is a poignant lament from the psalmist, King David, expressing an overwhelming depth of personal anguish, sorrow, and physical exhaustion. Through vivid hyperbole, the verse paints a picture of incessant weeping throughout the night, so profuse that his tears metaphorically saturate his sleeping place, underscoring an inconsolable grief that consumes his entire being and robs him of rest.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 6:6 is situated within Psalm 6, which is notably the first of the seven traditional Penitential Psalms (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143). These psalms are characterized by a profound expression of sorrow, confession of sin, and an earnest plea for divine mercy and deliverance from affliction. The psalm begins with an urgent cry for God's compassion in the face of judgment and physical distress ([Psalms 6:1-3](/psalms/6-1 "Psalm 6:1-3 - A Plea for Mercy")), describing the psalmist's soul as "greatly troubled." Verse 6 intensifies this depiction of suffering, leading into a desperate appeal for God to turn and deliver his soul ([Psalms 6:4](/psalms/6-4 "Psalm 6:4 - Deliver My Soul")). The psalm then dramatically shifts from lament to a declaration of confidence that God has heard his plea and will act against his enemies ([Psalms 6:8-10](/psalms/6-8 "Psalm 6:8-10 - God Hears the Plea")), framing verse 6 as the nadir of his despair before the turning point of faith.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific historical circumstances of David's suffering are not detailed in the psalm, traditional interpretations attribute it to periods of intense personal distress, perhaps due to illness, the persecution of enemies, or the burden of his own sin (as suggested by its inclusion in the Penitential Psalms). In ancient Israelite culture, suffering was often viewed through a theological lens, sometimes as a consequence of sin or divine discipline. However, the psalmist's lament here is a raw, honest outpouring of pain that transcends a simple cause-and-effect understanding. The imagery of the bed and couch highlights the deeply personal and private nature of his suffering, a space typically associated with rest now transformed into a place of ceaseless sorrow.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalter and biblical theology. It exemplifies **Profound Grief and Despair**, demonstrating the depth of human suffering when overwhelmed by emotional and physical distress. The imagery of tears and sleeplessness highlights the **Physical Manifestation of Sorrow**, where internal anguish profoundly impacts the body. Crucially, it underscores the biblical practice of **Honest Lament**, showcasing that expressing raw, even despairing, emotions directly to God is not only permissible but a vital component of a trusting relationship with the divine. This theme is echoed throughout the Psalms, where the righteous pour out their hearts, as seen in other expressions of deep sorrow like [Psalm 42:3](/psalms/42-3 "Psalm 42:3 - Tears as Food") or [Psalm 77:2-3](/psalms/77-2 "Psalm 77:2-3 - Sleepless Nights of Anguish").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Weary (יָגַע, _yaga'_):** This Hebrew verb signifies to be exhausted, worn out, or to toil. It implies a state of profound fatigue resulting from sustained effort or distress. Here, the psalmist is not merely tired but utterly depleted, the exhaustion stemming from the continuous, burdensome act of "groaning." It suggests a physical and mental drain caused by unceasing sorrow.
* **Groaning (אֲנָחָה, _'anachah'_):** This noun refers to a sigh, lamentation, or deep groan, often involuntary and indicative of profound distress, pain, or anguish. It's an audible expression of internal suffering that cannot be contained. The psalmist's weariness is directly linked to the relentless nature of these sounds of sorrow.
* **Swim (שָׂחָה, _sachah'_):** The verb means "to swim" or "to overflow." In this context, it is used metaphorically and hyperbolically to describe the immense volume of tears. The bed is not literally swimming, but the tears are so abundant that they create the impression of a saturated, waterlogged environment, emphasizing the intensity and ceaselessness of the weeping.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I am weary with my groaning":** This opening clause immediately establishes the psalmist's state of utter exhaustion. The weariness is not from physical labor but from the internal burden of grief, expressed through continuous groaning. It speaks to a soul so burdened that it has physically drained the body.
* **"all the night make I my bed to swim":** This vivid image conveys the intensity and duration of his sorrow. "All the night" indicates sleeplessness, a common symptom of deep distress, while "make I my bed to swim" is a powerful hyperbole. It means his tears are so profuse and continuous that they metaphorically flood his bed, turning his place of rest into a pool of sorrow.
* **"I water my couch with my tears":** This clause reinforces and parallels the previous one, using slightly different terminology ("couch" instead of "bed") to emphasize the same point. It intensifies the image of incessant weeping, highlighting the personal and intimate nature of his suffering, as his tears saturate the very place where he seeks comfort and repose.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is a masterclass in conveying profound emotional distress through poetic language, primarily employing **Hyperbole**. The exaggeration of tears making a "bed to swim" or "watering a couch" is not meant to be taken literally but to amplify the overwhelming nature of the psalmist's grief and the sheer volume of his weeping. This hyperbole creates a powerful and memorable image of inconsolable sorrow. Accompanying this is striking **Imagery** and **Metaphor**, where the abstract concept of sorrow is made tangible through the physical manifestation of tears and their impact on the environment. The "bed" and "couch" become metaphors for the psalmist's private space of suffering. There is also a subtle use of **Parallelism** in the repetition of the idea of tears saturating the sleeping place, reinforcing the central theme of ceaseless lament.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 6:6 offers profound theological insights into the nature of human suffering and God's relationship with His people. It validates the raw, unvarnished expression of pain and despair before God, demonstrating that faith does not preclude deep anguish. The psalmist's lament is not a sign of weak faith but an act of profound trust, believing that God is attentive even to the most desperate cries. This verse affirms that God is not distant or indifferent to our sorrow; rather, He invites us to bring our whole selves, including our tears and exhaustion, into His presence. It speaks to the divine empathy that understands and acknowledges the physical and emotional toll of suffering.

* [Psalms 34:17](/psalms/34-17 "Psalm 34:17 - The Righteous Cry Out")
* [Psalms 56:8](/psalms/56-8 "Psalm 56:8 - God Gathers Our Tears")
* [Lamentations 3:19-23](/lamentations/3-19 "Lamentations 3:19-23 - Remembering Affliction and Hope")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 6:6 serves as a powerful reminder that the Christian life is not immune to profound sorrow, exhaustion, and despair. It grants us permission to be utterly honest with God about the depth of our pain, validating the raw human experience of grief. In a world that often pressures us to "be strong" or "have it all together," David's lament encourages us to lay bare our weariness, our groaning, and our tears before the Lord. This verse teaches us that true spiritual strength often begins with acknowledging our weakness and vulnerability before a God who is both mighty and compassionate. It invites us to trust that even when our "bed swims with tears," God is present, hearing our cries, and collecting our tears, preparing to bring comfort and deliverance in His perfect timing. Our lament is a form of prayer, a desperate plea that ultimately expresses dependence on the only One who can truly sustain us through the night.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond to overwhelming sorrow or physical exhaustion in your life?**
* **In what ways do you allow yourself to express raw emotions, including tears and groaning, directly to God?**
* **How does the psalmist's honesty in this verse encourage your own prayer life, especially during times of deep distress?**
* **What hope can you find in God's presence, even when your "bed swims with tears" and you feel utterly depleted?**

### FAQ
**Is it acceptable for a believer to feel such deep despair and exhaustion, as expressed in this verse?**

Answer: Absolutely. Psalms 6:6, along with many other passages in the Psalms and throughout Scripture, unequivocally validates the experience of profound despair, grief, and physical exhaustion among believers. The Bible does not present a sanitized version of faith that is devoid of suffering; rather, it provides a sacred space for the full spectrum of human emotion, including lament, sorrow, and even despair. David's honest outpouring here, and elsewhere (e.g., [Psalm 42:3](/psalms/42-3 "Psalm 42:3 - Tears as Food"), where he states his tears have been his food day and night), demonstrates that expressing such feelings to God is a legitimate and vital aspect of a healthy relationship with Him. God is not intimidated by our raw emotions; He invites us to bring them all to Him, knowing He is a God who understands and empathizes with our weaknesses ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Our Sympathetic High Priest")).

**What does the imagery of God "collecting our tears" mean in relation to the psalmist's weeping?**

Answer: The imagery of God "collecting our tears" comes from [Psalm 56:8](/psalms/56-8 "Psalm 56:8 - God Gathers Our Tears"), where the psalmist says, "You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?" This powerful metaphor signifies God's intimate knowledge, compassionate attention, and meticulous remembrance of every sorrow, every moment of suffering, and every tear shed by His children. It means that no tear goes unnoticed by God; He values our pain and grief so much that He figuratively collects and records them. This provides immense comfort and assurance that our suffering is not in vain or forgotten but is seen, acknowledged, and held by a loving and attentive Heavenly Father. It transforms private anguish into a sacred offering, known and cherished by God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 6:6 profoundly articulates the human experience of suffering, its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning are found in Jesus Christ. The psalmist's weariness, groaning, and tears foreshadow the unparalleled anguish of the Son of God, who truly became a "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - A Man of Sorrows")). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experienced an agony so intense that His sweat became "like great drops of blood falling to the ground" ([Luke 22:44](/luke/22-44 "Luke 22:44 - Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane")), a physical manifestation of soul-deep groaning far beyond what any human could endure. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus ([John 11:35](/john/11-35 "John 11:35 - Jesus Wept")), demonstrating divine empathy with human sorrow. On the cross, He bore the ultimate burden of sin, experiencing separation from God and a suffering that made His "bed to swim" with the tears of humanity's sin and sorrow. Jesus, our Great High Priest, is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, for He was tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Our Sympathetic High Priest")). Thus, the psalmist's lament finds its perfect echo and redemptive answer in Christ, who not only experienced the depths of human anguish but conquered it, offering comfort, deliverance, and eternal hope to all who groan under the weight of this fallen world.

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 38:9

Lord, all my desire [is] before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

Psalms 69:3

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Psalms 42:3

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where [is] thy God?

Job 7:3

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

Psalms 77:2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

Psalms 77:9

Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

Lamentations 2:11

Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.