Psalms 6:7

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Mine eye {H5869} is consumed {H6244} because of grief {H3708}; it waxeth old {H6275} because of all mine enemies {H6887}.

Complete Jewish Bible

My vision is darkened with anger; it grows weak because of all my foes.

Berean Standard Bible

My eyes fail from grief; they grow dim because of all my foes.

American Standard Version

Mine eye wasteth away because of grief; It waxeth old because of all mine adversaries.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 6:7 is a profound lament from the psalmist, likely King David, expressing the debilitating physical and emotional toll exacted by overwhelming grief and relentless opposition. It vividly portrays a state of utter exhaustion and premature aging, where the very organ of sight, often a symbol of vitality and perception, is depicted as wasting away under the crushing weight of sorrow and the constant pressure from adversaries. This verse encapsulates the deep human experience of being utterly spent by suffering and conflict, highlighting the holistic impact of distress on body, mind, and spirit.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 6:7 is situated within one of the seven traditional "penitential psalms," a category characterized by deep lament, confession of sin, and fervent appeals for divine mercy and deliverance. The psalmist's cry of physical and emotional exhaustion in verse 7 follows a series of intense expressions of distress, where he describes his bones vexed, his soul "sore troubled," and his bed "watered with tears" in [Psalms 6:2-6](/psalms/6-2-6 "Psalms 6:2-6 - David's Deep Distress and Weeping"). This verse serves as a climactic depiction of the physical manifestation of his inner turmoil, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of his suffering and the profound depth of his despair. It immediately precedes a dramatic shift in tone, where the psalmist declares his confidence in God's hearing and eventual intervention, signaling a turning point from despair to faith and a confident expectation of deliverance, as seen in [Psalms 6:8-10](/psalms/6-8-10 "Psalms 6:8-10 - David's Turn to Faith and Confidence in God"). This juxtaposition highlights the dynamic nature of lament psalms, moving from desperate pleading to renewed trust.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific historical circumstances of Psalms 6 are not explicitly stated, tradition often attributes it to David during a period of intense personal suffering, possibly related to illness, sin, or persecution by enemies (e.g., during Absalom's rebellion or Saul's relentless pursuit). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the eyes were not merely organs of sight but were deeply symbolic of vitality, perception, and even the soul's inner state. To say one's eye was "consumed" or "waxeth old" due to grief and enemies would have powerfully conveyed a complete loss of vigor, hope, and the very capacity to perceive a future free from affliction. The concept of "enemies" was pervasive in the ancient world, encompassing personal adversaries, national foes, and even spiritual opposition, all of which could bring immense psychological and physical strain upon an individual, leading to a sense of premature aging and exhaustion. This holistic understanding of the human person—where physical ailments are often seen as intertwined with spiritual and emotional states—is common throughout the Old Testament.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalms 6 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Profound Lament and Human Vulnerability**, demonstrating that even righteous individuals experience debilitating grief and physical decay under duress. It validates the raw expression of suffering before God, a common motif throughout the Psalms, especially in laments like [Psalms 13](/psalms/13 "Psalms 13 - A Psalm of Lament and Trust"). Secondly, it highlights the **Holistic Impact of Suffering**, showing how emotional and spiritual distress directly manifests in physical symptoms, emphasizing the interconnectedness of body and soul. The psalmist's physical deterioration is a direct result of both internal grief and external oppression, a reality echoed in passages such as [Proverbs 17:22](/proverbs/17-22 "Proverbs 17:22 - A Joyful Heart is Good Medicine"). Finally, it sets the stage for the theme of **Divine Deliverance and Trust**, as the psalmist's deep despair ultimately serves to magnify God's subsequent intervention and faithfulness, reinforcing the idea that God hears the cries of the afflicted and brings salvation, as seen in [Psalms 34:17-19](/psalms/34-17-19 "Psalms 34:17-19 - The Lord Delivers the Righteous").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Eye (Hebrew, _ʻayin'_):** This word (H5869, עַיִן) literally refers to the physical organ of sight, but it also carries rich metaphorical weight in Hebrew thought. It can symbolize perception, understanding, vitality, and even the entire person. In this context, the "eye" represents the psalmist's very life force and capacity for hope and clear vision, which is now being diminished by his suffering. Its consumption signifies a deep, internal draining of his being.
* **Consumed (Hebrew, _ʻâshêsh'_):** This verb (H6244, עָשֵׁשׁ) is a primitive root meaning "to shrink," "to fail," or "to be exhausted." When applied to the eye, it vividly portrays a fading of sight, a loss of luster, and a general wasting away. It suggests a process of deterioration, where the eye, once bright and clear, is now clouded and enfeebled, reflecting the psalmist's internal state of being utterly drained and worn out by sorrow.
* **Grief (Hebrew, _kaʻaç'_):** This noun (H3708, כַּעַס) denotes vexation, anger, sorrow, or indignation. Here, it specifically refers to the deep emotional anguish and sorrow that is causing the psalmist's physical deterioration. It is an internal, consuming sorrow that has a palpable effect on his physical state, demonstrating the profound link between emotional distress and bodily health in biblical understanding.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Mine eye is consumed because of grief":** This clause powerfully expresses the physical manifestation of profound internal suffering. The "eye," often considered the window to the soul or a symbol of vitality and perception, is depicted as literally wasting away or growing dim. This is not merely a metaphor for sadness, but a description of debilitating exhaustion and fading life force directly attributed to intense "grief," a deep sorrow or anguish that has taken a physical toll on the psalmist, draining him of his vigor.
* **"it waxeth old because of all mine enemies":** This second clause reinforces and expands upon the first, indicating that the physical deterioration of the eye (and implicitly, the psalmist's entire being) is also a direct consequence of external pressures. The constant harassment, threats, and malice from "all mine enemies" have contributed to a sense of premature aging and profound weariness. This highlights the psychological and spiritual toll that prolonged conflict and opposition can inflict, leaving one feeling utterly spent and aged beyond their years, as if the very life has been drained out of them.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 6:7 employs several potent **literary devices** to convey the psalmist's intense suffering. **Metaphor** is central, as the "eye" is used to represent the psalmist's entire being, its "consumption" and "aging" serving as metaphors for his overall physical and emotional decline. This is further amplified by **hyperbole**, where the extreme language ("consumed," "waxeth old") exaggerates the extent of his distress to emphasize its overwhelming and debilitating nature. Additionally, a subtle form of **personification** is present, as the eye is described as undergoing human-like experiences of wasting away and aging due to external and internal pressures, lending a vivid and relatable quality to the psalmist's anguish. These devices combine to paint a visceral picture of a soul and body utterly depleted by sorrow and conflict.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 6:7 profoundly connects to the biblical understanding of suffering, lament, and God's compassionate awareness of human affliction. It validates the reality that deep emotional and spiritual distress can manifest in tangible physical symptoms, demonstrating the holistic nature of human experience before God. The psalmist's raw expression of exhaustion and despair underscores the biblical invitation to bring our deepest hurts and vulnerabilities directly to the Lord, trusting that He sees and hears our cries, even when we feel utterly consumed. This verse reminds us that suffering, while painful, is often a crucible through which faith is refined, and it sets the stage for God's redemptive intervention, as seen throughout salvation history, affirming that God is attentive to the cries of His afflicted people.

* [Psalms 38:10](/psalms/38-10 "Psalms 38:10 - David's Physical and Emotional Distress")
* [Lamentations 2:11](/lamentations/2-11 "Lamentations 2:11 - Judah's Weeping and Despair")
* [Job 17:7](/job/17-7 "Job 17:7 - Job's Eyes Dimmed by Sorrow")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 6:7 offers profound insights for believers navigating their own seasons of grief, opposition, or overwhelming exhaustion. It provides a sacred space for the validation of suffering, assuring us that it is not only permissible but spiritually healthy to articulate our deepest weariness and despair to God. This verse reminds us that our emotional and spiritual states are intricately linked to our physical well-being; unresolved grief, chronic stress, or relentless conflict can indeed "consume" and "age" us. In a world that often pressures us to maintain a facade of strength, the psalmist's raw vulnerability encourages us to be authentic with our pain before the Lord. It calls us to bring our depleted selves to the One who understands all suffering, trusting that He sees our affliction, hears our cries, and ultimately offers comfort and renewal, even when we feel utterly spent and our strength has failed. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that true spiritual strength often begins with honest confession of weakness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel "consumed" or "waxing old" due to grief or opposition?**
* **How does the psalmist's raw honesty in this verse encourage you to be more authentic with your own struggles before God?**
* **What practical steps can you take to care for your holistic well-being (emotional, spiritual, physical) when facing intense grief or conflict?**

### FAQ
**Does "Mine eye is consumed" refer to literal blindness or just extreme fatigue?**

Answer: While the verse describes a profound physical impact, "Mine eye is consumed" (Hebrew: עָשַׁשׁ, _ʻâshêsh'_) primarily refers to the eye growing dim, losing its luster, or becoming exhausted, rather than literal blindness. It signifies a deep weariness and fading vitality that affects the ability to see clearly or with vigor, reflecting the psalmist's overall state of debilitating grief and exhaustion. It's a powerful metaphor for the profound physical and emotional toll that suffering takes on the entire person, making them feel as though their very life force is draining away. This kind of physical manifestation of inner turmoil is common in biblical laments, such as when Job describes his eyes growing dim from sorrow in [Job 17:7](/job/17-7 "Job 17:7 - Job's Eyes Dimmed by Sorrow"), or when the prophet Jeremiah laments, "My eyes fail with tears" in [Lamentations 2:11](/lamentations/2-11 "Lamentations 2:11 - Judah's Weeping and Despair").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 6:7, with its poignant depiction of suffering and physical decay due to grief and enemies, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist cries out in personal anguish, Jesus, the perfect Son of God, truly bore the full weight of human grief and the relentless opposition of spiritual and earthly enemies. In Gethsemane, His soul was "very sorrowful, even to death," to the point where His sweat became like "great drops of blood falling down to the ground" ([Matthew 26:38](/matthew/26-38 "Matthew 26:38 - Jesus' Anguish in Gethsemane"); [Luke 22:44](/luke/22-44 "Luke 22:44 - Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane")). His physical body, like the psalmist's eye, was consumed and aged by the immense burden of humanity's sin and the direct assault of the powers of darkness. He was "despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant")), ultimately allowing Himself to be consumed by the wrath due to sin, enduring the cross where He was mocked and opposed by all His enemies. Yet, unlike the psalmist who still awaited deliverance, Jesus' suffering culminated in a glorious resurrection, conquering grief, sin, and all enemies, offering eternal rest and renewed vision to all who believe in Him, fulfilling the promise that "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes" ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - God Wipes Away Every Tear")) and that in Him, all things are made new ([Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Revelation 21:5 - God Makes All Things New")).

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

Job 17:7

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

Psalms 38:10

My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

Lamentations 5:17

¶ For this our heart is faint; for these [things] our eyes are dim.

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.

Psalms 31:9

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

Psalms 31:10

For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

Psalms 32:3

When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.