Psalms 69:11

KJV

I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

KJV (with Strong's)

I made {H5414}{H8799)} sackcloth {H8242} also my garment {H3830}; and I became a proverb {H4912} to them.

Complete Jewish Bible

I clothe myself with sackcloth and become an object of scorn, 856

Berean Standard Bible

I made sackcloth my clothing, and I was sport to them.

American Standard Version

When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword unto them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 69:11 vividly portrays the psalmist's profound anguish and public humiliation. By wearing sackcloth, a traditional sign of deep mourning, penitence, or distress, he openly displayed his suffering. This public demonstration of sorrow, however, did not elicit pity but rather transformed him into an object of widespread scorn and ridicule, becoming a "proverb" or byword among his adversaries. The verse encapsulates a moment of extreme vulnerability and social ostracization, highlighting the depth of the psalmist's affliction at the hands of his enemies.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 69 is a deeply moving individual lament, one of the most significant and frequently quoted psalms in the New Testament concerning the suffering of Christ. The psalmist, traditionally identified as David, expresses overwhelming distress, feeling as though he is sinking in "deep mire" and overwhelmed by "floods of water" ([Psalms 69:1-2](/psalms/69-1 "Psalms 69:1-2 - Deep Waters of Affliction")). He cries out to God for deliverance from his numerous, undeserved enemies, who hate him "without cause" ([Psalms 69:4](/psalms/69-4 "Psalms 69:4 - Enemies Without Cause")). Verse 11 follows a series of expressions of profound suffering, including fasting and weeping ([Psalms 69:10](/psalms/69-10 "Psalms 69:10 - Weeping and Fasting")), emphasizing the psalmist's complete devotion to God, which ironically becomes the very reason for his enemies' scorn, as noted in [Psalms 69:9](/psalms/69-9 "Psalms 69:9 - Zeal for God's House"), a verse famously applied to Jesus' cleansing of the temple in [John 2:17](/john/2-17 "John 2:17 - Jesus' Zeal for the Temple"). The psalm oscillates between despair, fervent prayer, imprecation against enemies, and ultimate hope in God's salvation.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel and the broader Near East, the wearing of sackcloth (a coarse, dark fabric, often made of goat hair) was a widely recognized and powerful cultural signifier. It was donned during times of intense grief (e.g., mourning the dead), national calamity (e.g., invasion, famine), deep repentance (e.g., [Jonah 3:5-6](/jonah/3-5 "Jonah 3:5-6 - Nineveh's Repentance")), or profound personal distress and supplication before God. It symbolized humility, brokenness, and a stripping away of comfort and status. To "become a proverb" or "byword" was a form of public shaming and social ostracization. It meant that one's misfortune or perceived folly became a common, often derogatory, saying or example used by others, indicating a complete loss of honor and respect within the community. This public scorn was a deeply painful experience in honor-shame cultures, amplifying the psalmist's internal suffering.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes within Psalms 69 and the Psalter. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **righteous suffering**, where an individual devoted to God experiences intense affliction, often at the hands of those hostile to God's ways. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **public humiliation and scorn**, demonstrating how the psalmist's devotion and suffering were met not with empathy but with ridicule, turning his private anguish into a public spectacle. This connects to the broader biblical motif of God's servants enduring reproach for their faithfulness. Thirdly, the psalm, including this verse, carries strong **messianic undertones**, foreshadowing the ultimate suffering, rejection, and humiliation that the Messiah would endure, a theme that resonates throughout the New Testament's portrayal of Jesus' passion. The psalmist's experience serves as a prototype for the suffering of God's chosen ones, culminating in Christ.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sackcloth (Hebrew, שַׂק, _saq_):** This coarse fabric, typically made of goat hair, was worn directly against the skin or over other garments. Its rough texture and dark appearance were physical manifestations of internal anguish. It was a universally understood symbol of deep mourning, repentance, or extreme distress. The psalmist's act of making it his "garment" implies a deliberate, sustained state of self-abasement and public display of his sorrow, indicating that his suffering was not hidden but openly visible to all.
* **Proverb (Hebrew, מָשָׁל, _mashal_):** While _mashal_ can refer to a wise saying, parable, or allegory, in this context, it carries a distinctly negative connotation. To "become a proverb" means to become a byword, an object of derision, a common example of misfortune or folly that is mocked and taunted. The psalmist's plight was so extreme or unusual that it became a public spectacle, used by his enemies as a basis for scornful remarks and ridicule, emphasizing the severity of his social isolation and the cruelty of his adversaries.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I made sackcloth also my garment;":** This clause describes the psalmist's intentional act of adopting the outward signs of profound grief and brokenness. It signifies a state of deep personal suffering, whether from internal anguish, external persecution, or both. The choice to wear sackcloth publicly indicates that his distress was not private but an open, visible reality, perhaps even an appeal for divine intervention or a demonstration of his complete dependence on God amidst his trials.
* **"and I became a proverb to them.":** This second clause reveals the devastating consequence of his public display of suffering. Instead of evoking sympathy or understanding, his visible distress made him an object of mockery. His enemies seized upon his vulnerable state, turning his affliction into a common saying or a taunt. This highlights the cruel and relentless nature of his adversaries, who not only caused his suffering but also delighted in his humiliation, using his pain as a source of public entertainment and scorn.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey the psalmist's plight. **Symbolism** is central, with "sackcloth" serving as a powerful visual representation of deep mourning, repentance, and extreme distress. Its very presence communicates a profound state of brokenness and vulnerability. The phrase "became a proverb" functions as a **metaphor** or **hyperbole**, vividly expressing the extent of the psalmist's public humiliation. It's not merely that people spoke ill of him, but that his misfortune became so notorious it was integrated into common speech as a byword for scorn. This also contributes to the overall genre of **lament**, where the psalmist pours out his soul in raw, unvarnished terms, emphasizing the depth of his suffering and the cruelty of his persecutors. The contrast between the psalmist's humble display of sorrow and the enemies' derisive response amplifies the sense of injustice and isolation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 69:11 powerfully articulates the experience of profound suffering and public humiliation endured by the righteous. The psalmist's decision to wear sackcloth underscores a deep, internal anguish that spills over into outward, visible expression, yet this vulnerability is met with scorn rather than compassion. Theologically, this verse speaks to the reality that faithfulness to God does not exempt one from intense suffering, and indeed, may even invite it from a hostile world. It affirms that God is intimately aware of the humiliation and pain experienced by His servants, even when others mock them. The psalmist's lament becomes a template for all who feel isolated, ridiculed, or misunderstood for their devotion, reminding them that their cries are heard by a God who understands the depths of human sorrow. This theme of righteous suffering and public reproach finds its ultimate expression in the life of Christ.

* [Job 17:6](/job/17-6 "Job 17:6 - A Byword Among People")
* [Lamentations 3:14](/lamentations/3-14 "Lamentations 3:14 - A Derision to All My People")
* [1 Peter 4:16](/1_peter/4-16 "1 Peter 4:16 - Suffering as a Christian")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 69:11 offers a profound point of connection for anyone who has experienced deep personal anguish compounded by public misunderstanding, ridicule, or scorn. It validates the raw honesty of lament, assuring us that our deepest sorrows and humiliations can be brought before God without reservation. The psalmist's experience reminds us that suffering, even undeserved suffering, is a part of the human condition in a fallen world, and sometimes, our very commitment to righteousness can make us targets for derision. For believers, this verse encourages perseverance in faith despite societal pressures or personal attacks. It challenges us to consider how we respond when others are in distress – do we offer compassion or contribute to their humiliation? Ultimately, it calls us to identify with the suffering of Christ and to find solace in the knowledge that our Lord also endured profound public scorn for the sake of righteousness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you felt your deepest sorrows or vulnerabilities were met with ridicule rather than understanding?**
* **How does the psalmist's public display of grief (sackcloth) resonate with or challenge your own ways of expressing pain?**
* **In what ways might our commitment to Christ make us "a proverb" or object of scorn in today's world?**
* **How can we cultivate a spirit of compassion for those who are publicly humiliated, rather than participating in their derision?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "sackcloth" in this verse?**

Answer: Sackcloth was a coarse, dark fabric, typically made from goat hair, worn in ancient Israel and the Near East as a public and private symbol of deep mourning, repentance, or extreme distress. Its rough texture and appearance physically manifested internal anguish. In [Psalms 69:11](/psalms/69-11 "Psalms 69:11 - Sackcloth and Proverb"), the psalmist's act of making sackcloth his "garment" signifies a deliberate, sustained, and visible state of profound sorrow and humility. It was an outward expression of his intense suffering, perhaps even a plea for divine intervention, demonstrating his complete brokenness before God and humanity.

**What does it mean to "become a proverb" in this context?**

Answer: To "become a proverb" (Hebrew: _mashal_) in [Psalms 69:11](/psalms/69-11 "Psalms 69:11 - Sackcloth and Proverb") means to become a byword, an object of derision, or a common example used in a derogatory sense. It implies that the psalmist's suffering or perceived folly was so extreme or notorious that it became a topic of scornful conversation and mockery among his enemies. His plight was not met with sympathy but was seized upon as a source of ridicule, turning his personal anguish into a public spectacle of shame and contempt. This highlights the severity of his social isolation and the cruelty of his adversaries.

**Why did the psalmist experience such suffering and humiliation?**

Answer: While [Psalms 69:11](/psalms/69-11 "Psalms 69:11 - Sackcloth and Proverb") itself does not explicitly state the reason, the broader context of [Psalms 69](/psalms/69 "Psalms 69 - A Psalm of Lament and Prophecy") suggests that the psalmist's suffering is largely due to his devotion to God and his zeal for righteousness. He states that he has "suffered reproach for your sake" ([Psalms 69:7](/psalms/69-7 "Psalms 69:7 - Reproach for God's Sake")) and that "zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me" ([Psalms 69:9](/psalms/69-9 "Psalms 69:9 - Zeal for God's House")). This indicates that his affliction is not necessarily a result of personal sin, but rather a consequence of his faithfulness, making him a target for those hostile to God. This theme of righteous suffering is profound and finds its ultimate fulfillment in the life of Jesus Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 69:11 finds its most profound and poignant fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The psalmist's experience of wearing sackcloth and becoming a public "proverb" of scorn perfectly foreshadows the humiliation and suffering of the Messiah. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, truly "made sackcloth his garment" in a spiritual sense, embracing utter humility, vulnerability, and the depths of human suffering for our sake. He was not merely in distress, but He deliberately entered into the human condition, taking on the form of a servant ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation")). His public ministry, culminating in His passion, saw Him become the ultimate "proverb" of derision. He was mocked by soldiers who dressed Him in a purple robe and crowned Him with thorns ([Matthew 27:27-31](/matthew/27-27 "Matthew 27:27-31 - The Soldiers Mock Jesus")), ridiculed by the chief priests and scribes at the cross ([Matthew 27:41-43](/matthew/27-41 "Matthew 27:41-43 - The Rulers Mock Jesus")), and taunted by passersby ([Matthew 27:39-40](/matthew/27-39 "Matthew 27:39-40 - Passersby Mock Jesus")). The very people He came to save made Him an object of their scorn, fulfilling prophecies like [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Despised and Rejected"). Jesus endured this profound public humiliation and reproach, not for His own sin, but for the "joy set before Him," despising the shame of the cross ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of Faith")). Thus, the psalmist's lament becomes a prophetic cry, perfectly embodied in the Lamb of God who bore the ultimate shame to bring us ultimate glory.

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

1 Kings 9:7

Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

Jeremiah 24:9

And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for [their] hurt, [to be] a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

Job 17:6

He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

Psalms 44:13

Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

Psalms 44:14

Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

Deuteronomy 28:37

And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

Isaiah 22:12

And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: