Psalms 69:2

I sink in deep mire, where [there is] no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

I sink {H2883}{H8804)} in deep {H4688} mire {H3121}, where there is no standing {H4613}: I am come {H935}{H8804)} into deep {H4615} waters {H4325}, where the floods {H7641} overflow {H7857}{H8804)} me.

I am sinking down in the mud, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep water; the flood is sweeping over me.

I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

Psalms 69:2 vividly portrays a soul in extreme distress, using powerful natural metaphors to describe overwhelming suffering. It's a profound expression of helplessness, often attributed to David during a time of intense persecution, yet also carries significant prophetic undertones pointing to the ultimate suffering of Christ.

Context of Psalms 69:2

Psalm 69 is a deeply moving lament psalm, traditionally ascribed to King David. It expresses profound suffering, persecution, and rejection from enemies, and even from those close to him. The psalmist feels abandoned and overwhelmed, a common theme in David's life as he fled from Saul (see 1 Samuel 23:14) or faced rebellion from Absalom. This specific verse sets the tone for the entire psalm, depicting a situation of utter desperation and a lack of control. The psalm is also highly significant for its prophetic fulfillment in the life and suffering of Jesus Christ, particularly his rejection and passion (e.g., John 19:28, Romans 15:3).

Key Themes in Psalms 69:2

  • Overwhelming Distress: The imagery of "deep mire" and "deep waters" where "floods overflow" paints a picture of being utterly submerged by troubles. It's not just difficulty, but an all-consuming crisis that leaves no escape.
  • Helplessness and Despair: The phrase "no standing" emphasizes a complete lack of control or ability to extricate oneself from the situation. The psalmist is beyond self-help, highlighting human frailty in the face of immense trials.
  • A Cry for Deliverance: Though not explicitly stated in this verse, the extreme nature of the distress immediately implies a desperate need for divine intervention, which becomes the central plea throughout Psalm 69.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "mire" (ṭîṭ) often refers to sticky, deep mud, making movement impossible and symbolizing a state of entrapment or degradation. "Deep waters" (mayim ʿammūqîm) and "floods" (šibbōlîm) are common biblical metaphors for overwhelming calamity, danger, or the chaos of human opposition. They evoke the idea of being engulfed by forces beyond one's control, similar to the imagery found in Jonah's prayer from the belly of the fish, where he describes being cast into the deep.

Significance and Application

This verse resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced profound emotional, spiritual, or physical crisis, feeling completely overwhelmed and without a clear way out. It validates the human experience of despair and helplessness. For believers, it serves as a powerful reminder that even faithful servants of God, like David, or ultimately, Christ himself, face periods of extreme suffering and overwhelming circumstances.

It encourages us to voice our deepest pains to God, even when we feel like we are "sinking" and there is "no standing." The honesty of the psalmist's complaint ultimately leads to a plea for God's salvation, reminding us that God is our only true rescuer when we are in over our heads. This verse helps us understand the depth of suffering that often precedes divine intervention and the lifting out of the miry clay described in Psalm 40:2, offering hope even in the darkest moments.

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 40:2

    He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.

  • Jeremiah 38:6

    Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that [was] in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon [there was] no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

  • Matthew 7:25

    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

  • Psalms 88:6

    Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

  • Psalms 88:7

    Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted [me] with all thy waves. Selah.

  • Psalms 32:6

    For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

  • Jeremiah 38:22

    And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house [shall be] brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those [women] shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, [and] they are turned away back.

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