Psalms 69:21

KJV

They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

KJV (with Strong's)

They gave {H5414}{H8799)} me also gall {H7219} for my meat {H1267}; and in my thirst {H6772} they gave me vinegar {H2558} to drink {H8248}{H8686)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They put poison in my food; in my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

Berean Standard Bible

They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

American Standard Version

They gave me also gall for my food; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 69:21 vividly portrays the profound suffering and abject rejection experienced by the Psalmist, who, in his deep distress, is offered bitter gall instead of food and sour vinegar instead of water by his tormentors. This imagery conveys not merely a lack of compassion but an active, malicious cruelty, providing substances that intensify misery rather than alleviating it. The verse stands as a poignant testament to unjust suffering, carrying significant prophetic weight that finds its ultimate and precise fulfillment in the passion of Jesus Christ.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 69 is a deeply personal and impassioned lament, often attributed to David, where the speaker cries out to God from overwhelming distress, feeling as though he is sinking in deep waters ([Psalms 69:1-2](/psalms/69-1 "Psalm 69:1-2 - Sinking in Deep Waters")). The psalm details the unjust hatred and persecution he endures from numerous enemies, despite his righteousness and devotion to God. This specific verse (69:21) appears within a section describing the extreme contempt and cruelty directed towards the Psalmist, immediately following his lament about being a stranger to his family and bearing reproach for God's sake ([Psalms 69:8-12](/psalms/69-8 "Psalm 69:8-12 - Reproach for God's Sake")). It serves as a stark illustration of the depths of his suffering and the malicious intent of his adversaries.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While traditionally ascribed to David during a period of intense persecution (e.g., by Saul or Absalom), the psalm's language transcends any single historical event, speaking to the universal experience of righteous suffering. In ancient Near Eastern culture, hospitality was a sacred duty, and offering food and drink to a weary or thirsty traveler was a fundamental act of kindness. The deliberate act of offering gall and vinegar, therefore, represents a complete inversion of this cultural expectation, highlighting the extreme malice and dehumanization inflicted upon the sufferer. Gall, often derived from bitter or poisonous plants, symbolized bitterness and judgment, while vinegar (sour wine) was a cheap, common drink, but offering it instead of refreshing water to one in dire thirst was an act of contempt, not relief.
* **Key Themes:** Psalm 69 is rich with themes of unjust suffering, divine abandonment (or the feeling thereof), intense prayer for vindication, and imprecatory pleas against enemies. Crucially, it is recognized as one of the most significant Messianic psalms, containing numerous prophecies that foreshadow the life, passion, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Psalmist's experience of being hated without cause ([Psalms 69:4](/psalms/69-4 "Psalm 69:4 - Hated Without Cause")), enduring reproach, and receiving bitter treatment directly prefigures the sufferings of the Messiah, particularly as articulated in passages like [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant"). This verse, in particular, highlights the theme of ultimate rejection and the specific nature of the Messiah's suffering.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Gall (Hebrew, _ro'sh_):** This term refers to a bitter, often poisonous herb or plant, frequently associated in the Old Testament with bitterness, distress, or divine judgment. It is sometimes paired with "wormwood" (e.g., [Deuteronomy 29:18](/deuteronomy/29-18 "Deuteronomy 29:18 - A Root That Bears Gall and Wormwood") or [Lamentations 3:19](/lamentations/3-19 "Lamentations 3:19 - Remembering My Affliction, My Gall and My Wormwood")), signifying extreme affliction and sorrow. Here, it symbolizes the deliberate offering of something harmful and utterly unpalatable in place of sustenance, magnifying the cruelty of the enemies.
* **Vinegar (Hebrew, _chometz_):** Derived from a root meaning "to be sour," this refers to sour wine or fermented drink. While a common beverage for the poor, especially diluted with water, offering it to a parched individual in a moment of extreme need, instead of fresh water, was an act of profound contempt and mockery. It provided no true refreshment but rather emphasized the sufferer's misery and the enemies' disdain.
* **Meat (Hebrew, _lekhem_):** This word broadly means "bread" or "food" in general, representing sustenance and nourishment. The contrast between this life-sustaining concept and the bitter "gall" underscores the malicious intent: instead of providing comfort or relief, the enemies offer substances designed to increase suffering.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They gave me also gall for my meat":** This clause describes a deliberate act of profound cruelty. Instead of offering life-sustaining food to one in distress, the enemies provide a bitter, possibly poisonous, substance. This signifies not just a lack of empathy but active malice, aiming to inflict further pain and degradation. It highlights the Psalmist's utter destitution and the depth of his enemies' hatred.
* **"and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink":** This second clause reinforces the mockery and contempt. When the Psalmist is parched and desperate for refreshment, he is given sour wine, which, rather than quenching thirst, would likely exacerbate discomfort. This act symbolizes the complete denial of basic human kindness and the malicious delight taken in the sufferer's agony. It underscores the profound isolation and the inhumane treatment he endures.

#### Literary Devices
The verse powerfully employs **Symbolism**, where "gall" and "vinegar" serve as potent symbols of extreme bitterness, contempt, mockery, and the deliberate infliction of suffering. They represent the antithesis of comfort and sustenance, highlighting the malicious intent of the Psalmist's enemies. There is also a strong element of **Antithesis** or **Contrast**, as the expectation of life-sustaining "meat" and refreshing "drink" is starkly contrasted with the reality of receiving harmful "gall" and unquenchable "vinegar." This contrast amplifies the sense of betrayal and the depth of the Psalmist's distress. Furthermore, the imagery contributes to **Pathos**, evoking deep sympathy for the sufferer by vividly depicting the inhumane treatment he receives. The extreme nature of the suffering described can also be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the unparalleled agony and injustice endured by the Psalmist.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 69:21 stands as a profound testament to the reality of righteous suffering in a fallen world, where those who pursue God's ways may encounter intense opposition and cruelty. Theologically, it underscores God's intimate awareness of the suffering of His faithful, even when they feel abandoned. The psalm's prophetic nature, especially this verse, connects the experience of the Psalmist to the broader biblical narrative of a suffering servant who, though innocent, endures profound injustice and contempt. It highlights the divine plan for redemption, which often unfolds through the crucible of suffering, and points forward to the ultimate suffering of the Messiah.

* [Psalms 22:14-15](/psalms/22-14 "Psalm 22:14-15 - Bones out of joint, heart like wax, mouth dry")
* [Lamentations 3:19](/lamentations/3-19 "Lamentations 3:19 - Remembering My Affliction, My Gall and My Wormwood")
* [Matthew 27:34](/matthew/27-34 "Matthew 27:34 - Jesus offered gall and vinegar")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The stark imagery of Psalms 69:21 invites believers to a deeper empathy for those who suffer unjustly, whether from direct malice, societal neglect, or systemic injustice. It reminds us that true compassion involves offering genuine sustenance and refreshment, not substances that deepen pain or mock need. In a world where bitterness and contempt often replace kindness, this verse challenges us to be agents of true comfort and healing, extending grace where it is denied. It also provides profound solace for those experiencing deep personal suffering, rejection, or betrayal, knowing that the Psalmist's cry, and ultimately Christ's experience, validates their pain and assures them that God sees and understands their distress, even when others fail to offer solace. Our endurance through such trials can become a powerful testimony to God's sustaining grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Psalmist's experience of extreme suffering resonate with our own moments of deep distress or injustice?**
* **In what ways does this verse deepen our appreciation for the suffering Christ endured for us?**
* **How can we respond with compassion and true sustenance to those who are "thirsty" or "hungry" in various ways, rather than offering "gall and vinegar"?**

### FAQ
**Is Psalm 69 truly Messianic, or just about David?**

Answer: While Psalm 69 is rooted in the personal experience of a righteous sufferer, traditionally understood as King David, its language and specific details, particularly Psalms 69:21, are so precisely fulfilled in the life and passion of Jesus Christ that it is widely accepted as a Messianic prophecy. Many scholars recognize a "dual fulfillment," where the psalm speaks to the immediate historical context of the Psalmist's suffering while simultaneously pointing forward to the ultimate suffering of the Messiah. The New Testament writers explicitly cite or allude to Psalm 69 in relation to Jesus, confirming its prophetic significance (e.g., [John 2:17](/john/2-17 "John 2:17 - Zeal for Your House Consumes Me"), [Romans 15:3](/romans/15-3 "Romans 15:3 - Christ Did Not Please Himself"), [Acts 1:20](/acts/1-20 "Acts 1:20 - Judas's Field of Blood")).

**What is the significance of "gall" and "vinegar" beyond their literal meaning?**

Answer: Beyond their literal identity as bitter herbs and sour wine, "gall" and "vinegar" in this context symbolize the depths of human malice, contempt, and the deliberate denial of comfort or sustenance to someone in dire need. They represent an active desire to inflict pain and mockery rather than offering relief. The giving of gall for meat signifies a perversion of nourishment, offering poison instead of life. The offering of vinegar in thirst signifies a perversion of hospitality, offering something that mocks rather than quenches. Together, they powerfully convey the profound isolation, degradation, and the inhumane treatment experienced by the sufferer.

**Why did Jesus refuse the "wine mingled with gall" in Matthew but accept the "sour wine" in John?**

Answer: The offering of "wine mingled with gall" in [Matthew 27:34](/matthew/27-34 "Matthew 27:34 - Jesus Offered Wine Mingled with Gall") (or "wine mingled with myrrh" in [Mark 15:23](/mark/15-23 "Mark 15:23 - Jesus Offered Wine Mingled with Myrrh")) was likely a common narcotic or pain-dulling concoction offered to those being crucified to alleviate their agony. Jesus refused this because He intended to fully and consciously experience the suffering of the cross, bearing the full weight of humanity's sin without any numbing agent. His suffering was a complete, unmitigated act of atonement. Later, when Jesus declared, "I thirst" ([John 19:28](/john/19-28 "John 19:28 - Jesus Said, 'I Thirst'")), He was expressing a genuine physical need, and the "sour wine" (vinegar) offered on a sponge ([John 19:29](/john/19-29 "John 19:29 - They Put a Sponge Full of Sour Wine on Hyssop")) was a common, if unpalatable, drink. This offering, though still a fulfillment of Psalms 69:21, was a response to His physical thirst, not an attempt to dull His pain, and thus He accepted it.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 69:21 finds its most poignant and precise fulfillment in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Psalmist's cry of being given "gall for my meat" and "vinegar to drink" was not merely a lament but a prophetic utterance that literally unfolded on Golgotha. As recorded in [Matthew 27:34](/matthew/27-34 "Matthew 27:34 - Jesus Offered Wine Mingled with Gall"), Jesus was offered "wine mingled with gall" at the beginning of His crucifixion, which He refused, choosing to endure the full agony of the cross without numbing His senses. Later, in His final moments, fulfilling the specific prophecy of "in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink," Jesus cried out, "I thirst" ([John 19:28](/john/19-28 "John 19:28 - Jesus Said, 'I Thirst'")), and was given sour wine on a sponge ([John 19:29](/john/19-29 "John 19:29 - They Put a Sponge Full of Sour Wine on Hyssop")). This direct fulfillment underscores the meticulous precision of Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah's passion. Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), willingly embraced this ultimate rejection and suffering—receiving bitterness instead of comfort, and mockery instead of mercy—not for His own sins, but to bear the judgment for ours. His endurance of this profound indignity and pain reveals the depth of His love and the completeness of His atoning sacrifice, identifying Him fully with the suffering of humanity and providing the ultimate source of comfort and redemption for all who trust in Him ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - By His Wounds We Are Healed")).

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

Matthew 27:34

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted [thereof], he would not drink.

Mark 15:23

And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received [it] not.

Luke 23:36

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

Matthew 27:48

And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled [it] with vinegar, and put [it] on a reed, and gave him to drink.

Mark 15:36

And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put [it] on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

John 19:28

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

John 19:30

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.