Psalms 69:23

Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

Let their eyes {H5869} be darkened {H2821}{H8799)}, that they see {H7200}{H8800)} not; and make their loins {H4975} continually {H8548} to shake {H4571}{H8685)}.

let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see, and let their bodies always be stumbling.

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.

Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; And make their loins continually to shake.

Commentary

Psalm 69:23 is part of a deeply emotional lament by King David, often considered a messianic psalm due to its prophetic insights into the suffering of Christ. In this verse, David, overwhelmed by the malice and betrayal of his enemies, prays for divine judgment upon them.

Context of Psalms 69:23

Psalm 69 is a heartfelt cry of distress, where the psalmist describes feeling overwhelmed by troubles, slander, and unprovoked hatred. He feels alienated even from his own family and is consumed by zeal for God's house (Psalm 69:9). Verses 22-28 contain a series of imprecatory prayers, where David calls upon God to bring deserved punishment upon those who persecute him. These prayers are not expressions of personal vengeance but appeals for God's righteous justice to prevail against those who oppose His anointed one and His truth.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Retribution: The verse is a fervent plea for God to act decisively against the psalmist's adversaries, reflecting a belief in God's ultimate justice.
  • Spiritual Blindness: The prayer "Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not" speaks to a loss of discernment, understanding, and the ability to perceive truth or the consequences of their actions. This concept is powerfully echoed in the New Testament, particularly in Romans 11:9-10, where Paul applies this very passage to the spiritual hardening of those in Israel who rejected Jesus as the Messiah.
  • Loss of Strength and Stability: "Make their loins continually to shake" signifies a complete loss of strength, stability, and courage. The loins were considered the seat of strength and vitality; their shaking implies terror, weakness, and utter collapse.
  • Consequences of Opposition to God: The psalm highlights the severe consequences awaiting those who persistently oppose God's purposes and harm His faithful servants.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "darkened" (ื—ึธืฉึทืืšึฐ, chashakh) implies both physical and spiritual obscurity, a failure to perceive light or truth.
  • "Loins" (ืžึธืชึฐื ึทื™ึดื, motnayim) represents physical strength and stability. The request for them to "shake" (ืžื•ึผืขึธื“, mo'ad, meaning to totter or slip) vividly portrays incapacitating fear and a complete breakdown of resolve.

Practical Application and Significance

While these are strong imprecatory prayers, understanding them requires a nuanced perspective. They are not a license for personal vengeance but rather expressions of faith that God will ultimately right wrongs and bring justice. For believers today, this verse serves several purposes:

  1. It reminds us that God is a righteous judge who will eventually bring justice to all situations, even when we don't see it immediately (Romans 12:19).
  2. It underscores the danger of spiritual blindness and hardening of heart against God's truth, a condition that has profound spiritual implications.
  3. It shows how deeply the Old Testament points to the New, with verses like this finding a climactic fulfillment and interpretation in the life and rejection of Jesus Christ, and the subsequent spiritual state of some who opposed Him.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Daniel 5:6

    Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

  • Isaiah 6:9

    ยถ And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

  • Isaiah 6:10

    Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

  • Romans 11:10

    Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

  • Jeremiah 30:6

    Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

  • Isaiah 21:3

    Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing [of it]; I was dismayed at the seeing [of it].

  • Isaiah 21:4

    My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
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