Psalms 102:6

I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

I am like {H1819} a pelican {H6893} of the wilderness {H4057}: I am like an owl {H3563} of the desert {H2723}.

I am like a great owl in the desert, I've become like an owl in the ruins.

I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.

I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 102:6 (KJV)

Psalms 102:6 is a poignant expression of the psalmist's profound distress, a cry from the heart of an afflicted person. This verse, part of a larger lament, vividly portrays a feeling of utter isolation and desolation, comparing the speaker's state to that of solitary birds found in desolate places.

Context

Psalm 102 is titled "A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD." The psalmist is suffering deeply, likely from illness, social ostracization, or national calamity, and feels abandoned by God and man. The preceding verses describe his bones burning like a hearth, his heart being smitten and withered, and his groaning causing him to forget to eat. Verse 6 marks a shift to animal imagery to further emphasize his loneliness and despair. This psalm is unique as one of the seven Penitential Psalms, often associated with repentance and deep sorrow.

Key Themes

  • Profound Isolation and Loneliness: The central theme is the psalmist's overwhelming feeling of being utterly alone. The chosen birds are not social creatures but solitary, haunting figures of desolate landscapes.
  • Desolation and Despair: The "wilderness" and "desert" settings reinforce a sense of barrenness, hopelessness, and separation from life and comfort. The psalmist feels spiritually and emotionally parched.
  • Identification with the Forsaken: By comparing himself to these creatures, the psalmist identifies with the outcast, the mournful, and perhaps even the ritually unclean, reflecting a deep sense of being forsaken.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words for the birds carry significant weight:

  • Pelican (ืงึธืึทืช - qa'ath): This bird is often associated with desolate places, ruin, and mourning. It was also listed as an unclean bird in the Mosaic law (Leviticus 11:18; Deuteronomy 14:17), which could add a layer of self-perception as defiled or cast out. Its characteristic posture, with its large pouch, can appear hunched or mournful.
  • Owl (ื›ึผื•ึนืก - kos): Specifically referring to a "little owl" or "screech owl," this bird is nocturnal and known for its mournful cries. It is likewise associated with ruins and desolate areas (Isaiah 34:11; Zephaniah 2:14) and was also considered unclean. The imagery of an owl of the desert perfectly conveys a sense of nocturnal solitude, hidden sorrow, and a connection to places of decay.

Practical Application

Psalms 102:6 offers a powerful validation for those experiencing deep loneliness, depression, or a sense of abandonment. The psalmist's raw honesty in articulating his feelings, even comparing himself to solitary, mournful creatures, reminds us that it is permissible to express our deepest sorrows and isolation to God. This verse acknowledges the reality of human suffering and the feeling of being utterly alone in a "wilderness" or "desert" of life. It provides comfort in knowing that our feelings of desolation are understood and can be brought before the Lord, who hears the cry of the afflicted. Even in our darkest moments, when we feel like an outcast in a barren land, God is attentive to our lament, as seen in the broader context of Psalm 102 where the psalmist ultimately finds hope in God's enduring nature (Psalm 102:27). This passage encourages us to pour out our hearts to God, trusting that He is present even when we feel profoundly alone, a sentiment echoed in the promise of God's presence, even through the valley of the shadow of death.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 38:14 (4 votes)

    Like a crane [or] a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail [with looking] upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

  • Zephaniah 2:14 (4 votes)

    And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; [their] voice shall sing in the windows; desolation [shall be] in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.

  • Revelation 18:2 (3 votes)

    And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

  • Isaiah 34:11 (3 votes)

    But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.

  • Isaiah 34:15 (3 votes)

    There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.

  • Job 30:29 (3 votes)

    I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

  • Job 30:30 (3 votes)

    My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.