Psalm 102 8

Psalm 102:8 kjv

Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

Psalm 102:8 nkjv

My enemies reproach me all day long; Those who deride me swear an oath against me.

Psalm 102:8 niv

All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.

Psalm 102:8 esv

All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.

Psalm 102:8 nlt

My enemies taunt me day after day.
They mock and curse me.

Psalm 102 verses

Psalm 102 8 Meaning

Psalm 102:8 describes the incessant and deep emotional torment experienced by the Psalmist, a distressed individual in their suffering. Their adversaries continually ridicule them, not only mocking their pain but also using the Psalmist’s name or suffering as a common byword for misfortune, or as a reference point for an oath, associating them with a state to be cursed or avoided. It highlights the profound public shame and personal degradation the afflicted one endures.

Psalm 102 8 Context

Psalm 102 is a "prayer of an afflicted one when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord." It is one of the seven penitential psalms, characterized by deep personal anguish, lamentation, and a plea for divine intervention amidst severe distress. The Psalmist describes profound physical illness, social isolation, and overwhelming emotional despair, feeling like "a pelican of the wilderness" or "an owl of the desert." Verse 8 articulates a critical aspect of his suffering: the relentless social humiliation. His pain is not private but public, compounded by the constant mockery and the use of his misery by his enemies, which only intensifies his sense of abandonment and shame. This personal lament then transitions to a hope rooted in God's eternal nature and faithfulness to Zion.

Psalm 102 8 Word analysis

• All day long:
  • Original Hebrew: kol-hayom (כָּל-הַיּוֹם).
  • Significance: Denotes an unceasing, continuous, and unrelenting nature of the attack. It's not sporadic but persistent, highlighting the depth of the Psalmist's endurance and the overwhelming burden. It signifies no respite from the abuse.
• my enemies:
  • Original Hebrew: oy'vai (אֹיְבָֽי).
  • Significance: Indicates specific, hostile adversaries. These are not merely indifferent observers but active opponents who derive satisfaction from the Psalmist's suffering. The possessive "my" emphasizes the personal nature of the conflict.
• reproach me:
  • Original Hebrew: cherpuni (חֵרְפ֑וּנִי), from the root ḥārap̱ (חרף).
  • Meaning: To taunt, revile, disgrace, insult, scorn, bring shame upon.
  • Significance: This goes beyond simple verbal abuse. Cherpah in Hebrew culture signifies a profound public shaming and a loss of honor or standing. It is meant to humiliate and strip away dignity, attacking one's very identity and reputation.
• those who deride me:
  • Original Hebrew: mehol'lai (מְהֽוֹלְלַי), from the root hālal (הלל), which can mean to praise but also to boast, rage, or be mad, frantic.
  • Meaning: My mockers, my scorners, those who rage against me, those who treat me as a fool or lunatic.
  • Significance: This indicates a deeper level of contempt and hostility than just "reproaching." It implies that the enemies are almost "mad" with malice, celebrating or gloating over his downfall, treating him as utterly worthless or absurd. This is not just casual insult but venomous, scornful mockery.
• use my name as a curse / are sworn against me / by me are they sworn:
  • Original Hebrew: bi nishba'u (בִּי נִשְׁבָּֽעוּ).
  • Meaning: This phrase is debated, but generally understood in one of these ways:
    1. Using one's name as a curse or byword: "May I become like [Psalmist's name]" or "By the misery of [Psalmist]!" The Psalmist's suffering becomes the ultimate example of divine judgment or abject failure that others invoke to confirm a serious oath or a dreaded fate. It signifies complete public degradation.
    2. Swearing an oath against the Psalmist: That is, binding themselves by oath to destroy him or to maintain their contempt for him.
    3. Associating with a curse: Their oath involves associating themselves with his unfortunate state.
  • Significance: Regardless of the precise interpretation, the outcome is the same: the Psalmist's identity and suffering are weaponized by his enemies, solidifying his status as an outcast and an object of scorn. His very being becomes a sign of misfortune. This reveals the utter desperation and isolation the Psalmist feels, as even his identity is hijacked for ill.

Psalm 102 8 Bonus section

The experience of being "made a byword" or having one's "name used as a curse" was a particularly devastating form of social humiliation in the ancient world, signifying a total loss of reputation and integration into the community. It reflected a society where public honor was paramount, and being stripped of it meant being treated as utterly contemptible, an outcast unworthy of respect or even pity. This theme strongly anticipates the suffering of Jesus Christ, who endured not only physical pain but also intense public mockery, derision, and abandonment, ultimately being treated as cursed on the cross, taking on the shame of humanity (Gal 3:13). The Psalmist's cry, therefore, resonates deeply with the righteous sufferer throughout history, finding its ultimate fulfillment and redemptive purpose in Christ's vicarious endurance of shame and reproach.

Psalm 102 8 Commentary

Psalm 102:8 powerfully expresses the excruciating emotional and social suffering of an individual consumed by affliction. It captures the reality that true distress is rarely isolated; it often invites further cruelty from adversaries who interpret misfortune as a sign of divine disfavor or weakness. The relentless nature of the taunting, "all day long," highlights the constant mental burden. The transition from "reproach" to "deride" and finally to using the Psalmist’s "name as a curse" illustrates an escalation of malevolence: from shaming words to extreme, scornful mockery, culminating in making the sufferer an embodiment of wretchedness. This not only devastates the Psalmist's sense of self and dignity but also reinforces his perceived abandonment, forcing him to find solace and ultimate hope in the immutable nature and mercy of God alone, as the Psalm progresses to affirm divine faithfulness even amid overwhelming human frailty.