Psalm 119 28

Psalm 119:28 kjv

My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

Psalm 119:28 nkjv

My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.

Psalm 119:28 niv

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

Psalm 119:28 esv

My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!

Psalm 119:28 nlt

I weep with sorrow;
encourage me by your word.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 28 Meaning

Psalm 119:28 expresses the psalmist's profound inner turmoil and spiritual weakness, where his very being feels as if it is dissolving under the weight of deep sorrow or affliction. In this state of utter despondency, he cries out to God, pleading to be upheld and restored, not by his own strength, but precisely in alignment with and based upon God's established promises and commands found in His Word. It is a cry for divine empowerment and stability in a moment of extreme spiritual distress, firmly rooted in God's faithfulness to His own declarations.

Psalm 119 28 Context

Psalm 119 is an extensive acrostic poem, each section of eight verses beginning with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 28 falls within the "Daleth" section (verses 25-32), which, like much of the Psalm, expresses deep devotion to God's Word despite experiences of suffering, oppression, or spiritual despondency. In this specific section, the psalmist speaks openly about his struggles ("My soul clings to the dust," "My soul melts away") but consistently roots his hope and plea for help in God's law, testimonies, precepts, and Word. Historically, the psalm likely reflects the life of a godly individual, perhaps during a time of exile or persecution, who found solace, strength, and direction solely in God's divine revelation. The constant reference to the "Word" (using various synonyms) establishes God's unchanging truth as the antidote to personal weakness and external pressures, directly opposing any contemporary reliance on human wisdom, idols, or worldly power.

Psalm 119 28 Word analysis

• My soul (נַפְשִׁי - nafshi):

  • Meaning: Hebrew nephesh, signifying not just the emotional faculty but the whole inner being, the person's life, vital force, spirit, or innermost self.
  • Significance: Implies that the distress penetrates the very core of the psalmist's existence, not merely a superficial feeling. It affects his life, will, and consciousness.

• melts away (דָּלְפָה - dalpah):

  • Meaning: From the root dalaph, meaning "to drip," "pine away," "be faint," "languish," or "dissolve." Often used for water dripping.
  • Significance: Vivid imagery of extreme weakening and emotional or spiritual breakdown. Like water seeping away, the psalmist's vitality and strength are ebbing, leaving him vulnerable and desolate. It speaks to a deep, debilitating grief.

• for heaviness (מִתּוּגָה - mittugah):

  • Meaning: From tugah, denoting deep sorrow, anguish, affliction, or overwhelming grief. The preposition min (here mi-) indicates the cause or source.
  • Significance: Specifies the origin of the "melting" – profound emotional or spiritual burden. It's not a physical illness but an intense internal pain that drains life. This points to sorrow's spiritual and emotional impact.

• strengthen me (קַיְּמֵנִי - qay'memi):

  • Meaning: Imperative verb from qum, "to rise," "stand up," "establish," "confirm," "sustain," "raise up."
  • Significance: A desperate plea for divine intervention to be established, sustained, or made firm again. It is a request for restoration from a state of collapse, seeking stability and steadfastness. This is an active work of God.

• according to your word (כִּדְבָרֶךָ - ki'dvareka):

  • Meaning: ki (according to/like) + davar (word/thing/matter) + eka (your, singular). Refers to God's revealed truth, commands, promises, and entire divine instruction.
  • Significance: This phrase is crucial. The psalmist's appeal for strengthening is not a vague hope but grounded firmly in God's proven faithfulness and the specific nature of His revealed will. It assumes God's Word contains the power and the promise to bring forth the requested help. It underscores that God's intervention is always consistent with His character and covenant. It’s a call to God to act on what He has already spoken.

• Word-group analysis:

  • "My soul melts away for heaviness": This phrase powerfully conveys the internal experience of overwhelming spiritual or emotional distress. It describes a deep despondency that impacts the entire inner person, causing a profound sense of weakness and dissolution. This speaks to the real and often debilitating impact of sorrow on the human spirit.
  • "strengthen me according to your word": This phrase presents the psalmist's desperate solution and the object of his faith. It moves from describing a problem to seeking a divine remedy. It highlights profound trust in God's faithfulness to His own Word, viewing it not just as doctrine but as a living source of power and sustenance for human need. The psalmist expects a supernatural restoration rooted in divine promise.

Psalm 119 28 Bonus section

The profound physical and psychological impact of spiritual distress conveyed in "my soul melts away for heaviness" underscores a holistic understanding of humanity in the Bible, where the spiritual, emotional, and physical are deeply interconnected. Biblical suffering often manifests in corporeal ways, and similarly, divine intervention often brings about comprehensive restoration. The emphasis on "according to your word" also speaks to the nature of prayer in the kingdom of God. It's not about inventing needs or dictating terms to God, but aligning one's petitions with God's revealed will and nature, finding in His prior declarations the basis and assurance for current requests. This validates that faith-filled prayer is inherently Word-based. The psalm models an intimate relationship where vulnerability is laid bare before God, yet trust in His unshakeable Word remains the anchoring truth.

Psalm 119 28 Commentary

Psalm 119:28 encapsulates the raw experience of spiritual and emotional exhaustion, where the believer feels their very being dissipating under the oppressive weight of grief or distress. The imagery of the soul "melting away" is a profound descriptor of inward dissolution, leaving one without energy, hope, or stability. Yet, even in this dire state, the psalmist’s gaze is fixed on God, crying out for renewal. The key, and the foundation of his confidence, is the plea to be strengthened "according to your word." This reveals a profound theological truth: God’s help is not arbitrary but consistent with His revealed will and character. His Word is the wellspring of life, the repository of His promises, and the instrument of His power. It is in these promises and the divine commands that the believer finds the solid ground for faith amidst internal crumbling. This verse encourages believers to take their deepest, most debilitating weaknesses directly to God, confident that His written and spoken Word provides the exact resources needed for revival and strength, enabling them to stand firm when their own foundations seem to give way. It teaches dependence on God's truth as the sole source of inner resilience.

• Practical Usage Examples:
  • When experiencing prolonged grief or despair, a believer can prayerfully claim God's promises for comfort and strength, meditating on verses about hope and sustenance in His Word.
  • Facing spiritual burnout, one can seek renewal not through self-help techniques alone, but by returning to and immersing in Scripture, trusting that God's Word revives the soul.
  • In moments of weakness or temptation, this verse encourages crying out for God's strength based on His commands for holy living, knowing His Word empowers obedience.