Psalm 31 9

Psalm 31:9 kjv

Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

Psalm 31:9 nkjv

Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body!

Psalm 31:9 niv

Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.

Psalm 31:9 esv

Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.

Psalm 31:9 nlt

Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress.
Tears blur my eyes.
My body and soul are withering away.

Psalm 31 verses

Psalm 31 9 Meaning

Psalm 31:9 is a deeply personal and fervent plea to the Most High for mercy, conveying the psalmist's overwhelming suffering. It describes a comprehensive state of distress where external trouble has led to profound internal and physical decay, manifesting as dimming eyes, wasting of the very life-force (soul), and deep visceral anguish (belly). It is a holistic cry for divine compassion from an individual experiencing utter despair and physical breakdown due to affliction.

Psalm 31 9 Context

Psalm 31 is a rich lament of an individual facing severe affliction and hostility from external enemies, interwoven with expressions of profound trust in the Most High. The psalm is attributed to David, and its themes of being entrapped, slandered, and suffering physical decay resonate with various periods of his life, such as his persecution by King Saul (1 Sam 23:25-26) or during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15:13-14). The psalmist begins with a declaration of trust and takes refuge in the Almighty (vv. 1-8).

Verse 9 marks a turning point where the psalmist moves from confident declaration to an immediate, visceral plea, detailing the extent of his present suffering. It initiates a section (vv. 9-13) that elaborates on the overwhelming personal distress—both internal and external—caused by his adversaries and the trials he endures. This profound anguish causes not only spiritual and emotional pain but also tangible physical deterioration. Despite this crushing burden, the underlying current of trust in the Almighty's faithfulness remains, setting the stage for renewed declarations of confidence later in the psalm (vv. 14-24). The cry for mercy (חסד, chesed, steadfast love, although here specifically חָנַן, hanan, 'to be gracious' which flows from chesed) appeals to the compassionate character of the Almighty, indicating His covenant loyalty to those who trust Him.

Psalm 31 9 Word analysis

• Have mercy: Hebrew: חָנֵּנִי (ḥānnēnī). From the root חָנַן (ḥānan), meaning "to be gracious," "to show favor," "to pity." It implies an unmerited, compassionate act of help from a superior being to one who is utterly dependent and undeserving of rescue by their own merit. It's a plea for unmerited favor rather than for justice.
• upon me, O Lord: Hebrew: יְהוָה (YHWH), the personal, covenantal name of God, indicating His faithfulness to His promises and His relationship with His people. Addressing God by this name underscores the deep, intimate relationship and reliance on His divine character.
• for I am in trouble: Hebrew: כִּי צַר־לִי (kī tsār-lî).
  • כִּי (kī): "for," "because," indicating the reason for the plea for mercy.
  • צַר (tsār): "trouble," "distress," "adversity." It literally means "narrow," "tight," or "hemmed in," suggesting a feeling of being pressed on all sides, confined, and without escape. It implies extreme discomfort and oppression, whether external or internal.
• my eye is consumed: Hebrew: עָשְׁשָׁה מִכַּעַס עֵינִי (ʿāšeshâ mikkaʿas ʿêynī).
  • עָשְׁשָׁה (ʿāšeshâ): "is wasted," "is dimmed," "grown weak." This verb indicates a process of decay, weakening, or deterioration. It’s not just tired but visibly deteriorating.
  • מִכַּעַס (mikkaʿas): "from grief," "from vexation," "from sorrow." This prepositional phrase indicates the cause of the consumption: intense emotional anguish. The Septuagint translates this with words referring to 'distress' or 'sorrow.'
  • עֵינִי (ʿêynī): "my eye." In ancient thought, the eyes were not merely organs of sight but also perceived as reflections of one's vitality, health, and spirit. Dimming or wasting eyes symbolized loss of vigor, profound sorrow, or approaching death. It is a very specific physical manifestation of inner suffering.
• yea, my soul: Hebrew: נַפְשִׁי (nap̄šî). In Hebrew anthropology, nephesh (soul) does not signify an ethereal spiritual part distinct from the body but refers to the entire living being, the person as a whole, life force, or breath. Here, it indicates that the psalmist’s very life-force, his entire being, is wasting away.
• and my belly: Hebrew: וּבִטְנִי (ūviṭnī).
  • וּ (ū): "and," connecting it to the previous statement, extending the scope of decay.
  • בִּטְנִי (biṭnī): "my belly," "my inwards," "my internal organs." In ancient thought, the "belly" or "bowels" (internal organs) were often considered the seat of deep emotions, especially pain, distress, compassion, and grief. The idea here is that the physical distress has permeated the innermost parts of the psalmist’s being, reaching his deepest core.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble": This phrase directly links the psalmist's profound predicament ("in trouble" – pressed on all sides) to the urgent plea for God's unmerited favor. It sets the foundation of the cry not on worthiness, but on divine compassion in the face of dire need.
• "my eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly": This expands the description of suffering from a general "trouble" to specific, profound, and holistic physical and internal decay. The progression from the visible external sign (eyes) to the invisible internal being (soul and belly) emphasizes the pervasive nature of the anguish, affecting every aspect of the psalmist. It indicates a spiritual, emotional, and physical exhaustion that permeates the entire self.

Psalm 31 9 Bonus section

• Holistic Hebrew Anthropology: The verse beautifully exemplifies the Hebrew concept of the person as a unified whole, rather than a dichotomous or trichotomous entity. There is no rigid separation between the body, soul, and spirit. When the eye wastes away, it is intrinsically connected to the soul's anguish and the belly's deep pain, illustrating that the distress impacts the entire being simultaneously.
• Lament as Valid Prayer: This verse serves as a powerful biblical model for lament. It grants permission for the believer to express deep, raw, and even physically felt pain to the Most High without reservation. It assures that the Creator fully comprehends and welcomes expressions of vulnerability, and indeed, yearns to offer compassion in such moments.
• Solidarity with Christ's Suffering: While speaking of David’s affliction, this psalm, and specifically the raw human experience of utter internal decay from grief, can draw connections to Christ's suffering in Gethsemane (Mk 14:34, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death"), where He experienced the full weight of human anguish and sin's consequences.

Psalm 31 9 Commentary

Psalm 31:9 articulates a desperate and raw cry for the Almighty’s mercy (ḥānnēnī), highlighting the overwhelming totality of the psalmist’s suffering. The use of "Lord" (YHWH) underscores an appeal to God's covenant faithfulness and personal relationship with His people, acknowledging His power to intervene where human strength fails. The core of the psalmist's plea, "for I am in trouble" (tsār-lî), signifies not just discomfort but a state of being "hemmed in," cornered by relentless adversity.

What follows is a graphic description of this inner "trouble" manifesting outwardly and inwardly: "my eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly." The "consumed eye" illustrates physical decay stemming from mental and emotional distress. In ancient cultures, healthy, bright eyes symbolized vitality; dim, wasted eyes denoted profound sorrow, physical weakness, or impending death. The expansion to "my soul" (nephesh) signifies that the very essence of the psalmist's life-force is deteriorating, encompassing intellectual, emotional, and volitional aspects of the self. Finally, "my belly" (biṭnī) points to the deepest visceral parts, often regarded as the seat of profound emotion, particularly sorrow and fear. This suggests that the suffering is not superficial but has permeated the deepest core of his being, leading to extreme internal agony.

The verse vividly portrays that spiritual or emotional anguish often has tangible physical effects, a holistic understanding of the human person reflected throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. It teaches that even the most righteous can experience debilitating suffering, a model of vulnerable yet trusting prayer in the midst of complete desolation. The plea for mercy implies a recognition that human merit cannot deliver, only divine grace can provide relief from such crushing burdens.