Psalm 38 11

Psalm 38:11 kjv

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

Psalm 38:11 nkjv

My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off.

Psalm 38:11 niv

My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.

Psalm 38:11 esv

My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.

Psalm 38:11 nlt

My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.
Even my own family stands at a distance.

Psalm 38 verses

Psalm 38 11 Meaning

Psalm 38:11 powerfully portrays the deep isolation and betrayal experienced by the psalmist during a time of severe affliction. His most trusted associates, including loved ones, close friends, and even family members, choose to distance themselves and avoid him when he is in a state of great suffering, here described as a "plague" or affliction. This abandonment adds a profound layer of emotional and social distress to his physical woes, highlighting his profound vulnerability and sense of desertion.

Psalm 38 11 Context

Psalm 38 is one of the seven penitential psalms, wherein the psalmist, identified as David, pours out his heart to God concerning the deep distress he experiences due to his sin. The chapter begins with a plea for God to not rebuke or chasten him in wrath (Ps 38:1). David attributes his severe physical illness and internal groaning (Ps 38:3-8) to his folly and sin (Ps 38:3-5, 18). Amidst his overwhelming physical suffering—his wounds festering, his back full of pain, his body decaying—he also endures immense social ostracism. His acquaintances, represented in verse 11 by "loved ones," "friends," and "kinsmen," actively avoid him, contributing to his isolation. This desertion, compounded by his enemies plotting against him (Ps 38:12) and his own recognition of guilt, brings him to the lowest point of reliance solely on God's mercy and deliverance (Ps 38:15).

Psalm 38 11 Word analysis

• My loved ones (וְאֹֽהֲבַי - wĕ'ōhăvāy): From the root 'ahav (אָהַב), meaning "to love." This refers to those with whom the psalmist had deep affection and close personal connection, beyond mere acquaintance. It speaks to the betrayal of trust and intimacy, making the abandonment more poignant.
• and my friends (וְרֵעַי - wĕrēʿay): From reʿa (רֵעַ), meaning "companion," "fellow," "friend." This denotes a broad category of close associates or comrades. The use alongside "loved ones" emphasizes the totality of his relational support crumbling, signifying a breakdown of both affectionate and companionate bonds.
• stand aloof (מִנֶּגֶד עָמָ֑דוּ - minneged ʿāmādū):
  • מִנֶּגֶד (minneged): From neged (נֶגֶד), meaning "opposite," "in front of," but with the prefix min- (from/away from), it signifies "from over against," "at a distance," "apart." It implies not just being distant physically, but purposefully keeping one's distance.
  • עָמָ֑דוּ (ʿāmādū): From ʿāmad (עָמַד), meaning "to stand," "to stand still," "to remain." The perfect tense suggests a completed action—they have taken their stance of separation and remain in it. This is not incidental absence but a deliberate posture of detachment, perhaps out of fear of contagion, revulsion, or not wanting to be associated with someone experiencing divine judgment.
• from my plague (נִגְעִי - nigʿī): From negaʿ (נֶגַע), which means "a stroke," "a plague," "a mark" (especially of leprosy), or "a wound inflicted by God." It frequently carries the connotation of a divine judgment or affliction. The term encompasses his severe physical ailment, likely marked by visible symptoms, that scares others away. It’s his suffering that is the direct cause of their distancing.
• And my kinsmen (וּקְרוֹבַ֥י - ūq'rōvāy): From qārov (קָרוֹב), meaning "near," "closely related," "relative." This refers to those connected by blood or close proximity within the community. The shift from "loved ones" and "friends" to "kinsmen" indicates the complete breakdown of support systems, reaching even to immediate family or close neighbors, who are expected to show the most loyalty.
• stand afar off (מֵרָחֹֽק עָמָֽדוּ - mēraḥōq ʿāmādū):
  • מֵרָחֹֽק (mēraḥōq): From raḥōq (רָחוֹק), meaning "far," "distant," "remote," with the prefix min- (from). It intensely reiterates the physical and emotional distance.
  • עָמָֽדוּ (ʿāmādū): Again, "they stood," emphasizing their determined and maintained stance of being far removed.
• Words-group: "My loved ones and my friends...and my kinsmen": This progression broadens the scope of abandonment, moving from the most intimate relationships to familial or communal connections. It paints a picture of comprehensive social isolation, intensifying the psalmist's sense of loneliness and betrayal. The emphasis is on all categories of human support failing.
• Words-group: "stand aloof from my plague; And my kinsmen stand afar off": The parallelism employing different Hebrew words for "distance" (minneged and mēraḥōq) reinforces the stark reality of their complete separation. The double declaration of "they stood" at a distance highlights the purposeful and sustained nature of their abandonment. Their "standing" suggests a firm decision not to approach or offer help, making the emotional impact devastating. This reflects a world where physical affliction, especially if perceived as divine punishment, leads to complete social rejection.

Psalm 38 11 Bonus section

The abandonment experienced by the psalmist in this verse resonates deeply with the suffering of Job, whose friends initially sat with him but then turned into accusers and sources of distress. More significantly, it prophetically prefigures the ultimate abandonment of Jesus Christ. During His Passion, Jesus was not only betrayed by one of His disciples and denied by another, but all His disciples "forsook Him and fled" (Mk 14:50). Even many of His acquaintances stood "afar off" at the cross (Lk 23:49). This verse thus points to the profound loneliness and suffering that can accompany true faithfulness, ultimately finding its most perfect expression in the vicarious suffering of Christ, who endured isolation for the sake of His people. It reminds believers that such experiences, though painful, align one with the very heart of redemptive suffering.

Psalm 38 11 Commentary

Psalm 38:11 is a poignant articulation of suffering that transcends mere physical pain, delving into the deep agony of relational isolation. David, overwhelmed by what he perceives as divinely ordained "plague" or affliction, finds himself utterly forsaken by those closest to him. This verse reveals a tragic consequence of suffering in an ancient communal society, where illness, especially if severe or visible (like the "plague"), could lead to ritual uncleanness and social ostracism, as it was often perceived as a sign of divine displeasure.

The psalmist’s sorrow is compounded by the fact that those who desert him are not casual acquaintances but his "loved ones," "friends," and "kinsmen." This denotes a profound betrayal, stripping away his last vestiges of human comfort and support. Their action of "standing aloof" or "afar off" is a deliberate choice to avoid contact, not merely accidental absence. This highlights a universal human struggle: the loneliness of profound affliction, where fair-weather friends or even family disappear when one is at their weakest. This deep abandonment is critical to the psalm's theological arc, as it forces the psalmist into absolute reliance on God. When all human comfort fails, the suffering one's gaze is turned completely to the divine (Ps 38:15), recognizing that only God can truly deliver. It underscores that sometimes, divine discipline allows earthly comforts to be stripped away to foster absolute dependence on the Lord.