Psalm 38 7

Psalm 38:7 kjv

For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

Psalm 38:7 nkjv

For my loins are full of inflammation, And there is no soundness in my flesh.

Psalm 38:7 niv

My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.

Psalm 38:7 esv

For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.

Psalm 38:7 nlt

A raging fever burns within me,
and my health is broken.

Psalm 38 verses

Psalm 38 7 Meaning

Psalm 38:7 describes King David's profound physical suffering, portraying it as a severe, pervasive illness. He laments that his "loins are filled with a loathsome disease," indicating deep internal affliction and pain. This sickness is so consuming that "there is no soundness in my flesh," signifying a complete absence of health or integrity throughout his physical body. The verse vividly expresses the extent of his debilitating condition, often understood in the psalm's context as a consequence of divine discipline for his sin.

Psalm 38 7 Context

Psalm 38 is a "maskil" or an instructional psalm, serving as one of the seven traditional penitential psalms (Psa 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143). It is attributed to David, a memorial for calling to remembrance his affliction. The psalm presents David's deeply personal lament, characterized by overwhelming physical sickness, profound spiritual anguish, and social isolation. David directly links his suffering to God's displeasure, attributing his condition to his own "iniquity" and "foolishness." Verse 7 appears early in the psalm's description of his severe physical symptoms, building a graphic picture of his deterioration from internal decay to external lesions (v. 5), bent posture (v. 6), and incessant groaning (v. 8). This detailed physical lament serves as a prelude to his spiritual cries for deliverance and confession of hope in the Lord, establishing a theological connection between sin, suffering, and divine chastisement within his worldview.

Psalm 38 7 Word analysis

• For (כִּ֫י - kiy): This conjunction serves as a causal or explanatory particle, indicating that what follows is the reason or elaboration for the psalmist's complaint stated previously, particularly regarding God's hand on him (Psa 38:2-3). It introduces the physical manifestation of his distress.
• my loins (כְּסָלַי - kᵉsalay): Refers to the inner flank or lumbar region, sometimes kidneys. In biblical anthropology, the loins are often associated with strength, vigor, and procreative power. However, they are also a common seat of intense internal pain. Here, it denotes deep-seated internal suffering, indicating that the affliction has reached the core of his being, affecting his very vitality and internal organs. It symbolizes not merely superficial injury but a profound systemic breakdown.
• are filled with (נִמְלְאוּ - nimlᵉ’u): From the verb מָלֵא (male’), meaning "to be full" or "filled." The passive form "are filled" suggests that the disease is not self-generated but inflicted or allowed by an external power, likely divine judgment in David's perception. It implies the disease thoroughly pervades his inner core.
• a loathsome disease (נִקְלֶה - niqleh): This term comes from the verb קָלָה (qalah), which means "to be lightly esteemed, to be despised, to be put to shame." Here, it likely describes a festering, revolting, or intensely inflammatory disease, one that causes disgust both to the afflicted and to observers. It suggests a putrid or burning ailment, making it truly "loathsome" or contemptible in its manifestation, potentially causing widespread discomfort and disfigurement.
• and there is no soundness (וְאֵין מְתֹם - wᵉ’ein mᵉthom):
  • and there is no (וְאֵין - wᵉ’ein): A direct negation, emphasizing a complete lack.
  • soundness (מְתֹם - mᵉthom): This word derives from the root תָּמַם (tamam), meaning "to be complete, entire, perfect." In this context, it signifies wholeness, integrity, or health. The lack of methom implies that his body is entirely devoid of health; it is diseased, corrupt, and incomplete in its function. It suggests no part of him is unimpaired.
• in my flesh (בִּבְשָׂרִי - bivᵉsārī): This refers to his physical body in its entirety. It indicates that the pervasive "loathsome disease" extends beyond the internal "loins" to encompass his entire physical frame, signifying a widespread, systemic malady rather than a localized one. It speaks of the total corruption and degradation of his physical being.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease": This phrase speaks to an intense, internal affliction. It suggests a condition deeply rooted within David's core, characterized by something repugnant and severe, implying both physical pain and a sense of humiliation or shame due to the nature of the malady. It points to divine chastisement being experienced deeply within his being.
• "and there is no soundness in my flesh": This clause extends the internal pain outward, emphasizing the pervasive nature of his illness. "No soundness" highlights the utter breakdown of physical health and integrity. The term "flesh" here represents the whole body, indicating that the disease affects him from head to toe, leaving no part unimpaired. This totality suggests that his physical condition reflects a profound spiritual and existential distress.

Psalm 38 7 Bonus section

The "loathsome disease" (נִקְלֶה - niqleh) can also be rendered as "burning" or "inflammation" (as understood in ancient medicine), indicating intense fever and pain from the inside. This interpretation emphasizes the agonizing nature of his illness. The Hebrew phrase for "no soundness" (wᵉ’ein mᵉthom) is also used in other contexts (e.g., Isa 1:6) to describe national corruption, where Israel is likened to a body without "soundness" due to widespread sin, thus demonstrating how individual and national suffering can be depicted through similar bodily metaphors for internal corruption and decay. David's affliction, though deeply personal, resonates with universal experiences of human brokenness.

Psalm 38 7 Commentary

Psalm 38:7 serves as a poignant descriptor of David's extreme physical anguish, revealing the depths of his suffering that he directly connects to divine discipline for his sin. The description of his "loins" filled with a "loathsome disease" goes beyond mere discomfort, signifying a deeply entrenched, perhaps systemic or internal inflammatory illness that causes both intense pain and a sense of revulsion. This internal decay is echoed by the complete lack of "soundness" throughout his entire "flesh," illustrating that the sickness has corrupted his physical being thoroughly, leaving no part healthy or whole. It is not just localized pain, but a comprehensive physical collapse, rendering him feeble and utterly dependent.

Biblically, such physical suffering is often presented as a consequence or manifestation of God's hand, whether for judgment, correction, or demonstration of His power. For David, this affliction likely represented a visible and palpable expression of the guilt and burden of his unconfessed sin (as seen in the parallel Psa 32) and the perceived weight of God's displeasure. The psalm's vivid language underlines the holistic nature of biblical understanding, where spiritual maladies often have physical expressions, and the human condition of "flesh" is inherently vulnerable and subject to decay. It implicitly communicates David's humility and submission to God's dealings with him, acknowledging divine sovereignty even in his deepest distress.

Practical usage examples:

• Recognizing that sometimes, our physical discomfort can be an invitation to examine our spiritual state and repent.
• Empathizing with others who suffer chronic or debilitating illnesses, understanding the comprehensive impact it can have on their lives.