Psalm 41:3 kjv
The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
Psalm 41:3 nkjv
The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.
Psalm 41:3 niv
The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.
Psalm 41:3 esv
The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.
Psalm 41:3 nlt
The LORD nurses them when they are sick
and restores them to health.
Psalm 41 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 3:5 | I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. | God's sustaining power in times of rest/need. |
| Ps 6:2 | Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord... | Direct plea for healing from affliction. |
| Ps 30:2 | O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. | Thanksgiving for divine healing. |
| Ps 34:19 | Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him... | God delivers righteous from many troubles. |
| Ps 37:24 | Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds his hand. | God's constant support for the just. |
| Ps 55:22 | Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you... | Encouragement to trust God for sustenance. |
| Ps 103:3 | He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases. | God as the ultimate healer and forgiver. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you... | God's promise to strengthen and sustain. |
| Isa 53:4-5 | Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; ...with his stripes we are healed. | Prophetic, Messiah bears sickness/sin. |
| Jer 17:14 | Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved... | Prayer for complete divine healing. |
| Mt 8:16-17 | ...he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases." | Jesus' healings fulfill Isaiah's prophecy. |
| Mk 5:34 | And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed..." | Jesus' healing power by faith. |
| Lk 5:24 | "...I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home." | Jesus demonstrating authority over sickness. |
| Lk 7:6-7 | The centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof..." | Faith in Jesus' power from a distance. |
| Jas 5:14-15 | Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church...and the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick... | Christian practice of prayer for healing. |
| Deut 15:7-11 | There will not be a poor man among you; ...open your hand to your brother... | Mandate to care for the poor. |
| Prov 14:31 | Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. | Valuing compassion towards the poor. |
| Zech 7:9-10 | Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy... | Divine command for justice and mercy. |
| Mt 25:35-40 | ...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink... | Caring for the least as caring for Christ. |
| 2 Cor 1:3-4 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction... | God provides comfort in affliction. |
| Heb 1:3 | He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. | God's pervasive sustaining power. |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. | Christ's atoning work for spiritual and physical healing. |
Psalm 41 verses
Psalm 41 3 Meaning
Psalm 41:3 expresses God's faithful and active intervention on behalf of the righteous individual, particularly when they are afflicted by severe illness. It proclaims that the Lord Himself will provide strength, support, and complete restoration to health for those who are gravely ill and appear helpless, thereby turning their condition of suffering into one of well-being. This verse is part of a broader psalm that extols the blessings awaiting those who show compassion to the poor and needy.
Psalm 41 3 Context
Psalm 41 is a lament and prayer for deliverance from enemies and illness, attributed to David. It opens with a declaration of blessedness for the one who shows consideration and compassion for the poor and afflicted (vv. 1-2). Verse 3 is a direct consequence and promise flowing from that righteous act: because one cares for the helpless, God Himself will intervene to care for them when they are helpless due to illness. The psalm then transitions into David's own plea for mercy and healing, recounting his physical and spiritual distress, exacerbated by the betrayal of a trusted friend (vv. 4-9). Historically, it reflects the deep anguish of an Old Testament believer facing personal suffering and the perfidy of others, all while maintaining faith in God's ultimate justice and deliverance. It contrasts worldly treachery with divine faithfulness, subtly affirming God's sovereignty over illness and human relationships.
Psalm 41 3 Word analysis
- The Lord (YHWH - יהוה): Refers to the covenant God of Israel, the personal, relational, and all-powerful God. The use of YHWH emphasizes God's personal faithfulness and ability to act powerfully within His covenant promises, rather than a generic deity.
- will sustain (samak - סָמַךְ): Meaning "to lean upon," "to support," "to uphold." It conveys the idea of strong, reliable, and active support, preventing one from collapsing. God Himself becomes the support for the sick and weak, providing strength in utter debility.
- him: Refers to the "one who considers the poor" mentioned in verse 1. The promise is specifically directed towards those who embody compassion and righteousness.
- upon his sickbed (eres dvai - עֶרֶשׂ דְּוַי): Literally, "bed of languishing" or "bed of weakness." This vivid imagery describes a state of severe, debilitating illness where the individual is confined and completely helpless. It signifies the profound weakness and distress, making divine intervention all the more striking.
- in his illness (cholyo - חָלְיוֹ): This word emphasizes the specific nature of the affliction—a prolonged and distressing sickness or disease. It reinforces the setting of debilitating illness.
- you restore (tahaphoch - תַּהְפֹּךְ): From the verb "haphakh" (הָפַךְ), meaning "to turn," "to overturn," "to change," "to transform." This is a very strong verb, indicating a complete and dramatic reversal of condition. It's not just alleviation but a transformation from sickness to health, turning the very state of illness upside down. The shift from "The Lord" to "you" (a direct address to God) adds a powerful, personal emphasis on God's immediate and direct action.
- to health (kol mishkavo - כָּל־מִשְׁכָּבוֹ): Literally "all his lying down" or "all his bed." This phrase idiomatically means God will transform his entire state of sickness, covering every aspect of his affliction experienced on the sickbed, into health. It denotes a comprehensive and complete restoration.
- "The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed": This phrase paints a picture of divine intervention in the deepest moments of human vulnerability. When a person is so sick they are bedridden and utterly dependent, God personally steps in as their unwavering support. It's an assurance of strength imparted when natural strength fails.
- "in his illness you restore him to health": This clause re-emphasizes the gravity of the sickness ("his illness") and then declares a radical, divinely-initiated reversal ("you restore"). The direct address to God ("you") underscores His intimate and powerful involvement, taking all the illness (all his lying down) and transforming it into complete health. This speaks to God's sovereign authority over physical ailments and His compassionate power to heal totally.
Psalm 41 3 Bonus section
The promise in Psalm 41:3 speaks to both physical and potentially spiritual aspects of healing and sustenance. While explicitly referring to a "sickbed" and "illness," the biblical understanding of sickness often connects it to the broader effects of a fallen world, which can include spiritual weakness or distress. God's act of "sustaining" (samak) suggests not only physical bolstering but also emotional and spiritual endurance. Similarly, "restoring him to health" can encompass the totality of well-being. This verse offers a powerful theological contrast between the human experience of complete helplessness in sickness and God's absolute power to reverse even the direst conditions. It serves as a reminder of God's omnipresence and omnipotence, even when hope seems lost from a human perspective, affirming His ability to act powerfully in our darkest hours.
Psalm 41 3 Commentary
Psalm 41:3 is a profound statement of divine faithfulness and restorative power. It highlights God's unique care for the righteous, especially when they are most vulnerable due to debilitating sickness. The use of YHWH signifies a covenantal God who is personally invested in His people's well-being. The powerful verbs "sustain" (samak) and "restore" (haphakh) underscore God's active, direct, and transformative involvement. "Samak" portrays God as a steady pillar, upholding the weak body and spirit of the sufferer. "Haphakh" conveys a complete overturn of the disease, not just a palliative measure but a total shift from sickness to health, affecting "all his bed," implying a holistic restoration of their very being. This promise is intrinsically linked to the opening verses, emphasizing that such divine blessing often flows to those who reflect God's own compassionate nature by caring for the needy. It teaches that even in life's most isolating and debilitating circumstances, divine companionship and comprehensive healing are assured for those in fellowship with God.