Psalm 41 5

Psalm 41:5 kjv

Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

Psalm 41:5 nkjv

My enemies speak evil of me: "When will he die, and his name perish?"

Psalm 41:5 niv

My enemies say of me in malice, "When will he die and his name perish?"

Psalm 41:5 esv

My enemies say of me in malice, "When will he die, and his name perish?"

Psalm 41:5 nlt

But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.
"How soon will he die and be forgotten?" they ask.

Psalm 41 verses

Psalm 41 5 Meaning

Psalm 41:5 articulates the profound anguish of a righteous person afflicted and suffering, as their enemies vocalize their malevolent desire for the psalmist's imminent death and the utter erasure of their name and legacy from memory. This verse highlights the psychological warfare waged by adversaries who rejoice in one's misfortune and wish for complete destruction.

Psalm 41 5 Context

Psalm 41 is the concluding psalm of Book One of the Psalms (Ps 1–41). It is a personal lament by an individual, traditionally attributed to King David, who is suffering from a severe illness and feels betrayed by a trusted friend (v. 9). The context leading up to verse 5 describes the psalmist's faith in God (v. 1-4) and then sharply contrasts it with the cruel and malicious behavior of his enemies. They visit him while he is sick, not out of concern, but to gather slanderous information and perpetuate lies against him, eager for his demise. Verse 5 encapsulates this intense ill-will, as the enemies openly articulate their wish for the psalmist's death and the complete eradication of his name or legacy. The psalm shifts from the general blessing on those who care for the needy to the psalmist's own dire situation, revealing the depth of human treachery and the desire for another's utter destruction, setting a scene often seen as prefiguring Christ's own betrayal and suffering.

Psalm 41 5 Word analysis

• My enemies (Hebrew: אוֹיְבַי - 'oyvayi)

  • 'oyvayi: Derived from the root 'ayav, meaning "to be an enemy, hostile." The suffix -ay signifies "my," indicating a personal, direct, and intense animosity.
  • Significance: This is not an abstract concept but specific, personal adversaries. They are not merely opposing, but actively hostile, highlighting the relational dimension of the psalmist's suffering.

• speak evil of me (Hebrew: יֹאמְרוּ רַע לִי - yomru ra li`)

  • yomru: "they say" or "they speak," from the verb 'amar, to say, to speak. Implies open vocalization.
  • ra`: "evil, bad, wicked, harm, disaster." This word is broad, covering moral wickedness, physical calamity, or active malice.
  • li: "to me," or "against me."
  • Significance: This phrase means they are uttering malicious, harmful words, perhaps slander, accusations, or curses. It's an active verbal attack, demonstrating not just inner ill-will but outward expression of hostility and defamation. It’s an act of public degradation.

• When will he die (Hebrew: מָתַי יָמוּת - matay yamut)

  • matay: "When?", an interrogative adverb, expressing impatience and eager anticipation.
  • yamut: "he will die," from the verb mut, meaning "to die."
  • Significance: This is a direct, morbid, and impatient question revealing their heart's ultimate desire. They are not just wishing for death, but actively looking forward to its precise timing, suggesting a sense of eagerness for the psalmist's end, so they can then proceed with their own plans or schemes. This question is not one of concern, but of morbid hope.

• and his name perish? (Hebrew: וְאָבַד שְׁמוֹ - v'avad sh'mo)

  • v'avad: "and perish" or "and be destroyed," from the verb 'avad, meaning to vanish, to be destroyed, to be lost, to go to ruin.
  • sh'mo: "his name," from the noun shem, referring to one's name, reputation, character, or memorial. In ancient Near Eastern thought, the "name" (shem) embodied a person's entire identity, legacy, memory, and offspring. To "perish" was to be utterly erased from history, denied a future, and forgotten.
  • Significance: This is a profound ancient curse. It implies not just physical death but the complete annihilation of one's memory, legacy, influence, and future lineage. It seeks total destruction—that he be forgotten, as if he never existed. It speaks to the ultimate defeat of the psalmist and triumph of the enemy.

• Words-group Analysis

  • "My enemies speak evil of me": This establishes the source of the suffering (personal enemies) and the method of their attack (malicious speech). It implies an atmosphere of verbal aggression and defamation surrounding the psalmist. This often targets one's character, reputation, and relationship with God and community.
  • "'When will he die and his name perish?'": This two-part rhetorical question reveals the depth of the enemies' hatred and their ultimate goal. It's a yearning for both the physical end of the psalmist and the complete obliteration of his very being—his past, present, and future legacy. This reflects a profound malevolence that seeks not just temporary harm but total ruin and forgottenness, often associated with a curse or the ultimate triumph of a foe.

Psalm 41 5 Bonus section

The longing for an individual's "name to perish" (v'avad sh'mo) in ancient Near Eastern thought reflected a deep understanding of historical and ancestral continuity. It was more than just death; it was cultural assassination. Kings often destroyed monuments of their predecessors to obliterate their shem. This makes the enemy's desire for the psalmist's name to vanish incredibly vicious, denying them any enduring significance. This motif is profoundly spiritual, as God promises a good "name" (reputation, legacy, remembrance) for the righteous (Is 56:5), and His own name (Yahweh) is eternal (Ps 135:13). Conversely, the name of the wicked often "rots" or is "forgotten" (Pr 10:7, Deut 29:20). Thus, the enemy's curse aims directly against the blessed state God provides. Furthermore, this Psalm, especially verses like this, resonates deeply with the experiences of Jesus Christ, whose enemies not only sought His death but also actively worked to discredit Him, malign His character, and ultimately, had they succeeded, erase His influence and message from history (though they utterly failed). The suffering of the psalmist, desiring vindication, parallels the Messiah who also trusted God amidst intense hatred and the desire for His obliteration.

Psalm 41 5 Commentary

Psalm 41:5 paints a stark picture of the righteous person enduring profound spiritual and emotional torment. While battling physical affliction, the psalmist must also contend with the cruel mockery and active malevolence of his enemies. These adversaries are not content with his illness; they desire his physical demise ("When will he die?") and, even more strikingly, the utter eradication of his memory and legacy ("and his name perish?"). In ancient cultures, the preservation of one's name was paramount, embodying their enduring identity and family line. To wish for a name to perish was to invoke the most devastating curse—a total non-existence, erased from all records and remembrance. This verse highlights the intensely personal and deep-seated animosity faced by those who follow God, revealing that suffering often comes not just from abstract forces but from the specific, active evil in human hearts. It sets the stage for God's ultimate justice, which promises a good "name" and lasting legacy for the righteous, even amidst such cruel intentions.