Psalm 41 8

Psalm 41:8 kjv

An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

Psalm 41:8 nkjv

"An evil disease," they say, "clings to him. And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more."

Psalm 41:8 niv

"A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies."

Psalm 41:8 esv

They say, "A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies."

Psalm 41:8 nlt

"He has some fatal disease," they say.
"He will never get out of that bed!"

Psalm 41 verses

Psalm 41 8 Meaning

Psalm 41:8 portrays the cruel pronouncement of the psalmist's enemies regarding his severe illness. They declare that an "evil disease" or a "thing of worthlessness/Belial" has become firmly attached to him, asserting with malicious certainty that he is bedridden and will never recover or rise again. This verse reveals the deep animosity and desire for the psalmist's permanent downfall on the part of his adversaries, who interpret his suffering as a sign of God's final abandonment and a precursor to his death. It encapsulates their triumphant and condemning verdict, hoping for an irreversible end to his life and influence.

Psalm 41 8 Context

Psalm 41 is the final psalm of Book 1 of the Psalms, frequently understood as a psalm of David expressing deep distress. The psalmist is afflicted by a severe illness, likely bedridden and at death's door (v. 3). Despite having shown kindness to the poor (v. 1-2), his enemies and even a trusted friend (v. 9) turn against him. These adversaries rejoice in his perceived impending demise, viewing his suffering as divine punishment for some unspoken transgression (v. 5-7). Psalm 41:8 captures the heart of their malice: their declaration of his inescapable fate, signifying their complete expectation of his non-recovery and ultimate death. The psalm transitions from the psalmist's plea for mercy and recognition of his integrity (v. 1-4), to the taunts and plots of his enemies (v. 5-9), and concludes with his plea for God's mercy, vindication, and the assurance of being upheld by God (v. 10-12), contrasting starkly with his enemies' wicked desires.

Psalm 41 8 Word analysis

• דְּבַר בְּלִיַּעַל (Devar Beliya'al):
• דְּבַר (Devar): Hebrew for "word," "matter," "thing," "cause." Here, it points to a definite condition or decree.
• בְּלִיַּעַל (Beliya'al): A crucial term meaning "worthlessness," "wickedness," "destruction," or "ruin." It literally translates to "without usefulness/profit" or "not to ascend/rise." In biblical context, "sons of Belial" refer to exceptionally wicked individuals. When combined as "devar Belial," it signifies not just a bad illness, but a "matter of evil," a "deadly/destructive thing," or even a judgment-like condition deemed by the enemies to be inflicted by the "lord of worthlessness." This is a profoundly malicious interpretation of the psalmist's affliction, not merely a medical diagnosis. It carries connotations of an evil decree or a calamitous condition rooted in utter wickedness, not a mere sickness.
• יָצוּק בּוֹ (Yatzuq bo):
• יָצוּק (Yatzuq): A form of the verb יָצַק (yatsaq), meaning "to pour out," "to cast," "to found," "to fix," "to be stiff." It implies a permanent, pervasive, or overwhelming presence. The sense is that this "evil thing" has been "poured into him" or "affixed upon him," like a mold has been poured or an image fixed. It conveys an image of inescapable impregnation, as if the illness is a substance irrevocably cast into his being, solidifying his demise. The enemies see it as a settled, unchangeable condition.
• בּוֹ (bo): "in him," "upon him." Locates the affliction directly on the psalmist.
• וַאֲשֶׁר שָׁכַב לֹא־יוֹסִיף לָקוּם (Va'asher shakhav lo-yosiph laqum):
• וַאֲשֶׁר (va'asher): "And that which," "and where." Introduces the consequence of the "evil thing."
• שָׁכַב (shakhav): "To lie down," "to lie sick," "to go to bed," also implies lying dead. It depicts the psalmist's state of being utterly prostrate, incapacitated by his illness.
• לֹא־יוֹסִיף (lo-yosiph): Literally "will not add," implying "will not again," "will no longer." It is a strong negation, expressing an absolute future inability.
• לָקוּם (laqum): "To rise up," "to stand," "to be raised." The opposite of "to lie down," signifying recovery, revival, or getting out of bed. The enemies' declaration means there will be no resurgence, no regaining of strength, no healing, and certainly no resurrection from the state of lying down unto death. It pronounces the finality of his collapse.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "דְּבַר בְּלִיַּעַל יָצוּק בּוֹ": This phrase articulates the enemies' interpretation of the psalmist's illness not merely as a physical malady but as a spiritually infused "evil matter" irrevocably poured into him, implying a moral judgment or curse. They frame his suffering as a consequence of deep depravity or an act of malevolent destiny. It's a definitive, seemingly irreversible condition according to their perspective, indicating profound condemnation.
• "וַאֲשֶׁר שָׁכַב לֹא־יוֹסִיף לָקוּם": This part delivers the absolute and cruel conclusion derived from the previous phrase. Because this "evil thing" has taken hold, his state of prostration is viewed as final. He is confined to his bed with no hope of standing again, signifying death or permanent debilitation. It reveals the complete lack of empathy and the triumph of his enemies who anticipate his permanent end. This forms a spiritual death sentence from his human adversaries, believing his illness is divine punishment and God's final word.

Psalm 41 8 Bonus section

The concept of "Belial" (בְּלִיַּעַל) transcends simple illness here; it suggests a moral failing or spiritual contamination, as if the disease itself is a manifestation of worthlessness or a curse of evil. In later Jewish literature and the New Testament (e.g., 2 Cor 6:15), "Belial" often takes on a personified form, associated with wickedness or even Satan. This suggests that the enemies were not merely wishing the psalmist ill, but pronouncing him marked by an unredeemable spiritual evil, implying that his suffering was a just outcome of this inherent wickedness. This verse serves as a reminder that human suffering is often misdiagnosed and misinterpreted by onlookers, especially by those with ill will, who project their own desires for a person's ruin onto their divine understanding. This is a common pattern for those who attack the righteous; they attribute their misfortune to their wickedness.

Psalm 41 8 Commentary

Psalm 41:8 is a stark articulation of the cruelty faced by the psalmist from his adversaries, revealing the depth of their malicious intent. His severe illness, perhaps to the point of being bedridden, is seized upon by them as evidence of divine judgment. They are not merely observing his suffering but actively declaring it to be an "evil thing" – literally, a "thing of Belial," implying a destructive, worthless, or utterly wicked condition, almost demonic in its implication – that has irrevocably permeated his being. The language of it being "poured out" or "fixed upon" him suggests a belief in a pervasive and inescapable doom, a finality beyond recovery. Their proclamation, "he shall rise up no more," is not just an observation but a triumphant, condemnatory wish and a declared spiritual death sentence. This exposes the heart of their antagonism: they revel in his weakness, interpret it as his moral downfall, and pronounce an absolute end to his life.

This verse echoes through Christian theology as a shadow of Christ's passion. Just as the psalmist's enemies celebrated his suffering as definitive proof of his abandonment, those who crucified Jesus mocked Him, believing He would not rise (Mk 15:29-32). Yet, the psalmist's subsequent appeal to God and God's ultimate faithfulness (Psa 41:10-12) points to the divine power that overrides such human malice. In this way, the verse highlights the contrast between the world's condemning verdict on suffering righteousness and God's promise of ultimate vindication and resurrection. It teaches that one's afflictions do not necessarily signify God's wrath or final abandonment, even if enemies assert so.