Psalm 6 3

Psalm 6:3 kjv

My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?

Psalm 6:3 nkjv

My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O LORD?how long?

Psalm 6:3 niv

My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long?

Psalm 6:3 esv

My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD ? how long?

Psalm 6:3 nlt

I am sick at heart.
How long, O LORD, until you restore me?

Psalm 6 verses

Psalm 6 3 Meaning

Psalm 6:3 articulates the psalmist's profound inner anguish and distress, expressed as his "soul" being "sore vexed." Amidst this intense personal turmoil, he turns directly to the eternal God, YHWH, with a desperate, impatient cry, asking "how long?" This question is not merely about duration but is an earnest plea for divine intervention and relief from his prolonged suffering.

Psalm 6 3 Context

Psalm 6 is categorized as one of the seven Penitential Psalms (along with Psalms 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), which express sorrow for sin and seek God's mercy and forgiveness. The verse lies at the heart of a deep lament where the psalmist, traditionally David, grapples with severe physical, emotional, and possibly spiritual suffering, which he perceives as the direct consequence of God's displeasure or chastening hand (v. 1). The broader context of Psalm 6 involves a plea for healing from illness, deliverance from enemies, and relief from the internal turmoil of his soul. His turning to God with such an honest, distressed question highlights the intimate yet often agonizing relationship between humanity and the Almighty within the covenant. This contrasts sharply with pagan contemporary beliefs, where deities were often appeased through rituals rather than approached with raw, personal lament and an expectation of divine response based on a relational covenant.

Psalm 6 3 Word analysis

• My soul: Hebrew: naphesh (נֶפֶשׁ). This term denotes more than just a feeling or emotion; it signifies the entire being of the psalmist—his life, his person, his very core. It emphasizes that the distress is not superficial but penetrates to the deepest essence of who he is.
• is sore vexed: Hebrew: nivhalah (נִבְהֲלָה), a Niphal participle from the root bahal (בָּהַל). The Niphal stem implies a passive or reflexive state, suggesting that the "soul" is intensely "thrown into confusion," "dismayed," "terrified," "disturbed," or "overwhelmed" from an external or internal force. "Sore" emphasizes the profound and agonizing degree of this internal agitation.
• but You, O LORD: Hebrew: v'attah Adonai (וְאַתָּה יְהוָה). The conjunctive "but" (or "and" in Hebrew) signifies a crucial turning point and a sharp contrast. It pivots from the psalmist's personal anguish to an address directed singularly towards God. "LORD" represents YHWH (יהוה), the covenantal name of God, emphasizing His eternal, unchanging nature and His personal relationship with His people. This shift underscores that despite his overwhelming internal turmoil, his ultimate hope and only recourse lie with the faithful God of the covenant.
• how long?: Hebrew: 'adh-anah (עַד-אָנָה). This is a powerful, rhetorical question prevalent in lament psalms. It expresses acute impatience, deep weariness from prolonged suffering, and an desperate appeal for God to intervene and bring an end to the affliction. It implies a sense of abandonment or divine delay, an almost accusation, yet remains rooted in the hope that God will eventually act.

Words-group analysis

• "My soul is sore vexed": This phrase conveys a complete inward collapse and spiritual disquiet. It indicates that the suffering is not merely physical or circumstantial but deeply affects the psalmist's identity and well-being. This intense inner turmoil is foundational to the ensuing desperate cry.
• "but You, O LORD, how long?": This constitutes a direct and impassioned plea. The juxtaposition of human vulnerability ("sore vexed") with divine power ("You, O LORD") highlights the psalmist's complete reliance on God. The "how long?" then becomes a profound question, simultaneously a cry of protest, an appeal for justice or mercy, and an expression of desperate hope that God will at last bring relief. It shifts the focus from the suffering to the Sovereign who has the power to end it.

Psalm 6 3 Bonus section

The rhetorical force of "how long?" extends beyond merely questioning duration; it is an appeal to God's character, mercy, and faithfulness. It implies, "How long until you demonstrate your goodness? How long until you remember your promises? How long until you act on behalf of your afflicted servant?" This poignant question serves as a theological statement about divine slowness or hiddenness from the human perspective, a common experience for believers awaiting God's intervention. It highlights the tension between God's eternal nature and human impatience in the face of suffering, demonstrating that authentic spirituality allows for even bold, challenging questions to God while still maintaining trust.

Psalm 6 3 Commentary

Psalm 6:3 captures the heart of a soul in crisis, expressing a deeply human experience of suffering and desperation. The verse paints a vivid picture of internal chaos where the psalmist's entire being is profoundly unsettled, indicating an distress that permeates beyond the surface. Yet, in this moment of extreme vulnerability, there's a vital pivot: the psalmist doesn't turn inward or to lesser deities, but directly to YHWH, the covenant-keeping God. The abrupt, almost accusatory "how long?" reveals the raw, unfiltered honesty permissible in prayer to the God of Israel. This question is not a sign of unbelief, but paradoxically, an evidence of faith, as it presumes God's ultimate sovereignty and ability to act, challenging Him to do so in His timing. It's a prayer of endurance on the verge of breaking, trusting that only God can provide relief from the prolonged trial. This verse thus affirms the biblical principle that authentic faith allows for lament, doubt, and raw emotional honesty before God, knowing He hears and cares for the cries of His distressed children.