Psalm 69 20

Psalm 69:20 kjv

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

Psalm 69:20 nkjv

Reproach has broken my heart, And I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.

Psalm 69:20 niv

Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.

Psalm 69:20 esv

Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.

Psalm 69:20 nlt

Their insults have broken my heart,
and I am in despair.
If only one person would show some pity;
if only one would turn and comfort me.

Psalm 69 verses

Psalm 69 20 Meaning

Psalm 69:20 describes the profound internal devastation and utter despair of the Psalmist due to severe public reproach and scorn. The pain inflicted by this shame is so intense it has shattered his very core, leaving him in a state of terminal anguish or desperate sickness. In his overwhelming suffering, he sought basic human sympathy and comfort, yet found absolutely none, highlighting a complete abandonment and isolation in his moment of greatest need.

Psalm 69 20 Context

Psalm 69 is a profound lament where the Psalmist pours out his heart to God concerning the overwhelming suffering he endures. The imagery is often of being "sunk in deep mire" or "engulfed by deep waters," signifying an acute and overwhelming sense of distress and opposition. The core of his agony stems from persecution he faces specifically for God's sake (vv. 7-9), suggesting he is being reviled for his righteousness and zeal for God's house. His tormentors are numerous, cruel, and without cause (v. 4). This Psalm is rich in messianic prophecy, widely understood in Christian tradition to foreshadow the intense suffering, rejection, and eventual triumph of Jesus Christ, particularly during His passion. Verse 20 directly precedes verse 21, which prophesies the giving of gall and vinegar, explicitly fulfilled during Christ's crucifixion (Jn 19:28-29; Mt 27:34). The Psalmist's experience of being completely abandoned and scorned reflects the deepest form of human isolation and foreshadows Christ's profound abandonment by men and momentary experience of separation from God on the cross (Mt 27:46).

Psalm 69 20 Word analysis

• Reproach (חֶרְפָּה - cherpah): This word signifies shame, scorn, disgrace, or public humiliation. It is a deeply wounding form of verbal abuse and public mockery. In ancient Middle Eastern cultures, honor and shame were paramount, making cherpah a particularly potent and destructive force, aiming to strip a person of their dignity and standing within the community. It represents not just a critical remark, but a targeted, often false and malicious, assault on one's character and integrity, deeply felt by the righteous individual.
• has broken (שָׁבְרָה - shav'ra, from שָׁבַר shavar): To break, shatter, crush, or destroy. This is a violent, decisive action, not merely a minor injury. Applied to the heart, it denotes complete devastation, total loss of internal composure and well-being. It speaks to an unendurable emotional and spiritual injury, rendering one helpless.
• my heart (לִבִּי - libbi): In Hebrew thought, the "heart" (לֵב - lev) is not just the seat of emotions but the very core of a person's being—the center of thought, reason, will, intentions, conscience, and emotions. For the heart to be "broken" means that the deepest, most vital part of one's inner self is completely crushed, leading to a profound state of despair and incapacitation.
• and I am sick (וָאָנוּשָׁה - va'anusha, from אָנוּשׁ - anash): To be sick, desperately wounded, incurable, or beyond human help. This conveys a sense of utter feebleness, fragility, and a state close to death. It suggests that the brokenness is not transient but has plunged the Psalmist into a life-threatening or hopelessly afflicted condition, leaving him utterly devoid of strength.
• I looked for (וָאֲקַוֶּה - va'akaveh, from קָוָה - kavah): To wait, to hope, to look eagerly for, or to anticipate with longing. This term conveys an earnest, desperate yearning and expectation. The Psalmist wasn't just casually observing, but actively searching and yearning for some solace.
• pity (לָנוּד - lanud, from נוּד - nud): To bemoan, to lament, or to show sympathy, often by shaking the head in sorrow. It refers to a gesture of compassion, a verbal or non-verbal expression of shared grief or empathy. The Psalmist was looking for any sign of human concern, a basic acknowledgement of his pain.
• but there was none (וָאַיִן - va'ayin): This is a powerful word signifying absolute absence, nothingness, non-existence. It emphatically states that the expected compassion was entirely absent, highlighting the depth of his isolation and the complete failure of those around him to offer even minimal solace.
• and for comforters (וְלַמְנַחֲמִים - v'lamnachamim, from נָחַם - nacham): Refers to those who offer consolation, solace, or relief from grief, distress, or trouble. These are individuals expected to provide emotional or practical support in times of hardship.
• but I found none (וְלֹא מָצָאתִי - v'lo matzati): This simply states that the search was fruitless, confirming the complete absence of anyone willing or able to offer comfort. It underscores the profound and isolating abandonment experienced by the Psalmist.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Reproach has broken my heart": This phrase immediately conveys the external attack causing an internal, life-altering catastrophe. The attack is verbal and social ("reproach"), but its effect is devastatingly internal ("broken my heart"). This highlights the immense power of human rejection and public shame to crush the spirit.
• "and I am sick": This extends the "broken heart" from emotional agony to a state of desperate physical and spiritual feebleness. The internal wound is so severe it manifests as a debilitating illness, implying near-death or a state beyond recovery by human means.
• "I looked for pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none": This powerful double negation emphasizes the complete and utter abandonment. The Psalmist's profound pain drove him to seek universal human empathy, yet he found only an echoing void. This lack of compassion intensifies the agony of the broken heart, confirming the extreme isolation and the uniqueness of his suffering.

Psalm 69 20 Bonus section

The intense agony described in Psalm 69:20 resonates with the concept of vicarious suffering, where an individual endures pain on behalf of others or for a higher purpose. For the Psalmist, his reproach comes "for Your sake" (v. 7), establishing a framework for understanding innocent suffering. This becomes crucial in the New Testament's interpretation of Christ, who truly became the suffering Servant. His broken heart and lack of comforters not only highlight the depths of His human experience but also the unique spiritual burden He carried – one that no human could fully share or alleviate. This human void of compassion ultimately emphasizes the sole sufficiency of God's comfort and salvation for those who trust Him in their most desolate moments, especially when all earthly avenues fail. This total absence of human solace points the suffering soul beyond humanity, directing all hope and gaze towards the divine alone.

Psalm 69 20 Commentary

Psalm 69:20 is a raw expression of profound spiritual and emotional desolation, marking the nadir of the Psalmist's suffering. The "reproach" he endures is not just criticism but scorn for his righteous stand and zeal for God. This kind of scorn is devastating because it attacks the core of his identity and purpose, rather than superficial aspects. The metaphor of a "broken heart" conveys more than mere sadness; it indicates an inner collapse, where the very springs of life and well-being are shattered. This leads to a state of being "sick," which denotes utter weakness and helplessness, perhaps even despair that approaches death. In such an agonizing state, the natural human response is to seek comfort and empathy from others. However, the Psalmist finds none, which only amplifies his distress. This utter lack of pity and presence of comforters is not just a disappointment; it seals his sense of complete isolation and betrayal, underscoring the severity of his plight and the depth of his human abandonment. This verse is profoundly Messianic, painting a vivid picture of the suffering of Jesus Christ. He, too, bore the ultimate reproach, despising its shame as he endured the cross. His heart was indeed "broken" by the weight of humanity's sin and the experience of divine forsakenness, and he found no human comfort in Gethsemane or on Calvary, as His disciples fled and the world mocked. It reminds us that often, those who suffer most profoundly for God's truth are also those most misunderstood and abandoned by men, left with only God as their solace.