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Psalms 41

BSB·13 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Blessedאַ֭שְׁרֵי’aš·rê — blessed, happy, fortunateH835 — Full Word Study → is the one who cares forאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the poorדָּ֑לdāl — poor, needy, weakH1800 — Full Word Study →; the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → will deliver himיְֽמַלְּטֵ֥הוּyə·mal·lə·ṭê·hū — to escape, deliver, or save from dangerH4422 — Full Word Study → in the dayבְּי֥וֹםbə·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of troubleרָ֝עָ֗הrā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →. 2The LORDיְהוָ֤ה׀Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → will protectיִשְׁמְרֵ֣הוּyiš·mə·rê·hū — To guard, keep, observe, preserveH8104 — Full Word Study → and preserve himוִֽ֭יחַיֵּהוּwî·ḥay·yê·hū — To live, to preserve alive, to give lifeH2421 — Full Word Study →; He will bless himיֶאְשֹּׁרyɛʾš·šōr — to bless, to make happy or prosperousH833 — Full Word Study → in the landבָּאָ֑רֶץbā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → and refuseוְאַֽל־wə·’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → to surrender him to the willבְּנֶ֣פֶשׁbə·ne·p̄eš — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → of his foesאֹיְבָֽיו׃’ō·yə·ḇāw — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study →. 3The LORDיְֽהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → will sustain himיִ֭סְעָדֶנּוּyis·‘ā·ḏen·nū — to support, sustain, or strengthenH5582 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → his bedעֶ֣רֶשׂ‘e·reś — bed, couch, sleeping placeH6210 — Full Word Study → of illnessדְּוָ֑יdə·wāy — languishing, sickness, illness, sorrowH1741 — Full Word Study → and restore himהָפַ֥כְתָּhā·p̄aḵ·tā — to overturn, turn over, transformH2015 — Full Word Study → from his bedמִ֝שְׁכָּב֗וֹmiš·kā·ḇōw — bed, sleeping place, or couchH4904 — Full Word Study → of sicknessבְחָלְיֽוֹ׃ḇə·ḥā·lə·yōw — Sickness, disease, illnessH2483 — Full Word Study →. 4Iאֲ‍ֽנִי־’ănî- — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → saidאָ֭מַרְתִּי’ā·mar·tî — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “O LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, be gracious to meחָנֵּ֑נִיḥān·nê·nî — To show favor, mercy, or compassion; to be graciousH2603 — Full Word Study →; healרְפָאָ֥הrə·p̄ā·’āh — To heal, restore to healthH7495 — Full Word Study → meנַ֝פְשִׁ֗יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →, forכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → I have sinnedחָטָ֥אתִיḥā·ṭā·ṯî — To sin; to miss the mark; to commit wrongdoingH2398 — Full Word Study → against You.” 5My enemiesאוֹיְבַ֗י’ō·wy·ḇay — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → sayיֹאמְר֣וּyō·mə·rū — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → with maliceרַ֣עra‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →: “Whenמָתַ֥יmā·ṯay — when, how long, until whenH4970 — Full Word Study → will he dieיָ֝מ֗וּתyā·mūṯ — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study → and be forgottenוְאָבַ֥דwə·’ā·ḇaḏ — To perish, be destroyed, or lostH6 — Full Word Study →?” 6My visitorוְאִם־wə·’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → speaksיְדַבֵּ֗רyə·ḏab·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → falsehoodשָׁ֤וְאšāw — falsehood, deception, emptinessH7723 — Full Word Study →; he gathersיִקְבָּץ־yiq·bāṣ- — to gather, assemble, or collect togetherH6908 — Full Word Study → slanderאָ֥וֶן’ā·wen — Evil, wickedness, iniquity, or worthlessnessH205 — Full Word Study → in his heartלִבּ֗וֹlib·bōw — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →; he goesיֵצֵ֖אyê·ṣê — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study → outלַח֣וּץla·ḥūṣ — Outside, exterior, or open space beyond a boundaryH2351 — Full Word Study → and spreads it abroadיְדַבֵּֽר׃yə·ḏab·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study →. 7Allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → who hateשֹׂנְאָ֑יśō·nə·’āy — to hate, despise, regard with hostilityH8130 — Full Word Study → meעָלַ֓י׀‘ā·lay — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → whisperיִ֭תְלַחֲשׁוּyiṯ·la·ḥă·šū — to whisper, mutter, or speak in secretH3907 — Full Word Study → against meעָלַ֣י‘ā·lay — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →; they imagineיַחְשְׁב֖וּyaḥ·šə·ḇū — to think, devise, plan, or reckonH2803 — Full Word Study → the worstרָעָ֣הrā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → for me: 8A vileבְּ֭לִיַּעַלbə·lî·ya·‘al — Worthlessness, WickednessH1100 — Full Word Study → diseaseדְּֽבַר־də·ḇar- — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → has been pouredיָצ֣וּקyā·ṣūq — To pour out; to cast; to overflowH3332 — Full Word Study → into him; he will neverלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → get upלָקֽוּם׃lā·qūm — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → from whereוַאֲשֶׁ֥רwa·’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → he liesשָׁ֝כַ֗בšā·k̲ab̲ — to lie down, recline, sleepH7901 — Full Word Study →!” 9Evenגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → my close friendאִ֤ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → whomאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → I trustedבָּטַ֣חְתִּיbā·ṭaḥ·tî — to trust, rely on, have confidenceH982 — Full Word Study →, the one who sharedאוֹכֵ֣ל’ō·w·ḵêl — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → my breadלַחְמִ֑יlaḥ·mî — Bread; food; sustenanceH3899 — Full Word Study →, has lifted upהִגְדִּ֖ילhiḡ·dîl — to grow, become great, magnifyH1431 — Full Word Study → his heel against meעָלַ֣י‘ā·lay — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →. 10But Youוְאַתָּ֤הwə·’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, be gracious to meחָנֵּ֥נִיḥān·nê·nî — To show favor, mercy, or compassion; to be graciousH2603 — Full Word Study → and raise me upוַהֲקִימֵ֑נִיwa·hă·qî·mê·nî — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study →, that I may repayוַֽאֲשַׁלְּמָ֥הwa·’ă·šal·lə·māh — to complete, make peace, repayH7999 — Full Word Study → them. 11By thisבְּזֹ֣אתbə·zōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study → I knowיָ֭דַעְתִּיyā·ḏa‘·tî — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → thatכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You delightחָפַ֣צְתָּḥā·p̄aṣ·tā — to delight in; to desire; to take pleasureH2654 — Full Word Study → in me, forכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → my enemyאֹיְבִ֣י’ō·yə·ḇî — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → does notלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → triumphיָרִ֖יעַyā·rî·a‘ — to shout, cry out, make a loud noiseH7321 — Full Word Study → over meעָלָֽי׃‘ā·lāy — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →. 12In myוַאֲנִ֗יwa·’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → integrityבְּ֭תֻמִּיbə·ṯum·mî — Integrity, completeness, wholeness, uprightnessH8537 — Full Word Study → You upholdתָּמַ֣כְתָּtā·maḵ·tā — to grasp, hold, or sustainH8551 — Full Word Study → me and set meוַתַּצִּיבֵ֖נִיwat·taṣ·ṣî·ḇê·nî — To stand, station, or set up firmlyH5324 — Full Word Study → in Your presenceלְפָנֶ֣יךָlə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → foreverלְעוֹלָֽם׃lə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →. 13Blessed beבָּ֘ר֤וּךְbā·rūḵ — to bless, kneel, praiseH1288 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֨ה׀Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, the Godאֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →, from everlastingמֵֽ֭הָעוֹלָםmê·hā·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study → toוְעַ֥דwə·‘aḏ — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → everlastingהָעוֹלָ֗םhā·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →. Amenאָ֘מֵ֥ן׀’ā·mên — So be it; truly; affirmation of truth and agreementH543 — Full Word Study → and Amenוְאָמֵֽן׃wə·’ā·mên — So be it; truly; affirmation of truth and agreementH543 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 41
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Chapter Overview

Psalm 41 is a prayer of David during a time of physical illness and spiritual distress, surrounded by enemies who mock his condition and plot against him. The psalm opens with a blessing upon those who show compassion to the poor and needy, establishing God's care as foundational to the believer's experience. David then moves into his personal plea for healing and mercy, while wrestling with the pain of betrayal by close friends. Ultimately, the psalm concludes with David's confidence that God's faithfulness will vindicate him and preserve his integrity before the Lord forever.

Verses 1-3: The Blessing of Compassion

David begins by pronouncing a blessing on anyone who considers and cares for the poor. This is not merely sentiment; it is a spiritual principle rooted in God's character. Verse 1 promises that the LORD will deliver such a person in their own time of trouble. The word "considereth" (Hebrew sakal) means to be thoughtful, prudent, and attentive—not passive charity, but intentional care. Verses 2-3 expand this promise: God will preserve life, grant blessing in the land, protect from enemies, and even strengthen the afflicted during sickness. This opening suggests that David himself has practiced such mercy, and now in his suffering, he appeals to God's reciprocal faithfulness.

Devotional note: Our care for the poor and vulnerable is never wasted before God. It positions us to receive His compassion when we ourselves are in need.

Verses 4-8: Confession, Illness, and Enemy Mockery

Here David shifts to his personal crisis. Verse 4 contains a crucial confession: "I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee." David recognizes that underlying his physical illness is a spiritual matter—he has sinned and needs not only physical healing but restoration of his relationship with God. The word "soul" (nephesh) refers to his whole self, his life and well-being.

Verses 5-8 reveal the cruelty David faces. His enemies speak evil and wish for his death (verse 5). Visitors come with false sympathy but gather ammunition for gossip (verse 6). Those who hate him whisper conspiracies (verse 7). Worst of all, they pronounce his condition terminal, declaring that "an evil disease cleaveth fast unto him" and he shall "rise up no more" (verse 8). Their words are designed to mock, discourage, and ensure his shame.

Devotional note: Even the righteous face seasons of sickness, failure, and hostile opposition. These do not indicate God's abandonment but are opportunities to deepen trust in His faithfulness.

Verses 9-13: Betrayal, Vindication, and Confidence

Verse 9 contains one of the psalm's most poignant moments: "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." This image of a trusted friend turning against David cuts to the heart of betrayal. Significantly, this verse is directly quoted in John 13:18 when Jesus speaks of Judas's betrayal at the Last Supper, showing the psalmist's words foreshadow Christ's own experience.

Yet verse 10 marks a turning point: "But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them." David appeals to God's mercy and asks for restoration and vindication. Verses 11-12 express David's confidence: because his enemy does not triumph over him, he knows God favors him. God upholds him in his integrity and will preserve him eternally before His face. Verse 13 concludes with a doxology blessing the God of Israel forever.

Devotional note: Our vindication comes not through revenge but through God's vindication. When we walk in integrity, God Himself becomes our defender.

Application for Today

When illness, betrayal, or opposition surrounds you, remember David's path: begin with mercy toward others, confess sin honestly before God, endure slander without bitterness, and rest in God's ultimate vindication. Your integrity before the Lord matters more than others' opinions. Trust that God's faithfulness is not measured by your circumstances but by His eternal character and covenant promises.

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