Psalms 102:9
Psalms 102:9 in Multiple Translations
For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
For I have eaten ashes like bread, And mingled my drink with weeping,
I have had dust for bread and my drink has been mixed with weeping:
Ashes are the food I eat; my tears drip into my drink,
Surely I haue eaten asshes as bread, and mingled my drinke with weeping,
Because ashes as bread I have eaten, And my drink with weeping have mingled,
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever.
Because you are very angry [DOU] with me, now I sit in ashes while I am suffering greatly; and those ashes fall on the bread/food that I eat, and what I drink has my tears mixed with it. It is as though you have picked me up and thrown me away!
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 102:9
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 102:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כָּל
הַ֭/יּוֹם
חֵרְפ֣וּ/נִי
אוֹיְבָ֑/י
מְ֝הוֹלָלַ֗/י
בִּ֣/י
נִשְׁבָּֽעוּ
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
הַ֭/יּוֹם
yôwm
H3117
day
Art | N-ms
חֵרְפ֣וּ/נִי
châraph
H2778
to taunt
V-Piel-Perf-3cp | Suff
אוֹיְבָ֑/י
ʼôyêb
H341
enemy
V-Qal | Suff
מְ֝הוֹלָלַ֗/י
hâlal
H1984
to shine
V-M-Inf-c | Suff
בִּ֣/י
Prep | Suff
נִשְׁבָּֽעוּ
shâbaʻ
H7650
to swear
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 102:9
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הַ֭/יּוֹם
yôwm
H3117
"day"
Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
חֵרְפ֣וּ/נִי
châraph
H2778
"to taunt"
V-Piel-Perf-3cp | Suff
The Hebrew word 'châraph' means to acquire or expose something, and can also mean to betroth or defame someone. It is translated as 'betroth', 'blaspheme', or 'reproach' in the KJV Bible.
Definition: 1) to reproach, taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardise, rail, upbraid 1a) (Qal) to reproach 1b) (Piel) to reproach, defy, taunt
Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: betroth, blaspheme, defy, jeopard, rail, reproach, upbraid. See also: Leviticus 19:20; Psalms 55:13; Psalms 42:11.
אוֹיְבָ֑/י
ʼôyêb
H341
"enemy"
V-Qal | Suff
This Hebrew word means enemy or adversary, referring to someone who hates or opposes another person or nation. It is used to describe personal or national enemies in the Bible.
Definition: 1) (Qal) enemy 1a) personal 1b) national
Usage: Occurs in 275 OT verses. KJV: enemy, foe. See also: Genesis 22:17; 2 Samuel 22:1; Psalms 3:8.
מְ֝הוֹלָלַ֗/י
hâlal
H1984
"to shine"
V-M-Inf-c | Suff
To be foolish means to act wildly or make a show, like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:29. It can also mean to celebrate or boast, as in Psalm 38:5.
Definition: 1) to shine 1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour) 1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
Usage: Occurs in 140 OT verses. KJV: (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine. See also: Genesis 12:15; Psalms 113:1; Psalms 5:6.
בִּ֣/י
""
Prep | Suff
נִשְׁבָּֽעוּ
shâbaʻ
H7650
"to swear"
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp
This Hebrew word means to swear an oath, like making a promise or vow. In the Bible, it is used when someone is making a serious promise, often with God as a witness. The KJV translates it as adjure or take an oath.
Definition: 1) to swear, adjure 1a) (Qal) sworn (participle) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to swear, take an oath 1b2) to swear (of Jehovah by Himself) 1b3) to curse 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to take an oath 1c2) to adjure
Usage: Occurs in 175 OT verses. KJV: adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for H7646 (שָׂבַע)), take an oath, [idiom] straitly, (cause to, make to) swear. See also: Genesis 21:23; Judges 21:18; Psalms 15:4.
Study Notes — Psalms 102:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 102:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 102:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 102:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 102:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 102:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 102:9
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 102:9
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 102:9
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 102:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 102:9
- Sermons on Psalms 102:9
Context — The Prayer of the Afflicted
7I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
8All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.
9For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears
10because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside. 11My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 42:3 | My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?” |
| 2 | Psalms 80:5 | You fed them with the bread of tears and made them drink the full measure of their tears. |
| 3 | Micah 1:10 | Do not tell it in Gath; do not weep at all. Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah. |
| 4 | Lamentations 3:48–49 | Streams of tears flow from my eyes over the destruction of the daughter of my people. My eyes overflow unceasingly, without relief, |
| 5 | Isaiah 44:20 | He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” |
| 6 | Lamentations 3:15–16 | He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me with wormwood. He has ground my teeth with gravel and trampled me in the dust. |
| 7 | Psalms 69:21 | They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst. |
| 8 | Job 3:24 | I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water. |
| 9 | Micah 7:17 | They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will crawl from their holes in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You. |
Psalms 102:9 Summary
[This verse is talking about a person who is very sad and feeling abandoned by God, and they are using strong symbols like eating ashes and drinking tears to show just how much pain they are in. This kind of sorrow is not uncommon in the Bible, as we see in Psalms 42:1-2 where the psalmist thirsts for God. The psalmist is expressing the depth of their emotional pain and spiritual longing, and this can be a powerful reminder that God is near to the brokenhearted, as we see in Psalms 34:18.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'eat ashes like bread' in Psalms 102:9?
Eating ashes like bread is a metaphor for the intense sorrow and mourning the psalmist is experiencing, similar to how Jeremiah 6:26 and Ezekiel 27:30 describe ashes as a sign of grief and repentance.
How can tears be 'mixed with drink' as mentioned in Psalms 102:9?
The psalmist is using a poetic expression to convey the overwhelming sadness that has become a constant part of their life, much like how Jesus wept in John 11:35, showing that even God's Son experienced deep sorrow.
Is this verse talking about physical hunger or spiritual hunger?
The context suggests that the psalmist is describing a spiritual hunger and thirst, where their sorrow and longing for God's presence have become all-consuming, similar to what is described in Psalms 42:1-2, where the psalmist thirsts for God.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
Psalms 102:9 is part of a larger lament where the psalmist expresses their deep sorrow and feelings of abandonment by God, which is also seen in verses like Psalms 102:7 and Psalms 102:10, highlighting the psalmist's emotional and spiritual state.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have felt like I was 'eating ashes' and how did I respond to those situations?
- How can I, like the psalmist, express my deepest sorrows and longings to God in prayer, and what can I learn from their example?
- In what ways can I 'mix my drink with tears' by being honest with God about my struggles and emotions, and how might this deepen my relationship with Him?
- What does this verse teach me about the nature of sorrow and how God responds to our tears and cries for help?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 102:9
For I have eaten ashes like bread,.... He sitting in ashes, as Job did, and rolling himself in them in the manner of mourners; and, having no other table than the ground to eat his food upon, he
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 102:9
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, For I have eaten ashes like bread.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 102:9
For; so this verse gives a reason either of his great sadness, expressed ,7, or why they swore by him in the sense last given. Or, surely, as this particle is oft used. Or, therefore, because of those bitter reproaches last mentioned. I have eaten ashes like bread: the sense is, Dust and ashes are as constant and familiar to me as the eating of my bread; I cover my head with them; I sit, yea, lie down and roll myself in them, as mourners oft did, ,12 16:15 ; by which means the ashes might easily be mingled with their meat, as tears were with their drink in the next clause. Mingled my drink with weeping; he alludes to the custom of mingling their wine with water.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 102:9
Psalms 102:9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,Ver. 9. For I have eaten ashes like bread] Being cast on the ground as a mourner, I know not whether I eat bread or dust; this relisheth to me as well as that, my mouth is so out of taste. And mingled my drink with weeping] I forbare not to weep, no, not while I drank; for tow is dry, and wine driveth away sorrow, we say; not so from me. Wine is called by Simonides in Athenaeus αμυντωρδυσφροσυναων, an expeller of sadness.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 102:9
(9) Ashes like bread.—Lamentations 3:16. A figurative expression, like “dust shall be the serpent’s meat” (Isaiah 65:25; comp. Genesis 3:14). With the last clause comp. Psalms 42:3, “tears have been my meat day and night.” So too, as an emblem of disappointment, a modern poet:— “But even while I drank the brook, and ate The goodly apples, all these things at once Fell into dust, and I was left alone.” : Holy Grail.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 102:9
Verse 9. I have eaten ashes like bread] Fearful of what they might do, we all humbled ourselves before thee, and sought thy protection; well knowing that, unless we were supernaturally assisted, we must all have perished; our enemies having sworn our destruction.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 102:9
9. They may well do so; for what can be more wretched than his plight? Mourning and tears are as it were his food and drink. Cp. Psalms 42:3; Psalms 80:5. For ashes as the symbol of mourning, cp. Job 2:8; Lamentations 3:16; Ezekiel 27:30.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 102:9
For I have eaten ashes like bread - I have seated myself in ashes in my grief (compare Job 2:8; Job 42:6; Isaiah 58:5; Isaiah 61:3; Jonah 3:6; Daniel 9:3; Matthew 11:21); and ashes have become, as it were, my food.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 102:9
9. Eaten ashes like bread—As a mourner, he sits in, and covers himself with, ashes. (Lamentations 3:16,) and they mingled with his scanty food.
Sermons on Psalms 102:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Arrogant, Overfed, and Unconcerned by Jackie Pullinger | In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a young girl named Karen who faces many challenges in her life. Despite her difficult circumstances, Karen takes on responsibilitie |
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When God Hides His Face From the Righteous by Jack Hyles | In this sermon, the preacher discusses why God sometimes turns his back and hides his face from us. One reason is that God wants us to learn to depend on Him more. The preacher sha |
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Psalm 42 by Henry Law | Henry Law preaches about the theme of rejection and distress in the hymn, emphasizing the longing for God's presence and the joy found in worship. The believer is encouraged to see |
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Spiritual Burdens and Worry Weights by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between spiritual burdens and mere irritations that can arise in the life of a Christian. He warns that Christians must be vi |
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Comfort & Joy: The Mourner's Privilege by Thomas Watson | Thomas Watson preaches about the significance of mourning as a pathway to solid joy in the Christian life. He emphasizes that holy mourning leads to the sweetest joy, comparing it |
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Is the Bible an 'Iffy' Book? by Shane Idleman | The sermon delves into the concept of conditional promises in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of surrendering to God's will and the consequences of not following His commands |
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Homily 12 on Ephesians by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom emphasizes the importance of living a life separate from the ways of the world, urging believers to walk in the path of God and not in the vanity of their minds lik |