Psalms 119:28
Psalms 119:28 in Multiple Translations
My soul melts with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word.
My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
My soul is wasted with sorrow; give me strength again in keeping with your word
I'm weeping because I'm so sad; please encourage me as you promised.
My soule melteth for heauinesse: raise mee vp according vnto thy worde.
My soul hath dropped from affliction, Establish me according to Thy word.
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according to thy word.
I am very sad/sorrowful [IDM], with the result that I have no strength; enable me to be strong again, like you promised me that you would do.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 119:28
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 119:28 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
דָּלְפָ֣ה
נַ֭פְשִׁ/י
מִ/תּוּגָ֑ה
קַ֝יְּמֵ֗/נִי
כִּ/דְבָרֶֽ/ךָ
דָּלְפָ֣ה
dâlaph
H1811
to drip
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
נַ֭פְשִׁ/י
nephesh
H5315
soul
N-cs | Suff
מִ/תּוּגָ֑ה
tûwgâh
H8424
grief
Prep | N-fs
קַ֝יְּמֵ֗/נִי
qûwm
H6965
-kamai
V-Piel-Impv-2ms | Suff
כִּ/דְבָרֶֽ/ךָ
dâbâr
H1697
Chronicles
Prep | N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 119:28
דָּלְפָ֣ה
dâlaph
H1811
"to drip"
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
To drip means to drop or leak, and it can also imply weeping or crying. This word is used in the Bible to describe tears or liquid flowing. It is often translated as drop or melt.
Definition: 1) to drop, drip 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to leak 1a2) to weep (of tears)
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: drop through, melt, pour out. See also: Job 16:20; Psalms 119:28; Ecclesiastes 10:18.
נַ֭פְשִׁ/י
nephesh
H5315
"soul"
N-cs | Suff
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Definition: 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain
Usage: Occurs in 683 OT verses. KJV: any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it. See also: Genesis 1:20; Leviticus 26:43; Judges 18:25.
מִ/תּוּגָ֑ה
tûwgâh
H8424
"grief"
Prep | N-fs
This Hebrew word describes a feeling of grief or sorrow, often translated as heaviness. It is used to express emotional pain or depression, as seen in various psalms and biblical accounts.
Definition: grief, heaviness, sorrow
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: heaviness, sorrow. See also: Psalms 119:28; Proverbs 14:13; Proverbs 10:1.
קַ֝יְּמֵ֗/נִי
qûwm
H6965
"-kamai"
V-Piel-Impv-2ms | Suff
Qum means to rise or stand up, used in various contexts like rising to power or standing firm, as seen in Jeremiah and Ezra.
Definition: Combined with lev (לֵב "Leb" H3820B) § -Kamai = "my adversary" Leb-kamai, i.e., people of Gambulai
Usage: Occurs in 596 OT verses. KJV: abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising). See also: Genesis 4:8; Numbers 30:13; Ruth 4:10.
כִּ/דְבָרֶֽ/ךָ
dâbâr
H1697
"Chronicles"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Definition: This name means word, speaking
Usage: Occurs in 1290 OT verses. KJV: act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. See also: Genesis 11:1; Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 18:21.
Study Notes — Psalms 119:28
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 119:28 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 119:28
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 119:28
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 119:28
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 119:28
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 119:28
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 119:28
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 119:28
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 119:28
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 119:28
- Sermons on Psalms 119:28
Context — Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
26I recounted my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes.
27Make clear to me the way of Your precepts; then I will meditate on Your wonders.
28My soul melts with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word.
29Remove me from the path of deceit and graciously grant me Your law. 30I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances before me.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 22:14 | I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me. |
| 2 | Philippians 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. |
| 3 | 1 Peter 5:10 | And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you. |
| 4 | Psalms 27:14 | Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD! |
| 5 | Zechariah 10:12 | I will strengthen them in the LORD, and in His name they will walk,” declares the LORD. |
| 6 | Psalms 107:26 | They mounted up to the heavens, then sunk to the depths; their courage melted in their anguish. |
| 7 | Isaiah 40:29 | He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. |
| 8 | Psalms 29:11 | The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace. |
| 9 | Isaiah 40:31 | But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. |
| 10 | Ephesians 3:16 | I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, |
Psalms 119:28 Summary
[The psalmist is feeling deeply sad and overwhelmed, but instead of giving up, he is asking God to strengthen him with His word. This shows that even in hard times, we can look to God's promises for comfort and strength, just like the Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. We can trust that God is good and loves us, and that He will help us through our struggles. By turning to God's word, we can find the strength we need to keep going, even when things seem impossible.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the psalmist's soul to 'melt with sorrow' in Psalms 119:28?
The psalmist is expressing deep emotional pain and distress, which is a common experience for believers, as seen in Psalms 42:11 and Psalms 55:4-5, but in this case, he is looking to God's word for comfort and strength.
How can God's word strengthen us in times of sorrow?
God's word has the power to comfort, encourage, and strengthen us, as seen in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and the psalmist is asking God to apply that strength to his life in his time of need, much like Paul did in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
Is it normal for Christians to feel overwhelmed by sorrow?
Yes, it is normal for Christians to experience sorrow, as Jesus himself did in John 11:35 and Hebrews 4:15, but as believers, we can look to God's word and His presence for comfort and strength, rather than giving in to despair.
How can we apply the principle of Psalms 119:28 to our own lives?
We can apply this principle by turning to God's word in times of sorrow, and asking Him to strengthen us according to His promises, such as Philippians 4:13 and Isaiah 41:10, and trusting in His goodness and love for us.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have felt my soul 'melt with sorrow', and how did I respond to those situations?
- How can I make God's word a greater source of strength and comfort in my life, especially in difficult times?
- What are some specific promises from God's word that I can cling to when I am feeling overwhelmed by sorrow or pain?
- How can I balance honesty about my emotions with trust in God's goodness, as the psalmist does in this verse?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 119:28
My soul melteth for heaviness,.... Like wax before the sun or fire; or flows like water; drops (a), as the word signifies, and dissolves into tears, through grief and sorrow for sins committed; or by
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 119:28
My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. My soul melteth for heaviness - owing to my sufferings, notwithstanding my adherence to thy Word. "Melteth" - literally ( daalªpaah (H1811)), droppeth.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 119:28
Melteth, like wax before the fire; it hath no strength nor consistency left in it, but consumeth or pineth away. For heaviness; through grief, partly for my extreme danger and misery; and principally for my sins, and thy wrath and terrors following upon them. Strengthen thou me, that so I may bear my burdens patiently and cheerfully, and vanquish all my temptations.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 119:28
Psalms 119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.Ver. 28. My soul melteth] Heb. droppeth away like water; I weep out my life, together with my grief. Strengthen thou me according to thy word] Support me by thy promise.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 119:28
(28) Melteth—The Hebrew word is used in Ecclesiastes 10:18 of a dripping roof of a house; in Job 16:20 of weeping. The LXX. and Vulg. have “slumbered,” which suits far better with the next clause, which is literally, make me rise up. Symmachus has “distils.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 119:28
Verse 28. My soul melteth] דלף dalaph signifies to distil, to drop as tears from the eye. As my distresses cause the tears to distil from my eyes, so the overwhelming load of my afflictions causes my life to ebb and leak out.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 119:28
28. When my soul dissolves in tears (Job 16:20) for grief, strengthen me according to Thy promise.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 119:28
My soul melteth - Margin, “droppeth.” The Hebrew word here employed - דלף dâlaph - means to drop, to drip, to distil, spoken of a house, as when the rain drops through the roof, Ecclesiastes 10:18;
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 119:28
ã, Daleth.25-32. My soul cleaveth unto the dust—Now is presented a soul in deep affliction, as if the trial in the previous division had gone against him; as if he had suffered the loss of all things, and worse was yet to follow.
Sermons on Psalms 119:28
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(How to Get Out of a Religious Rut): Dealing With Spiritual Problems by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the passage from 2nd Timothy where the apostle Paul writes to his young coworker Timothy. Paul urges Timothy to stir up the gift of God that |
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Psalms - Part 1 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of filling one's heart with the Word of God rather than simply avoiding evil. He references the story of a demon being cast ou |
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A Light in the Land (Christianity in Wales 200-2000) by Gwyn Davies | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the history of Christianity in Wales, acknowledging both the blessings and challenges that have been faced. He mentions the presence of disa |
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The Tabernacle #1 - Outer Court by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the concept of purification and service in the believer's life. He explains that the water mentioned in 1 John 5 represents the life of Jesu |
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Let Us Not Forget the Substitute by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the profound significance of Christ as our Substitute, who bore the weight of sin and divine wrath on behalf of humanity. He vividly describes the agony of |
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A Part of His Passion by Julian of Norwich | Julian of Norwich describes a vivid vision of Christ's Passion, focusing on the gradual changes in His appearance as He suffered on the cross. She details the transformation of His |
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I Am Poured Out Like Water, and All My Bones Are Out of Joint by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon reflects on the profound suffering of Jesus, describing Him as feeling weak and dislocated, burdened by the weight of the cross and the wrath of God. He emphasizes th |