Psalms 41:3
Psalms 41:3 in Multiple Translations
The LORD will sustain him on his bed of illness and restore him from his bed of sickness.
The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
Jehovah will support him upon the couch of languishing: Thou makest all his bed in his sickness.
The Lord will be his support on his bed of pain: by you will all his grief be turned to strength.
The Lord looks after them when they're sick; he makes them well from their illness.
The Lord wil strengthen him vpon ye bed of sorow: thou hast turned al his bed in his sicknes.
Jehovah supporteth on a couch of sickness, All his bed Thou hast turned in his weakness.
The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed, and restore him from his bed of illness.
The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God?
When they are sick, Yahweh strengthens them, and he heals them.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 41:3
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 41:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יְהוָ֤ה
יִשְׁמְרֵ֣/הוּ
וִֽ֭/יחַיֵּ/הוּ
יאשר
וְ/אֻשַּׁ֣ר
בָּ/אָ֑רֶץ
וְ/אַֽל
תִּ֝תְּנֵ֗/הוּ
בְּ/נֶ֣פֶשׁ
אֹיְבָֽי/ו
יְהוָ֤ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
יִשְׁמְרֵ֣/הוּ
shâmar
H8104
to keep
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff
וִֽ֭/יחַיֵּ/הוּ
châyâh
H2421
to live
Conj | V-Piel-Imperf-3ms | Suff
יאשר
ʼâshar
H833
to bless
Part
וְ/אֻשַּׁ֣ר
ʼâshar
H833
to bless
Conj | V-Pual-3ms
בָּ/אָ֑רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Prep | N-cs
וְ/אַֽל
ʼal
H408
not
Conj | Part
תִּ֝תְּנֵ֗/הוּ
nâthan
H5414
to give
V-Qal-Juss-2ms | Suff
בְּ/נֶ֣פֶשׁ
nephesh
H5315
soul
Prep | N-cs
אֹיְבָֽי/ו
ʼôyêb
H341
enemy
V-Qal | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 41:3
יְהוָ֤ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
יִשְׁמְרֵ֣/הוּ
shâmar
H8104
"to keep"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff
To keep or obey means to protect, attend to, or guard something, like keeping a promise or watching over someone, as seen in the commands to observe the Sabbath.
Definition: : obey/observe 1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to keep, have charge of 1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life 1a2a) watch, watchman (participle) 1a3) to watch for, wait for 1a4) to watch, observe 1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory) 1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain 1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow) 1a8) to keep, preserve, protect 1a9) to keep, reserve 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware 1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain 1b3) to be kept, be guarded 1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed 1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
Usage: Occurs in 440 OT verses. KJV: beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man). See also: Genesis 2:15; Deuteronomy 11:1; 1 Kings 14:8.
וִֽ֭/יחַיֵּ/הוּ
châyâh
H2421
"to live"
Conj | V-Piel-Imperf-3ms | Suff
To live or have life is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to revive or be quickened. It is used in the Bible to describe God's power to sustain life and restore people to health, as seen in the stories of the prophets and Jesus' miracles.
Definition: 1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to live 1a1a) to have life 1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive 1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon 1a1d) to live (prosperously) 1a2) to revive, be quickened 1a2a) from sickness 1a2b) from discouragement 1a2c) from faintness 1a2d) from death 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to preserve alive, let live 1b2) to give life 1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh 1b3a) to restore to life 1b3b) to cause to grow 1b3c) to restore 1b3d) to revive 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to preserve alive, let live 1c2) to quicken, revive 1c2a) to restore (to health) 1c2b) to revive 1c2c) to restore to life
Usage: Occurs in 239 OT verses. KJV: keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole. See also: Genesis 5:3; 2 Samuel 16:16; Psalms 22:27.
יאשר
ʼâshar
H833
"to bless"
Part
To bless means to make someone happy or content. In the Bible, it can also mean to guide or lead someone in the right direction, like in the book of Psalms.
Definition: 1) to go straight, walk, go on, advance, make progress 1a)(Qal) to go straight on, make progress 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to go straight on, advance 1b2) to lead on (causative) 1b3) to set right, righten 1b4) to pronounce happy, call blessed 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be advanced, be led on 1c2) to be made happy, be blessed
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: (call, be) bless(-ed, happy), go, guide, lead, relieve. See also: Genesis 30:13; Proverbs 23:19; Psalms 41:3.
וְ/אֻשַּׁ֣ר
ʼâshar
H833
"to bless"
Conj | V-Pual-3ms
To bless means to make someone happy or content. In the Bible, it can also mean to guide or lead someone in the right direction, like in the book of Psalms.
Definition: 1) to go straight, walk, go on, advance, make progress 1a)(Qal) to go straight on, make progress 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to go straight on, advance 1b2) to lead on (causative) 1b3) to set right, righten 1b4) to pronounce happy, call blessed 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be advanced, be led on 1c2) to be made happy, be blessed
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: (call, be) bless(-ed, happy), go, guide, lead, relieve. See also: Genesis 30:13; Proverbs 23:19; Psalms 41:3.
בָּ/אָ֑רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Prep | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
וְ/אַֽל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Conj | Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תִּ֝תְּנֵ֗/הוּ
nâthan
H5414
"to give"
V-Qal-Juss-2ms | Suff
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Definition: : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up 1c2) to be put upon
Usage: Occurs in 1816 OT verses. KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. See also: Genesis 1:17; Genesis 40:21; Exodus 30:12.
בְּ/נֶ֣פֶשׁ
nephesh
H5315
"soul"
Prep | N-cs
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.
אֹיְבָֽי/ו
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.
Study Notes — Psalms 41:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 41:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 41:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 41:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 41:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 41:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 41:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 41:3
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 41:3
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 41:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 41:3
- Sermons on Psalms 41:3
Context — Victory over Betrayal
1Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.
2The LORD will protect and preserve him; He will bless him in the land and refuse to give him over to the will of his foes.
3The LORD will sustain him on his bed of illness and restore him from his bed of sickness.
4I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.” 5My enemies say with malice: “When will he die and be forgotten?”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Kings 20:5–6 | “Go back and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the house of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.’” |
| 2 | Psalms 73:26 | My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. |
| 3 | Philippians 2:26–27 | For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. |
| 4 | 2 Corinthians 4:16–17 | Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison. |
| 5 | 2 Kings 1:16 | And Elijah said to King Ahaziah, “This is what the LORD says: Is there really no God in Israel for you to inquire of His word? Is that why you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.” |
| 6 | 2 Kings 1:6 | They replied, “A man came up to meet us and said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him that this is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending these men to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.’” |
Psalms 41:3 Summary
[This verse promises that God will take care of those who are sick and will help them get better, as part of His larger plan to bless and protect those who trust in Him, as seen in Psalms 41:2. It means that even when we are feeling weak or ill, God is with us and will give us the strength we need to get through it, just like He did for the psalmist in Psalms 41:3. We can trust in His love and care for us, just like a parent takes care of their child, and we can find comfort in His presence, as promised in Matthew 28:20.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the Lord to sustain someone on their bed of illness?
This means that God will provide strength, comfort, and care to those who are sick, as promised in Psalms 41:3, and it is a demonstration of His love and mercy, as seen in Psalms 107:20 where He sends His word to heal them.
Does this verse promise healing from every sickness?
While this verse does promise restoration from sickness, it does not guarantee healing from every illness, as seen in the example of Paul's thorn in the flesh in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, where God's grace was sufficient for him even in his weakness.
How can I experience the Lord's sustaining power in my own life?
To experience God's sustaining power, we must trust in Him and seek His presence, as encouraged in Psalms 55:22, where it says to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us, and in Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest.
Is this verse only for believers?
While the context of Psalms 41 suggests that these promises are for those who care for the poor and are blessed by God, as seen in Psalms 41:1-2, the Lord's desire to heal and restore is not limited to believers, as seen in Luke 6:27-36, where Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can care for those who are sick or in need, and demonstrate God's love to them?
- How can I trust in God's sustaining power when I am facing illness or hardship, and what does this look like in my daily life?
- What are some areas of my life where I need God's restoration, and how can I seek His healing and renewal?
- How can I use my experiences of sickness or hardship to minister to others and point them to God's love and care?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 41:3
The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing,.... When on a sick bed, or a death bed, where he lies languishing, and ready to expire; when his natural strength, spirits, and heart fail
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 41:3
The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 41:3
Either, 1. Change or overturn his bed of sickness; which is done when a man is restored to health. Or rather, 2. Give him ease and comfort, which sick men receive by the help of those who turn and stir their whole bed, to make it soft and easy for them; for the words foregoing and following these suppose him to be and continue in a state of sickness. Thus the Lord elsewhere compares himself to a servant, waiting upon his people at table, ; as here, to one that makes their bed; metaphors implying strange condescension.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 41:3
Psalms 41:3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.Ver. 3. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing] Whether through sickness of body, as Isaiah 38:2, or sorrow of heart; for in such case also men cast themselves upon their beds, 1 Kings 21:4. This God, and not the physicians, will do for the sick man, die septimo, on the seventh day, saith R. Solomon, when he is at sickest. Thou wilt make all his bed] Heb. Thou wilt turn, thou wilt stir up feathers under him, that he may lie at ease; and this by the hand of those poor whom he had considered. Or, Thou wilt turn all his bed, that is, his whole body, from sickness to health, as Kabvenaki senseth it.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 41:3
(3) Will strengthen.—Literally, will prop him up, support him.Wilt make.—Literally, hast turned. Some think with literal allusion to the fact that the Oriental bed was merely a mat, which could be turned while the sick man was propped up. But such literalness is not necessary. To turn here is to change, as in Psalms 66:6; Psalms 105:29, and what the poet says is that, as in past times, Divine help has come to change his sickness into health, so he confidently expects it will be now, “in his sickness” being equivalent to “in the time of his sickness.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 41:3
Verse 3. The Lord will strengthen him] Good, benevolent, and merciful as he is, he must also die: but he shall not die as other men; he shall have peculiar consolations, refreshment, and support, while passing through the valley of the shadow of death. Thou wilt make all his bed] הפכת haphachta, thou hast turned up, tossed, and shaken it; and thou wilt do so to all his bed - thou wilt not leave one uneasy place in it-not one lump, or any unevenness, to prevent him from sleeping. Thou wilt do every thing, consistently with the accomplishment of the great decree, "Unto dust thou shalt return," to give him ease, refreshment, and rest. We may sum up the privileges of the merciful man: 1. He is generally blessed, Psalms 41:1. 2. He will be delivered in the time of trouble, Psalms 41:1. 3. He will be preserved by a particular providence, Psalms 41:2. 4. He shall be kept alive amidst infection and danger, Psalms 41:2. 5. He shall be blessed on the earth in his temporal concerns, Psalms 41:2. 6.
His enemies shall not be able to spoil or destroy him, Psalms 41:2. 7. He shall be strengthened on a bed of languishing, to enable him to bear his afflictions, Psalms 41:3. 8. He shall have ease, comfort, and support in his last hours, Psalms 41:3.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 41:3
3. The Lord will support him upon the couch of languishing (R.V.), uphold him (Psalms 18:35) and preserve him from sinking into the grave. thou wilt make all his bed] Lit. thou hast turned (or, changed) his lying down: changed his sickness into health. Cp. Psalms 30:11. Instead of a general truth a particular example is appealed to: or perhaps faith pictures the result as already attained. ‘The Lord will support … nay, thou hast already raised him up.’ The verse is commonly explained as a metaphor from the nurse supporting the patient’s head and shifting the bed and pillows to give ease and relief, but usage does not seem to warrant this interpretation.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 41:3
The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing - The word rendered strengthen here means to support; to uphold; to sustain.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 41:3
3. Strengthen him—The figure belongs to the sick bed, Thou wilt prop him up, support him, as a careful nurse would a sick person. See Son 2:6.
Sermons on Psalms 41:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Praise God by Roy Daniel | In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a farmer in South Africa who preached with great power and anointing, despite never having attended Bible college. The speaker attr |
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Cry Out to God by Brian Long | This sermon emphasizes the power of fervent prayer and calling upon God in faith, sharing powerful testimonies of God's miraculous interventions in response to prayer. It encourage |
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Eleventh Letter by Brother Lawrence | Brother Lawrence preaches about finding strength and comfort in God during times of great pain and suffering, emphasizing the importance of enduring hardships with patience and tru |
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The Care of the Poor by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the divine promise of strength and support from God for those who care for the poor, as illustrated in Psalms 41:3. He highlights that in times of sickness |
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Family, Sickness and Caring by Valsan Thampu | Valsan Thampu preaches on the importance of developing a positive and spiritually sound attitude towards sickness and caring within the family. He emphasizes how sickness, though o |
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Audio Sermon: No Tears by R. Edward Miller | This sermon emphasizes the importance of allowing God to break through our emotional barriers, encouraging the expression of genuine emotions before God. It highlights the signific |
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Whose Tears? by Walter Wilson | Walter Wilson preaches about the significance of tears as seen through the eyes of a chemist, a pastor, and a police officer, emphasizing how tears reflect the bleeding of a broken |