Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 38:8
I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
8. I am faint and sore bruised (R.V.). Cp. Psa 51:8; Isa 53:5; Isa 53:10.
I have roared &c.] Lit. I have roared (Psa 22:1; Psa 32:3; Job 3:24) from the moaning of my heart. The inward moaning of his heart must needs find utterance in loud cries of distress.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I am feeble – The word used here means properly to be cold, or without warmth; and then, to be torpid or languid. Compare Gen 45:26. Would not this be well represented by the idea of a chill?
And sore broken – This word means to break in pieces; to beat small; to crush; and then it may be used to denote being broken in spirit, or crushed by pain and sorrow: Isa 57:15; Isa 53:5; Isa 19:10.
I have roared – I have cried out on account of my suffering. See the notes at Psa 22:1.
By reason of the disquietness of my heart – The word here rendered disquietness means properly a roaring, as of the sea: Isa 5:30; and then, a groaning, or roaring, as of the afflicted. Here the heart is represented as roaring or crying out. The lips only gave utterance to the deeper groanings of the heart.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. I am feeble and sore broken] I am so exhausted with my disease that I feel as if on the brink of the grave, and unfit to appear before God; therefore “have I roared for the disquietness of my heart.”
That David describes a natural disease here cannot reasonably be doubted; but what that disease was, who shall attempt to say? However, this is evident, that whatever it was, he most deeply deplored the cause of it; and as he worthily lamented it, so he found mercy at the hand of God. It would be easy to show a disease of which what he here enumerates are the very general symptoms; but I forbear, because in this I might attribute to one what, perhaps, in Judea would be more especially descriptive of another.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Roared, like a bear or a lion, through extreme pain and misery.
By reason of the disquietness of my heart; for the great anxiety and torment of my mind, caused by the deep sense of my sins, and of Gods wrath, and of the sad issue of my disease; which being added to my bodily pains, makes them more intolerable.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
I am feeble,…. Both in body, natural strength being weakened by the affliction, and dried up like a potsherd by the heat of the distemper; and in soul, being weak in the exercise of faith and other graces. The word is used of Jacob, fainting at and disbelieving the news of his son Joseph being alive, Ge 45:26;
and sore broken; in his constitution with the disease, and in his mind with trouble; especially for his sin, and under a sense of the divine displeasure; his bones were broken by his fall, and his heart broken with a sense of sin, Ps 51:8;
I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart: which was like the raging of the sea, as the word l rendered disquietness here signifies; and to which the uneasiness and restlessness of wicked men is sometimes compared, Isa 5:30; and so great was the disquietude of this good man under affliction, and sense of sin and wrath, that he had no rest night nor day; and could not forbear crying out, in a very hideous manner, like the roaring of a lion.
l “prae fremitu”, Tigurine version, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus, so Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) I am feeble and sore broken.Better, I am become deadly cold, and am quite worn out.
Disquietness.Properly, roaring. Thus, of the sea (Isa. 5:30), of lions (Pro. 19:12; Pro. 20:2). A very slight alteration once suggested by Hitzig, but since abandoned, would give here, I roared more than the roaring of a lion.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Feeble The word means torpid, cold, without vital warmth. A natural reaction from the fever-heat of Psa 38:7.
Broken Crushed. Here taken morally for a “ broken heart,” Psa 51:19.
Roared disquietness Two words used in allusion to the habits of the lion, bearing the same relation to each other as growling and roaring. The meaning is, the low moaning of his heart had caused the loud wailing of his lips. Hitherto, in pouring out the bitterness of his complaint, David speaks only of himself, especially his physical sufferings, making no allusion to his enemies. Thrice he lays down the moral cause of his sufferings, “Because of thine anger,” “Because of my sin,” “Because of my foolishness.” Vers. 3, 5
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 38:8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
Ver. 8. I am feeble and sore broken ] Through the length and nature of my distemper, Isa 38:10 ; Isa 38:12 . The same Hebrew word signifieth pining sickness and a thrum, because of the thinness and weakness of it.
I have roared
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
by reason of the disquietness of my heart. Ginsburg suggests lavi’ instead of lavi = “beyond the roaring of a lion”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
roared: Psa 22:1, Psa 22:2, Psa 32:3, Job 3:24, Job 30:28, Isa 59:11
Reciprocal: Psa 6:3 – My Psa 44:19 – Though Psa 102:5 – the voice Rom 7:24 – wretched
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 38:8-10. I have roared Hebrew, , sha-agti, roared like a lion, or a bear, namely, through extreme misery; by reason of the disquietness of my heart For the great anxiety and torment of my mind, caused by the deep sense of my sins, and of Gods wrath, and of the sad issue of both. My groaning is not hid from thee I do not utter all these complaints, nor roar out that thou mayest hear and know them, for thou hearest and knowest my lowest words, yea, the desires of my heart, and all my necessities. And, therefore, I pray thee, pity and deliver me, as I trust thou wilt. My heart panteth , secharchar, circumit, palpitat, goeth round, palpitates, through fear and grief; or, it is perplexed and tossed with many and various thoughts, not knowing what to do, nor whither to go. The light of mine eyes Mine eyes are grown dim; either through grief and tears, or through weakness.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
38:8 I am feeble and sore broken: I {g} have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
(g) This example warns us never to despair, no matter how great the torment: but always to cry to God with sure trust for deliverance.