Psalms 119:25
My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
Original Language Analysis
דָּֽבְקָ֣ה
cleaveth
H1692
דָּֽבְקָ֣ה
cleaveth
Strong's:
H1692
Word #:
1 of 5
properly, to impinge, i.e., cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit
לֶעָפָ֣ר
unto the dust
H6083
לֶעָפָ֣ר
unto the dust
Strong's:
H6083
Word #:
2 of 5
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
נַפְשִׁ֑י
DALETH My soul
H5315
נַפְשִׁ֑י
DALETH My soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
3 of 5
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
Cross References
Psalms 119:159Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.Psalms 71:20Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.Colossians 3:2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.Psalms 143:11Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.Psalms 44:25For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.Psalms 119:40Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.Psalms 119:93I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.Psalms 119:156Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.Psalms 80:18So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.Psalms 119:37Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Historical Context
Written during Israel's monarchy, likely by David or another Levitical poet. Ancient Near Eastern laments often used dust imagery for death, mourning, and humiliation. The psalmist writes from either physical exile, spiritual depression, or persecution—all common experiences for God's people under the old covenant.
Questions for Reflection
- When your soul 'cleaves to the dust' of depression or sin, how does God's Word specifically revive you?
- What does it mean that the same verb (davaq) describes both clinging to dust and cleaving to God—where is your soul truly adhering?
- How does this verse's plea for quickening point forward to the resurrection life believers have in Christ?
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Analysis & Commentary
My soul cleaveth unto the dust (דָּֽבְקָה־לֶֽעָפָר נַפְשִׁי)—The verb davaq (cling, cleave) describes desperate adhesion, the same word used of covenant marriage (Genesis 2:24). The psalmist feels death's gravitational pull toward afar (dust), recalling God's curse on sin (Genesis 3:19). Quicken me according to thy word (חַיֵּנִי כִדְבָרֶךָ)—Only God's dabar (word) has resurrection power. The plea for chayah (to make alive, revive) anticipates Christ who conquered death and declared "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).
This Daleth (ד) stanza opens with spiritual depression so profound it feels like dying. Yet even in this dark valley, the psalmist clings to Scripture as the sole source of revival. The tension between clinging to dust and crying for life captures the believer's struggle against indwelling sin.