Psalms 38:3
There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
Original Language Analysis
מְתֹ֣ם
There is no soundness
H4974
מְתֹ֣ם
There is no soundness
Strong's:
H4974
Word #:
2 of 10
wholesomeness; also (adverb) completely
בִּ֭בְשָׂרִי
in my flesh
H1320
בִּ֭בְשָׂרִי
in my flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
3 of 10
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
מִפְּנֵ֥י
because
H6440
מִפְּנֵ֥י
because
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
4 of 10
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
זַעְמֶ֑ךָ
of thine anger
H2195
זַעְמֶ֑ךָ
of thine anger
Strong's:
H2195
Word #:
5 of 10
strictly froth at the mouth, i.e., (figuratively) fury (especially of god's displeasure with sin)
שָׁל֥וֹם
neither is there any rest
H7965
שָׁל֥וֹם
neither is there any rest
Strong's:
H7965
Word #:
7 of 10
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
בַּ֝עֲצָמַ֗י
in my bones
H6106
בַּ֝עֲצָמַ֗י
in my bones
Strong's:
H6106
Word #:
8 of 10
a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e., (as pron.) selfsame
Historical Context
Ancient Israelites understood sickness and health holistically, not separating 'spiritual' from 'physical.' While not every illness is caused by personal sin (John 9:3), David recognizes this affliction stems from his transgression. The wisdom literature frequently connects righteousness with health and sin with disease.
Questions for Reflection
- How have you experienced the physical or emotional toll of unconfessed sin?
- What does the loss of <em>shalom</em> (wholeness, peace) in David's 'bones' reveal about sin's comprehensive destruction?
- How do you distinguish between general suffering and discipline specifically tied to personal sin?
Analysis & Commentary
There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. Sin's effects manifest somatically—no soundness (מְתֹם, metom, wholeness/integrity) remains in flesh or rest (שָׁלוֹם, shalom, peace) in bones. The parallel: God's anger brings physical consequences; David's sin brings inner turmoil.
This psychosomatic description anticipates modern understanding of guilt's physical toll. The bones, representing core vitality (cf. Psalm 51:8, 'make the bones which thou hast broken to rejoice'), lack shalom. David traces all dis-integration back to sin—moral failure fragments the whole person, body and soul.