Psalms 102 · Verse 4

Psalms 102:4

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
Psalms 102:4, King James Version

Psalms 102:4 in other translations

BSBMy heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
WEBMy heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
ASVMy heart is smitten like grass, and withered; For I forget to eat my bread.
YLTSmitten as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.
DARBYMy heart is smitten and withered like grass; yea, I have forgotten to eat my bread.
BBEMy heart is broken; it has become dry and dead like grass, so that I give no thought to food.
WebsterMy heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

What does Psalms 102:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. (Compare Psa 121:6). so that I forget--or, "have forgotten," that is, in my distress (Psa 107:18), and hence strength fails.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass - The metaphor here is taken from grass cut down in the meadow. It is first smitten with the scythe, and then withered by the sun. Thus the Jews were smitten with the judgments of God; and they are now withered under the fire of the Chaldeans.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 102:1-11

The whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but here, is often elsewhere, the Holy Ghost has put words into our mouths. Here is a prayer put into the hands of the afflicted; let them present it to God. Even good men may be almost overwhelmed with afflictions. It is our duty and interest to pray; and it is comfort to an afflicted spirit to unburden itself, by a humble representation of its griefs. We must…

Read the full comment on Psalms 102:1-11 →

Psalms 102:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הוּכָּֽה\־hu.kah-it has been struckH5221
כָ֭עֵשֶׂבKha.'e.sevlike <the> vegetationH6212
וַיִּבַ֣שׁvai.yi.Vashand it has witheredH3001
לִבִּ֑יli.Biheart myH3820
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
שָׁ֝כַ֗חְתִּיSha.Khach.tiI have forgottenH7911
מֵאֲכֹ֥לme.'a.Kholfrom eatingH398
לַחְמִֽי\׃lach.Mifood myH3899

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 102:4

  • Isaiah 40:7

    The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

  • Psalms 37:2

    For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

  • Ezra 10:6

    Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

  • Acts 9:9

    And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

  • Matthew 26:37-38

    And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

  • 2 Samuel 12:17

    And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

  • 1 Samuel 1:7-8

    And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

  • Psalms 77:3

    I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

  • Psalms 42:6

    O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

  • Job 10:1

    My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

  • Psalms 102:11

    My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

  • Psalms 102:9

    For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
heart.
6:2,3; 42:6; 55:4,5; 69:20; 77:3; 143:3,4; Job 6:4; 10:1; La 3:13,20
Mt 26:37,38
withered.
11; 37:2; Isa 40:7
so that.
9; 1Sa 1:7,8; Ezr 10:6; Ac 9:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 102:3

    For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

  • Psalms 102:4

    My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

  • Psalms 102:5

    By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

Read all of Psalms 102

Psalms 102:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mi corazón fué herido, y secóse como la hierba; por lo cual me olvidé de comer mi pan.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car mes jours s’évanouissent comme la fumée, et mes os sont brûlés comme un foyer.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wie Kraut ist versengt und verdorrt mein Herz, daß ich vergessen habe, mein Brot zu essen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		qui redimit de interitu vitam tuam; qui coronat te in misericordia et miserationibus: