Psalms 41:6

Psalms 41:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
• New International Version (NIV)When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And if he comes to see me, he speaks lies; His heart gathers iniquity to itself; When he goes out, he tells it.

Context of Psalms 41:6

4As for me, I said: “O Lord, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you! 5My enemies ask this cruel question about me, ‘When will he finally die and be forgotten?’ When someone comes to visit, he pretends to be friendly; he thinks of ways to defame me, and when he leaves he slanders me. 7All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another; they plan ways to harm me. 8They say, ‘An awful disease overwhelms him, and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.’

Psalms 41:6 word by word

וְאִם־בָּ֤א לִרְא֨וֹת׀ שָׁ֤וְא יְדַבֵּ֗ר לִבּ֗וֹ יִקְבָּץ־אָ֥וֶן ל֑וֹ יֵצֵ֖א לַח֣וּץ יְדַבֵּֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And if he comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• he speakethדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• vanityשָׁוְאshâv' shav · vanity: falseH7723
• his heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• gatherethקָבַץqâbats · to gatherH6908
• iniquityאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
• he goethיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• abroadחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351

Cross-references for Psalms 41:6

• Psalms 12:2People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.
• Nehemiah 6:1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and no breach remained in it (even though up to that time I had not positioned doors in the gates),
• Proverbs 26:24The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.
• Daniel 11:27These two kings, their minds filled with evil intentions, will trade lies with one another at the same table. But it will not succeed, for there is still an end at the appointed time.
• Micah 7:5Do not rely on a friend; do not trust a companion! Don’t even share secrets with the one who lies in your arms!
• Luke 11:53When he went out from there, the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly, and to ask him hostile questions about many things,
• Luke 20:20Then they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to take advantage of what he might say so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.
• 2 Corinthians 11:26I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers,
• Jeremiah 20:10I hear many whispering words of intrigue against me. Those who would cause me terror are everywhere! They are saying, “Come on, let’s publicly denounce him!” All my so-called friends are just watching for something that would lead to my downfall. They say, “Perhaps he can be enticed into slipping up, so we can prevail over him and get our revenge on him.

Commentaries on Psalms 41:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6And if he come to see me - This may relate to Ahithophel; but it is more likely that it was to some other person who was his secret enemy, who pretended to come and inquire after his health, but with the secret design to see whether death was despatching his work. When he goeth abroad, he telleth it - He makes several observations on my dying state; intimates that I am suffering deep remorse for secret crimes; that God is showing his displeasure against…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6And if he come to see me - If he condescends to visit me in my sickness. The word me is not in the original; and perhaps the idea is not that he came to see the sufferer, but that he came to see “for himself,” though under pretence of paying a visit of kindness. His real motive was to make observation, that he might find something in the expressions or manner of the sufferer that would enable him to make a report unfavorable to him, and to confirm him in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-13Verses 5-13 We complain, and justly, of the want of sincerity, and that there is scarcely any true friendship to be found among men; but the former days were no better. One particularly, in whom David had reposed great confidence, took part with his enemies. And let us not think it strange, if we receive evil from those we suppose to be friends. Have not we ourselves thus broken our words toward God? We eat of his bread daily, yet lift up the heel against…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-9The psalmist’s enemies disguise themselves as friends, while his friends openly become his enemies.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-65-6. A graphic picture of the conduct of a malignant enemy.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 41:6

• Accusation, False
• Malice
• Sick, the
• Slander
• Speaking
• Vanity

In the dictionaries

• Consider
• Whisper
• Pentateuch
• Psalms, Book of
• Vanity, Vanities
• mercy, merciful

Commentaries on Psalms 41

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings