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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)They visit me as if they were my friends, but all the while they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.

Context of Psalms 41:6

4I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.” 5My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?” When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around. 7All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying, 8“A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.”

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 12:2Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.
• Nehemiah 6:1When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—
• Proverbs 26:24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
• Daniel 11:27The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.
• Micah 7:5Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips.
• Luke 11:53When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions,
• Luke 20:20Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.
• 2 Corinthians 11:26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
• Jeremiah 20:10I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take 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