Psalms 109:18

Psalms 109:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
• New International Version (NIV)He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!
• New Living Translation (NLT)Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing, or the water he drinks, or the rich food he eats.

Context of Psalms 109:18

16Because he did not remember to show mercy, But persecuted the poor and needy man, That he might even slay the broken in heart. 17As he loved cursing, so let it come to him; As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him. As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, So let it enter his body like water, And like oil into his bones. 19Let it be to him like the garment which covers him, And for a belt with which he girds himself continually. 20Let this be the Lord’s reward to my accusers, And to those who speak evil against my person.

Psalms 109:18 word by word

וַיִּלְבַּ֥שׁ קְלָלָ֗ה כְּמַ֫דּ֥וֹ וַתָּבֹ֣א כַמַּ֣יִם בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹ וְ֝כַשֶּׁ֗מֶן בְּעַצְמוֹתָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• As he clothedלָבֵשׁlâbash lâbêsh · to clotheH3847
• himself with cursingקְלָלָהqelâlâh · curseH7045
• like as with his garmentמַדmad mêd · garmentH4055
• so let it comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• into his bowelsקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: inner partsH7130
• like waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• and like oilשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
• into his bonesעֶ֫צֶם‛etsem · boneH6106

Cross-references for Psalms 109:18

• Psalms 73:6Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment.
• Job 29:14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban.
• Colossians 3:8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
• 1 Peter 5:5Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
• Numbers 5:22and may this water that causes the curse go into your stomach, and make your belly swell and your thigh rot.” ‘Then the woman shall say, “Amen, so be it.”
• Job 20:12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And he hides it under his tongue,
• Matthew 26:24The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
• Matthew 27:3Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
• Acts 1:18(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.

Commentaries on Psalms 109:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Let it come into his bowels like water - Houbigant thinks this is an allusion to the waters of jealousy; and he is probably right, - the bitter waters that produce the curse. See Numbers 5:18.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18As he clothed himself with cursing like as with a garment - Moral qualities are often compared with raiment - as that in which we “appear” to our fellow-men. See 1 Peter 5:5; Job 29:14. So let it come into his bowels like water - Margin, “within him.” Hebrew, “In his midst.” Let it penetrate him through and through. Let no part of him be unaffected by it. And like oil into his bones - As if oil flowed through all his bones, so let the effects of cursing…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-20Verses 6-20 The Lord Jesus may speak here as a Judge, denouncing sentence on some of his enemies, to warn others. When men reject the salvation of Christ, even their prayers are numbered among their sins. See what hurries some to shameful deaths, and brings the families and estates of others to ruin; makes them and theirs despicable and hateful, and brings poverty, shame, and misery upon their posterity: it is sin, that mischievous, destructive thing. And…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Cursing is the accused person’s whole way of life.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-1917-19. Let his loved sin, cursing, come upon him in punishment (Psa 35:8), thoroughly fill him as water and oil, permeating to every part of his system (compare Nu 5:22-27), and become a garment and a girdle for a perpetual dress.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 109:18

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Malice
• Prayer
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Anoint
• Naboth
• God
• Oil
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 109

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings