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 King James Version (NKJV)As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, So let it enter his body like water, And like oil into his bones.

Context of Psalms 109:18

16For he refused all kindness to others; he persecuted the poor and needy, and he hounded the brokenhearted to death. 17He loved to curse others; now you curse him. He never blessed others; now don’t you bless him. Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing, or the water he drinks, or the rich food he eats. 19Now may his curses return and cling to him like clothing; may they be tied around him like a belt.” 20May those curses become the Lord’s punishment for my accusers who speak evil of me.

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 73:6They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.
• Job 29:14Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban.
• Colossians 3:8But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
• 1 Peter 5:5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
• Numbers 5:22Now may this water that brings the curse enter your body and cause your abdomen to swell and your womb to shrivel.’ And the woman will be required to say, ‘Yes, let it be so.’
• Job 20:12“They enjoyed the sweet taste of wickedness, letting it melt under their tongue.
• Matthew 26:24For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
• Matthew 27:3When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders.
• Acts 1:18(Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines.

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