Psalms

Psalm 38:4–8

⁴For my iniquities have overwhelmed me;

they are a burden too heavy to bear.

⁵My wounds are foul and festering

because of my sinful folly.

⁶I am bent and brought low;

all day long I go about mourning.

⁷For my loins are full of burning pain,

and no soundness remains in my body.

⁸I am numb and badly crushed;

I groan in anguish of heart.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
my iniquities	עֲ֭וֺנֹתַי	‘ă·wō·nō·ṯay	Noun - common plural construct; first person common singular	H5771 iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
have overwhelmed	עָבְר֣וּ	‘ā·ḇə·rū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
me	רֹאשִׁ֑י	rō·šî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H7218 head
they are a burden	כְּמַשָּׂ֥א	kə·maś·śā	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular	H4853 load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute
too heavy	כָ֝בֵ֗ד	ḵā·ḇêḏ	Adjective - masculine singular	H3515 heavy
to bear	יִכְבְּד֥וּ	yiḵ·bə·ḏū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3513 be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
My wounds	חַבּוּרֹתָ֑י	ḥab·bū·rō·ṯāy	Noun - feminine plural construct; first person common singular	H2250 stripe, blow
are foul	הִבְאִ֣ישׁוּ	hiḇ·’î·šū	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural	H887 be evil, bad
and festering	נָ֭מַקּוּ	nā·maq·qū	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural	H4743 decay, rot, fester
because of	מִ֝פְּנֵ֗י	mip·pə·nê	Preposition-m; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
my sinful folly	אִוַּלְתִּֽי׃	’iw·wal·tî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H200 folly

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I am bent	נַעֲוֵ֣יתִי	na·‘ă·wê·ṯî	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular	H5753 bend, twist
and brought low	שַׁחֹ֣תִי	ša·ḥō·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H7817 bow, be bowed down, crouch
all day long	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
I go about	הִלָּֽכְתִּי׃	hil·lā·ḵə·tî	Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular	H1980 go, come, walk
mourning	קֹדֵ֥ר	qō·ḏêr	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H6937 be dark

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
my loins	כְ֭סָלַי	ḵə·sā·lay	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H3689 loins
are full of	מָלְא֣וּ	mā·lə·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H4390 be full, fill
burning pain	נִקְלֶ֑ה	niq·leh	Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular	H7033 roast, parch
and no	וְאֵ֥ין	wə·’ên	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
soundness	מְ֝תֹ֗ם	mə·ṯōm	Noun - masculine singular	H4974 soundness
in my body	בִּבְשָׂרִֽי׃	biḇ·śā·rî	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1320 flesh

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I am numb	נְפוּג֣וֹתִי	nə·p̄ū·ḡō·w·ṯî	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular	H6313 grow numb
and badly	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
crushed	וְנִדְכֵּ֣יתִי	wə·niḏ·kê·ṯî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H1794 id.
I groan	שָׁ֝אַ֗גְתִּי	šā·ʾag̲·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H7580 roar
in anguish	מִֽנַּהֲמַ֥ת	min·na·hă·maṯ	Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct	H5100 growling, groaning
of heart	לִבִּֽי׃	lib·bî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart