The Meaning of Psalms 38:13 Explained

Psalms 38:13

KJV: But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

YLT: And I, as deaf, hear not. And as a dumb one who openeth not his mouth.

Darby: But I, as a deaf man, hear not; and am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

ASV: But I, as a deaf man, hear not; And I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But I, as a deaf  [man], heard  not; and [I was] as a dumb man  [that] openeth  not his mouth. 

What does Psalms 38:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 38:1-22 - The Cry Of The Needy Penitent
A long drawn-out sigh of pain. Some think it should be classed with Psalms 32:1-11; Psalms 51:1-19, as belonging to the time of David's fall and repentance. It is filled with a sense of God's judgments and the profound consciousness of sin. Perhaps David was suffering physically, or he may be describing his spiritual maladies in terms borrowed from that source. His friends stood apart and his enemies were near. But it was wise to refrain from man and to wait only on God. When we are buffeted and derided, the true attitude is our Lord's. As the dumb sheep before her shearers, He opened not His mouth!
In Psalms 38:15 the tone becomes calmer. The soul begins to recover its center of gravity in God. Notice the fourfold repetition of For, Psalms 38:15-18. Faith marshals her arguments. Out of "stony griefs" she builds "Bethels." Like Samson, she finds honey in the lion's carcass. But God will not forsake. He never for a moment withdraws His close attention. The Refiner sits by the crucible, and will cool down the heat the moment it has done its work. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 38

1  David moves God to take compassion on his pitiful case

What do the individual words in Psalms 38:13 mean?

But I like a deaf [man] not do hear and like [I am] a mute not who does open his mouth
וַאֲנִ֣י כְ֭חֵרֵשׁ לֹ֣א אֶשְׁמָ֑ע וּ֝כְאִלֵּ֗ם לֹ֣א יִפְתַּח־ פִּֽיו

וַאֲנִ֣י  But  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
כְ֭חֵרֵשׁ  like  a  deaf  [man] 
Parse: Preposition-k, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חֵרֵשׁ  
Sense: deaf.
אֶשְׁמָ֑ע  do  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
וּ֝כְאִלֵּ֗ם  and  like  [I  am]  a  mute 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אִלֵּם  
Sense: mute, silent, dumb, unable to speak.
יִפְתַּח־  who  does  open 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
פִּֽיו  his  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 38:13?

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