The Meaning of Psalms 38:3 Explained

Psalms 38:3

KJV: There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

YLT: Soundness is not in my flesh, Because of Thine indignation, Peace is not in my bones because of my sin.

Darby: There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine indignation; no peace in my bones, because of my sin.

ASV: There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine indignation; Neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[There is] no soundness  in my flesh  because  of thine anger;  neither [is there any] rest  in my bones  because  of my sin. 

What does Psalms 38:3 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 38:3 mean?

[There is] no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger health in my bones of my sin
אֵין־ מְתֹ֣ם בִּ֭בְשָׂרִי מִפְּנֵ֣י זַעְמֶ֑ךָ שָׁל֥וֹם בַּ֝עֲצָמַ֗י חַטָּאתִֽי

אֵין־  [There  is]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
מְתֹ֣ם  soundness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְתֹם  
Sense: soundness, entirety, entire.
בִּ֭בְשָׂרִי  in  my  flesh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.
מִפְּנֵ֣י  because 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
זַעְמֶ֑ךָ  of  Your  anger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זַעַם  
Sense: anger, indignation.
שָׁל֥וֹם  health 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
בַּ֝עֲצָמַ֗י  in  my  bones 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: עֶצֶם 
Sense: bone, essence, substance.
חַטָּאתִֽי  of  my  sin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.