The Meaning of Psalms 38:4 Explained

Psalms 38:4

KJV: For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

YLT: For mine iniquities have passed over my head, As a heavy burden -- too heavy for me.

Darby: For mine iniquities are gone over my head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

ASV: For mine iniquities are gone over my head: As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For mine iniquities  are gone over  mine head:  as an heavy  burden  they are too heavy  for me. 

What does Psalms 38:4 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 38:4 mean?

For my iniquities have gone over my head Like a burden heavy they are too heavy for me
כִּ֣י עֲ֭וֺנֹתַי עָבְר֣וּ רֹאשִׁ֑י כְּמַשָּׂ֥א כָ֝בֵ֗ד יִכְבְּד֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי

עֲ֭וֺנֹתַי  my  iniquities 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, first person common singular
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
עָבְר֣וּ  have  gone  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
רֹאשִׁ֑י  my  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
כְּמַשָּׂ֥א  Like  a  burden 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַשָּׂא 
Sense: load, bearing, tribute, burden, lifting.
כָ֝בֵ֗ד  heavy 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: heavy, great.
יִכְבְּד֥וּ  they  are  too  heavy 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
מִמֶּֽנִּי  for  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.