The Meaning of Psalms 141:7 Explained

Psalms 141:7

KJV: Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

YLT: As one tilling and ripping up in the land, Have our bones been scattered at the command of Saul.

Darby: Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

ASV: As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth, Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Our bones  are scattered  at the grave's  mouth,  as when one cutteth  and cleaveth  [wood] upon the earth. 

What does Psalms 141:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 141:1-10 - Humility
This is an evening psalm. Acceptable prayer is as the smoke of incense rising in the still air, Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4. Each day we should ask to be delivered from lip sins, life sins, and like sins-especially the last, the dainties of appetite and desire, Psalms 141:4.
We owe a great deal to the care of fellow-believers. It may take more love to smite than to soothe. The breaking of the box of precious ointment over our heads may cause a momentary shock; but we must not refuse it, since the contents are so salutary; and we can return their well-meant kindness by praying for the righteous when their calamities are multiplied, Psalms 141:5. It was a rough time for David, but he kept looking up and committing his soul to God's faithful care. Under similar circumstances Paul struck an even higher note, Romans 8:36-37. Go on patiently living up to your ideal. God will surely vindicate you! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 141

1  David prays that his suit may be acceptable
3  His conscience sincere
7  And his life free from snares

What do the individual words in Psalms 141:7 mean?

As when one plows and breaks up the earth Are scattered Our bones at the mouth of the grave
כְּמ֤וֹ פֹלֵ֣חַ וּבֹקֵ֣עַ בָּאָ֑רֶץ נִפְזְר֥וּ עֲ֝צָמֵ֗ינוּ לְפִ֣י שְׁאֽוֹל

כְּמ֤וֹ  As  when 
Parse: Preposition
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.
פֹלֵ֣חַ  one  plows 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּלַח  
Sense: to cleave, slice.
וּבֹקֵ֣עַ  and  breaks  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּקַע  
Sense: to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear.
בָּאָ֑רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
נִפְזְר֥וּ  Are  scattered 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: פָּזַר  
Sense: to scatter, disperse.
עֲ֝צָמֵ֗ינוּ  Our  bones 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: עֶצֶם 
Sense: bone, essence, substance.
לְפִ֣י  at  the  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
שְׁאֽוֹל  of  the  grave 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: שְׁאֹול  
Sense: sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit.