The Meaning of Psalms 41:6 Explained

Psalms 41:6

KJV: And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

YLT: And if he came to see -- vanity he speaketh, His heart gathereth iniquity to itself, He goeth out -- at the street he speaketh.

Darby: And if one come to see me, he speaketh falsehood; his heart gathereth wickedness to itself: he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

ASV: And if he come to see me , he speaketh falsehood; His heart gathereth iniquity to itself: When he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And if he come  to see  [me], he speaketh  vanity:  his heart  gathereth  iniquity  to itself; [when] he goeth  abroad,  he telleth  [it]. 

What does Psalms 41:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 41:1-13 - "lord, Heal My Soul"
This psalm was probably composed, with the adjacent ones, during the four years in which Absalom's conspiracy was being hatched. Perhaps the anxiety thus caused induced some serious illness, over which David's enemies exulted with unseemly glee. His sensitive nature was evidently greatly pained. But who does not realize the applicability of the psalm to the betrayal of our Lord? Psalms 41:9 is quoted in John 13:18.
In the day of trouble, when enemies oppose, Psalms 41:5-8, and friends prove false, Psalms 41:9, God draws near. Look after God's poor and He will care for you in the evil day. The blessings that you have endeavored to communicate will return to your own comfort in the hour of tribulation. God will make (or change) your bed in sickness, Psalms 41:3; will heal your soul, Psalms 41:4; and will set you before His face forever, Psalms 41:12. What a sweet conception of God as nurse in the room where feet must be shod with velvet and voices speak in gentlest tones!
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 41

1  The recompense of the charitable
4  David complains of his enemies' treachery
10  He flees to God for helpfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 41:6 mean?

and if he comes to see [me] lies he speaks His heart gathers iniquity to itself [when] he goes out he tells [it]
וְאִם־ בָּ֤א לִרְא֨וֹת ׀ שָׁ֤וְא יְדַבֵּ֗ר לִבּ֗וֹ יִקְבָּץ־ אָ֥וֶן ל֑וֹ יֵצֵ֖א לַח֣וּץ יְדַבֵּֽר

וְאִם־  and  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
בָּ֤א  he  comes 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לִרְא֨וֹת ׀  to  see  [me] 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
שָׁ֤וְא  lies 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁוְא  
Sense: emptiness, vanity, falsehood.
יְדַבֵּ֗ר  he  speaks 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
לִבּ֗וֹ  His  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
יִקְבָּץ־  gathers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
אָ֥וֶן  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.
ל֑וֹ  to  itself 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
יֵצֵ֖א  [when]  he  goes 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
לַח֣וּץ  out 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.
יְדַבֵּֽר  he  tells  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.