The Meaning of Psalms 55:4 Explained

Psalms 55:4

KJV: My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

YLT: My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.

Darby: My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

ASV: My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

My heart  is sore pained  within  me: and the terrors  of death  are fallen  upon me. 

What does Psalms 55:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 55:1-11 - Fleeing The City's Ills
This psalm was suggested by Absalom's rebellion and Ahithophel's treachery. But it contains references which, in their full extent, are chiefly applicable to Judas' treatment of our Lord. The terrors of the unseen, the stealthy tread of the assassin, the treachery of a friend, the drawn sword under unctuous speech-such were the bitter ingredients mingled for this deeply-tried soul. But we have all known something of his disappointment and anguish, and have longed for the swift wings of a dove to escape to the bosom of God.
One of the Puritans says: "My Spouse is ascended higher than the highest heavens, and I, poor soul, am left desolate and disconsolate in this valley of tears. The weight of my weakness and my sins doth so clog and shackle me, so glue and nail me to the earth, that I cannot rise. Let Him descend and give me wings whereby I may ascend." Who will give-humility. Who will give wings-celerity. Like a dove-innocence. Fly away-aspirations to the Lord, "whom having not seen, we love." Rest-permanent security. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 55

1  David in his prayer complains of his fearful case
9  He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains
16  He comforts himself in God's preservation oh him, and confusion of his enemies

What do the individual words in Psalms 55:4 mean?

My heart is severely pained within me and the terrors of death have fallen upon me
לִ֭בִּי יָחִ֣יל בְּקִרְבִּ֑י וְאֵימ֥וֹת מָ֝֗וֶת נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי

לִ֭בִּי  My  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
יָחִ֣יל  is  severely  pained 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חוּל 
Sense: to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained.
בְּקִרְבִּ֑י  within  me 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
וְאֵימ֥וֹת  and  the  terrors 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: אֵימָה 
Sense: terror, dread.
מָ֝֗וֶת  of  death 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָוֶת  
Sense: death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead.
נָפְל֥וּ  have  fallen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
עָלָֽי  upon  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.