Psalm 6 Study Notes

Ps 6 title The word Sheminith is difficult to interpret. The most commonly proposed root meaning is “eight,” leading some to identify it with an eight-stringed instrument or an octave (an eight-note scale). In any case, it is part of the musical instructions for this psalm.

6:1 The combination of rebuke . . . discipline and anger . . . wrath indicates that the psalmist thought there was some sin behind his suffering, although the sin is not specified. The connection between sin and suffering is a common motif in lament psalms, and it shows how this relationship is part of the thinking of people who suffer even if there is no specific sin in mind; terms related to God’s anger are a way of expressing this thought (38:1; 118:18). The opening to this psalm led the early church fathers to include it as one of the seven penitential psalms (along with 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143).

6:2-3 The parallelism between my bones and my whole being (or “my soul”) demonstrates that the suffering was not only physical but also psychological and emotional. Suffering is never one-dimensional (only physical or psychological or spiritual); instead, it involves the whole person. The same Hebrew verb—meaning “shaken” when used literally but “terrified” in the figurative sense—is used for both subjects.

6:4-5 The plea has a twofold motivation. First, the appeal for the Lord to act is because of his faithful love (Hb chesed). This is the covenant loyalty that Yahweh has for his people and is the basis for the psalmist’s trust (13:5; 26:3; 136). Second, the psalmist spoke of a loss of praise to the Lord if he was allowed to go to Sheol (i.e., to die). This seems rather bold, but such appeals are common in lament psalms as a means of motivating God to act (30:9; 88:10,12; 115:17).

6:6-7 The extent of the psalmist’s emotional distress is highlighted in these verses. His crying was so intense that his bed was soaked with tears. The second image (drench my couch) is hyperbolic and literally reads “make my bed swim.” The mention of enemies introduces another dimension to the suffering: helplessness before enemies because of the psalmist’s condition of sickness.

6:8-10 The enemies of v. 7 are further described as evildoers. It is likely from the statement in v. 9 that the enemies were taunting the psalmist by saying that God would not deliver him (3:2; 22:7-8; 71:11). Instead of their perception of God’s inactivity, these enemies would be shaken with terror. The word shake is the same Hebrew verb used twice in vv. 2-3 to describe the condition of the psalmist in his suffering. In essence, the prayer ends with a statement of confidence that God will take away his suffering and inflict it upon his enemies.