Psalms 119:83 Meaning and Explanation
“For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Though the psalmist is shriveled and hardened by affliction, he maintains memory of God's laws.
The Context of Psalms 119:83
Suffering has diminished the psalmist's person but not erased his memory of God's law.
What Does Psalms 119:83 Mean?
'For I am become like a bottle in the smoke' is a striking image. A leather bottle exposed to smoke becomes shriveled, contracted, useless—a vivid picture of deterioration and loss of function through suffering.
'Yet do I not forget thy statutes' forms the contrast. Despite this physical and spiritual shriveling, the psalmist's memory remains intact. God's laws are woven so deeply into his consciousness that affliction cannot erase them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 119:83
What does Psalms 119:83 mean?
Though the psalmist is shriveled and hardened by affliction, he maintains memory of God's laws.
What is the context of Psalms 119:83?
Suffering has diminished the psalmist's person but not erased his memory of God's law.