Psalms 38:2 Meaning and Explanation
“For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist describes God's judgment as arrows embedded in him and a heavy hand upon him.
The Context of Psalms 38:2
Describing the experience of bearing God's judgment.
What Does Psalms 38:2 Mean?
Divine judgment is portrayed using vivid weaponry: arrows that stick, a hand that presses—language that captures the weight and persistence of suffering. This is not torture but imagery of God's measured discipline, penetrating and serious.
The 'sticking' arrows suggest consequences that remain, not momentary but ongoing. The heavy hand conveys both power and intentionality, emphasizing that God's discipline is deliberate and real.
Psalms 38:2 in the Original Language
yad (יָד), 'hand'—in biblical usage, the hand of God represents both power and presence, agency and care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 38:2
What does Psalms 38:2 mean?
The psalmist describes God's judgment as arrows embedded in him and a heavy hand upon him.
What is the context of Psalms 38:2?
Describing the experience of bearing God's judgment.