Psalms 38:4 Meaning and Explanation
“For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The weight of transgressions is overwhelming, exceeding the psalmist's capacity to bear.
The Context of Psalms 38:4
Acknowledging that sin's weight exceeds human capacity to remedy alone.
What Does Psalms 38:4 Mean?
The image of iniquities going 'over' the head—rising above, submerging—captures helplessness. A heavy burden exceeding strength mirrors the experience of sin becoming insurmountable without help or forgiveness.
This is not despair but honest admission of need. The psalmist does not claim strength to atone or recover alone; the accumulation of transgression outweighs personal resources.
Psalms 38:4 in the Original Language
avon (עָוֹן), 'iniquities'—moral crookedness or perversion, carrying weight and consequence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 38:4
What does Psalms 38:4 mean?
The weight of transgressions is overwhelming, exceeding the psalmist's capacity to bear.
What is the context of Psalms 38:4?
Acknowledging that sin's weight exceeds human capacity to remedy alone.