Psalms 38:11

"My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away."

Key Reflection

In Psalm 38:11, the phrase highlights the devastating impact of personal sin, as even those closest to the psalmist—lovers, friends, and kinsmen—distance themselves out of fear or revulsion. This vivid imagery underscores the isolating nature of sin and its ability to estrange even from one’s nearest and dearest.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

My lovers -See the notes atPsalms 31:11. The reference here is to those who professed to be his friends. And my friends -The word used here means properly an acquaintance, a companion, a friend,Job 2:11;Job 19:21; then, a lover, a friend, a neighbor. The phrase here would be synonymous with our word “kinsmen.” Stand aloof -They are unwilling to come near me; they leave me to suffer alone. From my sore -Margin: “stroke.” The Hebrew word means properly a stroke, a blow,Deuteronomy 17:8;Deuteronomy 21:5; then a stroke in the sense of calamities or judgments, such as God brings upon men:Genesis 12:17;Exodus 11:1.

Related Verses

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