Psalms 119:28My soul is weary with sorrow: strengthen me according to your word.
The setting
Ancient Jerusalem, ~1000-500 BC. A believer sits in darkness, perhaps after losing everything in exile or personal tragedy, pouring out their heart to God through memorized Scripture...
The emotion here: emotionally depleted but clinging to Scripture
The original word
dalaq (דָּלַק) — literally 'to drip' or 'melt away', soul dissolving like wax
Why it matters
Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem with 22 sections, each beginning with a Hebrew letter
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 119:28
This is verse 28 of 176 — the psalmist is only getting started with their marathon prayer
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about physical tiredness. 'Weary with sorrow' means the soul is literally melting away from grief — like wax in fire.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 119:28
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 119:28 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 119:28 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 90% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include weariness, sorrow, strength. Notable phrases: My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Psalms 119:28 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
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