Psalms 35:13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~1000 BC. David recalls how he mourned and fasted when his enemies were sick, treating them as family. Location: likely written in Jerusalem during his kingship.
The emotion here: wounded but remembering his own goodness
The original word
saq (שַׂק) — rough goat hair garment worn in mourning, scratchy and uncomfortable
Why it matters
Sackcloth was made from black goat hair and was so rough it irritated the skin, making grief physical
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 35:13
David FASTED when his enemies were sick — he literally weakened himself for people who hated him
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about general kindness to enemies, but David is specifically recounting how he treated people who later betrayed him — the pain is in the contrast between his love and their hatred.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 35:13
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 35:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 35:13 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 60% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include compassion, mourning, spiritual discipline. Notable phrases: sackcloth; afflicted my soul with fasting. 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 35:13 mean to you, today?
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