Psalms 38:11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. David, physically ill and spiritually broken, watches friends cross the street to avoid him. His own family keeps their distance.
The emotion here: devastated by isolation, questioning if he deserves abandonment
The original word
nega (נֶגַע) — plague, literally 'a divine strike' suggesting God's judgment
Why it matters
In ancient Israel, skin diseases often meant ritual uncleanness and social isolation
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 38:11
The word 'plague' suggests David saw his suffering as divine discipline, not random misfortune
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about fair-weather friends, but David believes his suffering is God's judgment - he's not angry at friends for leaving, he's broken that his sin drove them away.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 38:11
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 38:11 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 38:11 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 lonely, with a comfort power of 85% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include abandonment, isolation, rejection. Notable phrases: lovers and friends stand aloof; kinsmen stand far away. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same lonely
“At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why h…”
— Mark 15:34
“Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house."”
— Mark 6:4
“About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?" That is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me…”
— Matthew 27:46
“Yahweh God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."”
— Genesis 2:18
“I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.”
— Job 30:29
Your reflection
What does Psalms 38:11 mean to you, today?
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