Psalms 38:5My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, because of my foolishness.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~1000 BC. David, possibly sick with leprosy or boils, sits in his palace in Jerusalem, Israel, isolated and in physical agony from what he believes is divine punishment.
The emotion here: physically sick and spiritually devastated
The original word
ba'ash (באשׁ) — to become putrid, literally to stink with decay
Why it matters
Ancient Israelites believed physical ailments were often direct punishment for sin
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 38:5
The word 'corrupt' literally means 'festering' - these aren't metaphorical wounds
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just emotional language, but David is describing actual physical wounds he believes God gave him as punishment - a view we now know is incorrect.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 38:5
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 38:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 38:5 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 50% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include sin consequences, self reproach, spiritual corruption. Notable phrases: wounds are loathsome and corrupt; because of my foolishness. 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 38:5 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "grieving"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.