King James Version
What Does Psalms 41:6 Mean?
“And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.”
Context
4
I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
5
Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
6
And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
7
All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. my: Heb. evil to me
8
An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. An: Heb. A thing of Belial
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(6) **And if he come.**—Some one particular individual is here singled out from the body of enemies.
**To see.**—The usual word for visiting a sick person. (Comp. 2Samuel 13:5; 2Kings 8:29.)
**Vanity**.—Better, *lies. *No more vivid picture of an insincere friend could be given. Pretended sympathy lies at the very bedside, while eye and ear are open to catch up anything that can be retailed abroad or turned into mischief, when the necessity of concealment is over.
The scene of the visit of the king to the death-bed of Gaunt in Shakespeare’s *King Richard II. *illustrates the psalmist’s position, and the poet may even have had this verse in his mind when he wrote.
“Should dying men flatter with those that live
No, no; *men living flatter those that die.*
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Psalms 41:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Psalms 41:6
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge