King James Version

What Does Psalms 69:10 Mean?

Psalms 69:10 in the King James Version says “When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 69 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.”

Psalms 69:10 · KJV

Context

8

I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

9

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

10

When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

11

I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

12

They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards . drunkards: Heb. drinkers of strong drink

Read Psalms 69 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. David's spiritual disciplines—weeping, fasting, soul-examination—provoked mockery rather than respect. "Chastened" (בַּכִּיתִי/vakhiti) combines mourning and self-discipline, the kind of godly sorrow that should evoke sympathy. "Fasting" (בַּצּוֹם/batzom) was normative spiritual practice for grief, repentance, and seeking God, yet David's enemies twisted even these holy exercises into grounds for scorn.

"That was to my reproach" (חֶרְפּוֹת/cherpot) reveals the perversity: genuine piety became occasion for ridicule. Perhaps enemies mocked his tears as weakness, his fasting as pretense or madness. Religious hypocrisy had so corrupted society that authentic godliness appeared strange and contemptible. This anticipates Christ, whose compassionate weeping over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and intense prayer (Luke 22:44) were met with mockery and contempt.

The verse exposes a profound spiritual reality: genuine piety often provokes hostility because it implicitly condemns ungodliness. When someone takes God seriously through disciplines like fasting and prayer, it confronts others' spiritual complacency and nominalism, often triggering defensive mockery.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Fasting was central to Jewish spiritual life, practiced for mourning (2 Samuel 1:12), repentance (Joel 2:12), and seeking divine intervention (Ezra 8:21-23). Public fasting was communal; private fasting was personal devotion. That David's fasting became reproach suggests either he was fasting when others weren't (implicating them) or his enemies were so hostile they mocked even legitimate piety.

The theme of righteous suffering through ridicule runs throughout Psalms (Psalm 22:7-8, 35:15-16). Jesus Himself warned that disciples would be "reviled" and have "all manner of evil said against you falsely, for my sake" (Matthew 5:11). Paul's tears and warnings were mocked by some (2 Corinthians 2:4, Acts 20:31).

Church history records countless examples of genuine spiritual discipline provoking mockery: desert fathers called escapists, reformers called fanatics, revivalists called emotional manipulators. The world consistently misinterprets authentic godliness.

Reflection Questions

  1. Have you experienced mockery for spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, or Scripture reading, and how did you respond?
  2. What does society's contempt for spiritual discipline reveal about its spiritual state?
  3. How can believers maintain authentic piety without becoming self-righteous or judgmental toward those who mock?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 6 words
וָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה1 of 6

“When I wept”

H1058

to weep; generally to bemoan

בַצּ֣וֹם2 of 6

“with fasting”

H6685

a fast

נַפְשִׁ֑י3 of 6

“and chastened my soul”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

וַתְּהִ֖י4 of 6
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לַחֲרָפ֣וֹת5 of 6

“that was to my reproach”

H2781

contumely, disgrace, the pudenda

לִֽי׃6 of 6
H0

Study Guide

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 69:10 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 69:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 102:8-9Luke 7:33-34Psalms 109:24-25Psalms 35:13

Test Your Knowledge

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