King James Version

What Does Psalms 73:2 Mean?

Psalms 73:2 in the King James Version says “But as for me, my feet were almost gone ; my steps had well nigh slipped.” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 73 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“But as for me, my feet were almost gone ; my steps had well nigh slipped.”

Psalms 73:2 · KJV

Context

1

A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. of: or, for Truly: or, Yet of: Heb. clean of heart

2

But as for me, my feet were almost gone ; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. firm: Heb. fat

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. Having stated the truth in verse 1, Asaph now confesses how close he came to abandoning it. The Hebrew construction va'ani (וַאֲנִי, "but as for me") creates a sharp contrast with the theological affirmation just made. The emphatic personal pronoun highlights the tension between objective truth and subjective experience.

"My feet were almost gone" (kim'at natyu raglai, כִּמְעַט נָטָיוּ רַגְלָי) uses the verb natah, meaning to stretch out, extend, or turn aside. His feet nearly deviated from the path of faith. "My steps had well nigh slipped" (k'ayin shuppeku ashurai, כְּאַיִן שֻׁפְּכוּ אֲשֻׁרָי) employs shaphak, meaning to pour out or spill—his steps were nearly poured out like water, losing all stability and direction.

The imagery of slipping feet appears throughout the Psalter (Psalms 17:5, 38:16, 66:9, 94:18, 121:3). Walking represents the whole course of life, and slipping signifies moral or spiritual failure. Asaph's confession is strikingly honest: he nearly fell. The "almost" and "well nigh" indicate how close he came to complete spiritual collapse. This vulnerability establishes credibility and invites readers who have experienced similar struggles to continue with the psalm.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The metaphor of walking and slipping was particularly vivid in ancient Palestine's rocky, uneven terrain. Travelers on mountain paths faced genuine danger from loose stones and steep drops. The image would have resonated with pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem on treacherous roads.

Wisdom literature frequently employs the "two ways" motif—the path of righteousness versus the path of wickedness (Psalm 1, Proverbs 4:18-19). Asaph's near-slipping represents potential departure from the righteous path toward the way of the wicked whose prosperity he envied. The confession anticipates similar language in Proverbs 4:19: "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble."

Reflection Questions

  1. What circumstances in your life have brought you to the point where your spiritual footing felt unstable?
  2. Why is Asaph's honest confession of near-failure important for the psalm's message?
  3. How does the imagery of slipping feet capture the gradual nature of spiritual drift?
  4. What kept Asaph from completely falling, and what might keep us from falling in similar circumstances?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 7 words
וַאֲנִ֗י1 of 7
H589

i

כִּ֭מְעַט2 of 7

“were almost”

H4592

a little or few (often adverbial or comparative)

נָטָ֣ויּ3 of 7

“gone”

H5186

to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)

רַגְלָ֑י4 of 7

“But as for me my feet”

H7272

a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda

כְּ֝אַ֗יִן5 of 7

“had well nigh”

H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

שֻׁפְּכ֥הּ6 of 7

“slipped”

H8210

to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc

אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃7 of 7

“my steps”

H838

a step

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 73:2 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 73:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 94:181 Samuel 2:9Psalms 116:8Psalms 38:16Psalms 17:5Psalms 17:15

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