Psalms 69:23 (KJV)

What does Psalms 69:23 mean?

Psalms 69:23 is a plea for God to bring judgment on the psalmist’s enemies, asking that their eyes be darkened so they cannot see and that their loins shake with fear or weakness. The verse uses vivid language to describe a wish for their senses and strength to fail as a sign of divine punishment.

In this psalm, David is speaking to God about those who have wronged or persecuted him. The request for their "eyes" to be "darkened" and their "loins" to "shake" reflects a desire for their total disempowerment—both their ability to perceive and their physical stability would be taken away. This fits into the larger context of Psalm 69, where David pours out his distress and calls for God’s justice against those who oppose him.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 69:23

• "Eyes" (עֵינַיִם, ʿenayim; H5869): This word refers to literal sight, but in Hebrew thought, eyes often symbolize understanding or perception. The request for their eyes to be darkened suggests a loss of both physical and spiritual insight.
• "Darkened" (חָשַׁךְ, ḥāshakh; H2821): This verb means to become dark or dim. Here, it intensifies the idea of blindness or confusion, not just physical but also mental or moral.
• "See" (רָאָה, ra’ah; H7200): The basic word for seeing, which emphasizes the wish that the enemies lose their ability to perceive what is happening around them.
• "Loins" (מָתְנַיִם, motnayim; H4975): In Hebrew, the loins are a symbol of strength and courage. For their loins to "shake" means their core strength or confidence would be unsettled.
• "Continually" (תָּמִיד, tamid; H8548): This word means constantly or always, showing that the shaking is not a momentary fear but an ongoing weakness.
• "Shake" (מוֹט, mot; H4571): This verb means to totter, shake, or be unstable. The image is of someone whose strength is so undermined that they cannot stand firm.

Why Psalms 69:23 matters

• This verse helps clarify that the psalmist’s requests are not just for physical harm but for a deep, ongoing loss of both understanding and strength in his enemies.
• The language connects to a larger biblical theme where blindness and weakness are seen as signs of divine judgment, making the psalmist’s plea more than just personal revenge—it is a call for God’s justice.
• Understanding the imagery of eyes and loins in Hebrew thought reveals the depth of what David is asking: not just punishment, but a complete reversal of his enemies’ ability to harm or oppose him.