Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a description of physical weakness; it's a profound image of distress so severe it consumes the body from within. The "groaning" isn't just a sound, but a force that actively strips away flesh, leaving bones starkly exposed and clinging precariously to what little remains.
Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage bursts forth from a heart overwhelmed by suffering and isolation. The psalmist feels utterly forsaken, his entire being consumed by distress, so much so that his physical body reflects this internal devastation, appearing emaciated and worn down. This deep affliction is presented as the cause for his desperate plea to God.
Have you ever felt so broken that your body seemed to break down with you? This verse paints a stark picture of physical suffering mirroring internal turmoil.
A Vivid Picture of Emaciation
This verse uses intense imagery to describe the psalmist's suffering. "My bones cling to my flesh" isn't just a description of being thin; it's a picture of extreme emaciation where the body is so wasted away that the bones are barely covered.
This physical state is directly linked to his "loud groaning." The commentators agree: the deep distress and sorrow have caused a literal wasting away. It's as if the anguish is so profound it consumes him from the inside out.
Think of it like this: prolonged stress and grief can have real physical effects. This isn't just a metaphor; it's a description of how deeply internal suffering can manifest outwardly, to the point where the body itself seems to be withering.
Does God hear our groans? And what does our suffering reveal about His view of our situation?
The Weight of Affliction
The "loud groaning" here isn't just a sigh; it's a cry of deep pain and distress. While the verse focuses on the psalmist's experience, some commentary suggests that such profound suffering could also be interpreted within the biblical context as a sign of God's displeasure or judgment.
This doesn't mean that every time we groan in pain, God is angry. However, in the Old Testament, persistent suffering and physical wasting could be seen as indicators of being under God's discipline or judgment. The psalmist is pouring out his heart, laying bare his suffering, and implicitly asking God to consider his dire condition.
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The connection is crucial: the groaning is the cause of the emaciation, but the reason for the groaning is the deep affliction the psalmist is experiencing, which he brings before God.
Understand the original words
anachah · Hebrew Noun
An audible expression of deep pain, sorrow, or physical agony, often used in the Psalms to describe the cries of the righteous in extreme suffering.
This psalm vividly portrays the physical and emotional toll of extreme suffering, likely experienced during the devastation of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile. The emaciated state described reflects not just personal anguish, but the profound crisis of a nation facing annihilation.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of its population. This marks a significant weakening of the Hebrew kingdoms and a precursor to further geopolitical instability.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. While Jerusalem is miraculously spared, the surrounding cities are devastated, and Judah is forced into heavy tribute, creating immense suffering and fear.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem and deports a significant portion of the population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, into exile. This event shatters the Davidic monarchy and establishes a period of intense national grief.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem, burn the Temple, and carry out a final, larger deportation of the remaining population. This is the catastrophic end of the Kingdom of Judah and the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 586-539 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Judean people live in exile in Babylon, experiencing profound loss, displacement, and a deep sense of national and religious crisis. Many psalms reflect this period of intense sorrow, lament, and yearning for restoration.
This passage echoes the same intense physical suffering, describing Job's skin clinging to his bones, painting a visceral picture of emaciation from affliction, much like the Psalmist's experience.
Lamentations 4:8Here, the prophet uses almost identical imagery – 'their skin is shriveled on their bones, dry as wood' – to depict the devastating effects of famine and judgment, highlighting how extreme distress can strip away one's very substance.
Psalm 106:15While not physical, this verse speaks of God sending 'leanness into their souls' when Israel grumbled, showing how deep spiritual distress or discontent can lead to a profound sense of emptiness and wasting away.
Isaiah 10:16This prophecy describes the Lord sending a 'wasting disease' upon a proud army, illustrating how divine judgment can bring about a physical and spiritual decay upon those who oppose Him.
pulpitPsalms 102:5: "By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin."
Verse 5. - By reason of the voice of my groaning; i.e. "by reason of the affliction which causes my groaning." My bones cleave to my skin; literally, to my flesh, but the Authorized Version rightly expresses the meaning (comp. Job 19:20; Lamentations 4:8).
ellicottPsalms 102:5: "By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin."
(5) Skin. —See margin. In Lamentations 4:8 , more correctly, “my skin cleaveth to my bones;” a picture of emaciation, the result of fasting.
This isn't just a description of physical weakness; it's a profound image of distress so severe it consumes the body from within. The "groaning" isn't just a sound, but a force that actively strips away flesh, leaving bones starkly exposed and clinging precariously to what little remains.
This passage bursts forth from a heart overwhelmed by suffering and isolation. The psalmist feels utterly forsaken, his entire being consumed by distress, so much so that his physical body reflects this internal devastation, appearing emaciated and worn down. This deep affliction is presented as the cause for his desperate plea to God.
This passage bursts forth from a heart overwhelmed by suffering and isolation. The psalmist feels utterly forsaken, his entire being consumed by distress, so much so that his physical body reflects this internal devastation, appearing emaciated and worn down. This deep affliction is presented as the cause for his desperate plea to God.
"Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh." — This isn't just a description of physical weakness; it's a profound image of distress so severe it consumes the body from within. The "groaning" isn't just a sound, but a force that actively strips a…
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Last reviewed October 2026