Psalms 107:5
hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 107:5
hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The Hebrew word used for "fainted" here doesn't just mean to grow weak; it literally means to be "covered" or "enveloped," painting a vivid picture of their soul being overwhelmed by a crushing darkness of despair and exhaustion. This isn't just about physical thirst or hunger, but a profound spiritual depletion where all hope seems to vanish.
The psalmist begins by calling for thanks to God for His enduring mercy, then vividly describes a group lost and struggling in a desolate wilderness. They are overwhelmed by hunger and thirst, to the point where their hope and strength completely drain away. This desperate situation sets the stage for God's intervention and deliverance, highlighting their utter dependence on Him for rescue.
Imagine being lost, miles from anywhere, with nothing to eat or drink. It's not just a physical struggle; it's a battle for your very soul. This verse paints a vivid picture of that desperate state.
The Psalmist uses intense imagery to describe a near-death experience. "Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them." This isn't just about missing a meal.
A Body and Soul Crisis
Think of travellers lost in a vast desert. Their physical needs for food and water become all-consuming. When these needs are unmet, the body weakens, and the spirit starts to break. The Hebrew word translated "fainted" can literally mean to be "covered" or "overwhelmed." It's a graphic picture of someone collapsing under an unbearable burden, their strength completely gone.
More Than Physical Lack
This passage isn't solely about literal starvation. It also captures a profound spiritual and emotional exhaustion. It speaks to that deep ache when we feel abandoned, lost, and utterly depleted, no matter our physical circumstances. It’s the feeling of your inner self just giving up.
Sometimes, our deepest hunger isn't for bread, but for something far more essential. This verse can speak to that profound spiritual thirst that leaves us feeling depleted.
Beyond the immediate physical suffering of being lost, this verse resonates with a deeper spiritual truth.
The Soul's Hunger for God
When people are truly lost and depleted, their focus narrows to their most basic needs. In a spiritual sense, this verse describes souls who are "starving" for God’s presence, for righteousness, for forgiveness, or for communion with Him. Like a lost traveler desperate for water, the soul aches for divine provision.
When Everything Else Fails
This state of "fainting" occurs when we realize that nothing in ourselves or the world can satisfy this deep hunger. It’s in this place of utter dependence that the true longing for God, the Bread of Life and the Water of Life, becomes most acute. This isn't a comfortable state, but it's often the necessary precursor to finding true fulfillment in Him.
Understand the original words
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
Referring to the immaterial part of a person, the seat of emotions, life force, and the inner being that relates to God and experiences deep physical or spiritual distress.
ataph · Hebrew Verb
To grow weak, languish, or become exhausted, often as a result of physical deprivation or extreme emotional/spiritual distress.
This psalm vividly portrays the deep distress and physical deprivation of the exiles, painting a picture of individuals lost and desperate in a desolate wilderness, mirroring the spiritual starvation of those far from God.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, after 400 years of slavery, were led out of Egypt. This epic journey involved traversing the harsh Sinai wilderness, a vast desert known for its scarcity of water and food.
c. 1300-1200 BC
Period of the Judges
Following the conquest of Canaan, Israel experienced periods of relative peace interspersed with cycles of oppression by surrounding nations. These conflicts often disrupted travel and trade routes, making journeys perilous.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) fell to the Assyrians, and many of its inhabitants were deported. This marked a period of immense suffering, displacement, and separation from their homeland.
597 BC - 586 BC— this verse
Babylonian Exile
Jerusalem was besieged and captured by the Babylonians. This led to multiple waves of deportation, including the Babylonian Exile, where Judeans were taken to a foreign land, facing hardship and disorientation.
This passage describes people who were chastened but did not respond, never looking to God. It parallels the desperate state of those in Psalms 107 who are suffering because they have turned away from the Lord, highlighting the consequences of spiritual neglect.
Matthew 12:43Jesus uses the imagery of an unclean spirit leaving a person, but the person remains empty, leading to a worse condition. This connects to the 'fainting' soul in Psalms 107, suggesting a spiritual emptiness and desperation that needs to be filled by God.
Luke 15:16The parable of the prodigal son vividly illustrates this verse, showing him so destitute in a foreign land that he longed for the scraps the pigs ate, experiencing a deep hunger and thirst that mirrored his spiritual starvation.
Philippians 4:12Paul speaks of knowing how to be hungry and how to have plenty, describing a state of hardship and deprivation. This echoes the physical and spiritual distress of the travelers in Psalms 107, emphasizing the resilience found in Christ even in times of severe lack.
Psalm 42:1-2The psalmist's deep longing for God, 'as a deer pants for flowing streams,' powerfully expresses the spiritual hunger and thirst described in Psalms 107:5. It shows the soul's desperate craving for divine presence and sustenance.
poolePsalms 107:5: "Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them."
Partly for want of necessary provisions, and partly through anguish of spirit.
ellicottPsalms 107:5: "Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them."
(5) Fainted. —Literally, let itself be covered. (See Psalm 77:3 .)
The Hebrew word used for "fainted" here doesn't just mean to grow weak; it literally means to be "covered" or "enveloped," painting a vivid picture of their soul being overwhelmed by a crushing darkness of despair and exhaustion. This isn't just about physical thirst or hunger, but a profound spiritual depletion where all hope seems to vanish.
The psalmist begins by calling for thanks to God for His enduring mercy, then vividly describes a group lost and struggling in a desolate wilderness. They are overwhelmed by hunger and thirst, to the point where their hope and strength completely drain away. This desperate situation sets the stage for God's intervention and deliverance, highlighting their utter dependence on Him for rescue.
The psalmist begins by calling for thanks to God for His enduring mercy, then vividly describes a group lost and struggling in a desolate wilderness. They are overwhelmed by hunger and thirst, to the point where their hope and strength completely drain away. This desperate situation sets the stage for God's intervention and deliverance, highlighting their utter dependence on Him for rescue.
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c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia issued a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands. The journey back was arduous and fraught with challenges, as they faced rebuilding their lives in a devastated land.
"hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them." — The Hebrew word used for "fainted" here doesn't just mean to grow weak; it literally means to be "covered" or "enveloped," painting a vivid picture of their soul being overwhelmed by a crushing darkn…