Psalm 38:16-17
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What's easy to miss is the reason behind the psalmist's plea: he isn't just afraid of his enemies rejoicing if he falls, but specifically when his "foot slips." This isn't just about a stumble; it implies a moment of weakness or sin, and he fears his enemies will seize on that imperfection to claim he's not favored by God.
For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!” For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist is in deep distress, both physically and emotionally, feeling God's heavy hand upon him due to his sin. He's also facing intense opposition from enemies who eagerly await his downfall, ready to mock and magnify themselves if he stumbles, which adds urgency to his plea for God's intervention. This verse captures his prayer for God to hear him, specifically asking that his enemies not be allowed to gloat over his misfortunes.
Have you ever felt that your struggles were only making your enemies stronger and bolder? This verse reveals a deep spiritual battle tied to the suffering of God's people.
The psalmist cries out to God, not just about his personal pain, but about the threat of his enemies rejoicing over him. This isn't just about petty taunts; it's about the enemy's desire to undermine faith itself.
The Enemy's Goal
When the psalmist's "foot slips"—meaning he stumbles, makes a mistake, or experiences misfortune—his enemies "magnify themselves against me." Their goal is to prove that the person is truly forsaken by God. They see weakness or failure as evidence that God is either unwilling or unable to help, and they use this to assert their own perceived superiority and the futility of faith.
A Battle for God's Reputation
This exultation isn't merely personal; it's a spiritual assault. If God's servant is seen to fall, it's perceived as a defeat for God Himself. The enemy seeks to discredit God by discrediting His people. Therefore, the psalmist's plea, "Hear me, lest they rejoice over me," is a prayer to protect not only himself but also the honor of God's name in the eyes of the world.
What does it mean for your 'foot to slip' in the context of faith and suffering? It's more than just a physical stumble; it's a moment of profound vulnerability.
The phrase "when my foot slips" is a powerful metaphor for vulnerability, failure, and misfortune. For the psalmist, this isn't a theoretical possibility; it's a lived reality that opens him up to intense spiritual and emotional attack.
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More Than a Mistake
Commentaries suggest this "slipping" isn't necessarily about a single, grave sin (though it can include that), but a general state of weakness, a stumble in life's journey, or an overwhelming affliction. It's a moment where one's stability is compromised, and they feel unsteady, exposed, and vulnerable.
The Enemy's Vigilance
The enemies are depicted as actively watching for these moments. They are not passive observers; they are poised to pounce, ready to "magnify themselves" – to boast, to exult, to declare victory – at the first sign of weakness. This highlights the constant spiritual warfare where our stumbles are seen by adversaries as opportunities to discredit God and His promises.
Understand the original words
samach · Hebrew Verb
To exult or triumph with joy, often used in the Psalms to describe the gloating of enemies over the suffering or downfall of the righteous.
gadal · Hebrew Verb
To speak with excessive pride or vanity; in a biblical context, often directed against God or His people, implying arrogance and self-sufficiency.
mut · Hebrew Verb
Metaphorical imagery for a lapse in moral integrity, a failure to walk in God's ways, or a stumble into calamity and misfortune.
This psalm's raw pain and plea for deliverance are deeply rooted in the personal anguish of King David, likely stemming from the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent turmoil in his life and kingdom. The enemies mentioned likely represent those who, seeing David's struggles, either mocked his perceived downfall or actively sought to exploit his weakened state.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
David solidifies his rule as king over Israel, establishing Jerusalem as the capital. This period marks a high point of national unity and divine favor.
c. 970 BC
David's Sin with Bathsheba
David commits adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrates the death of her husband, Uriah. This event brings severe divine judgment upon David and his family.
c. 970 BC - 930 BC— this verse
David's Later Reign and Troubles
David experiences ongoing consequences of his sin, including rebellion from his son Absalom and the distress described in Psalms like this one.
c. 930 BC
Death of David
David's reign concludes, leaving a legacy of both great faith and profound human failing. His writings, including the Psalms, continue to speak to future generations.
This passage expresses a similar sentiment of utter desolation and mockery from enemies when one is at their lowest point, echoing the Psalmist's fear of his adversaries rejoicing.
Psalm 13:4Here, the Psalmist pleads for God to hear him because his enemies, represented as 'great,' would boast if he were left to fall, mirroring the fear expressed in Psalm 38:16.
Proverbs 24:17-18This proverb warns against rejoicing over an enemy's misfortune, highlighting the wicked tendency to magnify themselves when someone stumbles, which aligns with the Psalmist's complaint.
Jeremiah 20:10Jeremiah recounts how everyone watched for his 'stumbling,' eager to seize upon his mistakes and mock him, demonstrating a recurring theme of vulnerability and hostile observation.
clarkePsalms 38:16: "For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me."
When my foot slippeth - They watched for my halting; and when my foot slipped, they rejoiced that I had fallen into sin!
ellicottPsalms 38:16: "For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me."
(16) Lest. —It is better to carry on the force of the particle of condition: For I said, Lest they should rejoice over me: Lest, when my foot slipped, they should vaunt themselves against me.
What's easy to miss is the reason behind the psalmist's plea: he isn't just afraid of his enemies rejoicing if he falls, but specifically when his "foot slips." This isn't just about a stumble; it implies a moment of weakness or sin, and he fears his enemies will seize on that imperfection to claim he's not favored by God.
The Psalmist is in deep distress, both physically and emotionally, feeling God's heavy hand upon him due to his sin. He's also facing intense opposition from enemies who eagerly await his downfall, ready to mock and magnify themselves if he stumbles, which adds urgency to his plea for God's intervention. This verse captures his prayer for God to hear him, specifically asking that his enemies not be allowed to gloat over his misfortunes.
The Psalmist is in deep distress, both physically and emotionally, feeling God's heavy hand upon him due to his sin. He's also facing intense opposition from enemies who eagerly await his downfall, ready to mock and magnify themselves if he stumbles, which adds urgency to his plea for God's intervention. This verse captures his prayer for God to hear him, specifically asking that his enemies not be allowed to gloat over his misfortunes.
"For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!” For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me." — What's easy to miss is the reason behind the psalmist's plea: he isn't just afraid of his enemies rejoicing if he falls, but specifically when his "foot slips." This isn't just about a stumble; i…
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Last reviewed October 2026
