There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist isn't just saying he's sick; he's saying his entire being, from flesh to bone, is utterly broken and devoid of wholeness because God's righteous anger is upon him due to his sin. This isn't just physical pain, but a deep sense of spiritual and physical corruption that leaves no part of him untouched.
There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is in deep distress, describing a profound physical sickness that he believes is a direct result of God's displeasure over his sin. He feels utterly broken, both in body and spirit, and this psalm is his raw cry to God, confessing his wrongdoing and pleading for mercy and healing.
The psalmist isn't just feeling a little under the weather. He describes a complete breakdown, from his skin to his bones. What does this intensity tell us about his spiritual state?
David's description in Psalm 38:3 paints a picture of total physical collapse. "No soundness in my flesh" and "no rest in my bones" speak of a pervasive, crippling ailment that has left no part of his body untouched.
This isn't just a common cold; it's a sickness that affects the very core of his being. The original language suggests a deep-seated brokenness, a complete lack of wholeness. It's as if every fiber of his being is crying out in pain and distress. This overwhelming physical suffering is the backdrop against which he confronts his spiritual condition.
David doesn't just feel sick; he knows why he's sick. This verse makes a direct link between his suffering and his sin. What does this reveal about how he understood God's justice?
The power of this verse lies in its unflinching diagnosis: sin is the cause of David's suffering. He understands his physical ailment not as a random misfortune, but as a direct consequence of God's 'indignation' or anger.
He sees his sin as something that has directly provoked God's wrath, leading to this destructive sickness. This isn't about God being petty or cruel; it's about God's righteous response to rebellion. For David, acknowledging sin as the cause of his suffering is the first step toward repentance and restoration.
Understand the original words
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metom · Hebrew Noun
A general state of wholeness, well-being, or health, particularly referring to the physical or moral integrity of a person.
zaam · Hebrew Noun
The manifestation of God's holy displeasure against sin; it reflects His intense and settled opposition to moral failing.
shalom · Hebrew Noun
The state of being complete, well, or safe; it conveys the idea of a wholeness that has been broken by external or internal affliction.
chattath · Hebrew Noun
A broad term for moral failure, wrongdoing, or "missing the mark" of God's perfect standard, which separates humanity from God.
This Psalm is deeply personal, reflecting King David's agonizing repentance after his sin with Bathsheba. The physical suffering he describes is inextricably linked to his spiritual brokenness and his awareness of God's righteous indignation.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Reign of David
King David's reign as the second king of Israel was a golden age of the united monarchy, marked by military victories and the consolidation of power. However, it was also a period filled with personal and familial struggles, including his affair with Bathsheba and its tragic consequences.
c. 1000-975 BC
David's Sin with Bathsheba and Uriah
During his reign, David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband Uriah's death in battle. This act of profound sin brought severe divine judgment upon David and his household, initiating a period of deep personal anguish and spiritual turmoil.
c. 995 BC
Nathan's Rebuke
The prophet Nathan confronted David with his sin, revealing God's judgment. This confrontation led David to a place of profound repentance, as expressed in Psalms 51 and likely this Psalm as well.
c. 995 BC
David's Deep Repentance
Following Nathan's rebuke, David expresses profound sorrow and repentance for his sins, acknowledging his deep spiritual sickness and the consequences of his actions. Psalms 38 and 51 vividly capture this tormented state.
This passage uses similar language to describe a nation physically afflicted and spiritually sick, highlighting how sin leads to a pervasive sense of brokenness, much like the Psalmist's physical and spiritual ailment.
Romans 7:18Paul expresses a similar sentiment of internal brokenness and the absence of good within his own 'flesh,' echoing the Psalmist's feeling that his physical body is afflicted due to sin.
Job 30:17Job describes his intense physical suffering, including pain that doesn't cease day or night, which resonates with the Psalmist's lament of 'no rest in my bones.'
2 Samuel 11:1-5This narrative shows David's sin with Bathsheba, a 'foolishness' that led to profound spiritual and emotional turmoil, mirroring how significant sin can bring about deep distress and a sense of being unwell, though not always manifesting as physical disease.
ellicottPsalms 38:3: "There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin."
(3) Rest . . . —Better, health. The Hebrew is from a root meaning to be whole. Peace (see margin), the reading of the LXX. and Vulg. is a derived meaning.
bensonPsalms 38:3: "There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin."
Psalm 38:3-6. There is no soundness, &c. — My disease or grief hath seized upon all the parts of my body, my very bones not excepted, so that my bed can give me no rest; because of my sin — Which hath provoked thee to deal thus severely with me. For my iniquities, &c. — Or, the punishment of my iniquities, as this word is frequently used; are gone over my head — Like…
The psalmist isn't just saying he's sick; he's saying his entire being, from flesh to bone, is utterly broken and devoid of wholeness because God's righteous anger is upon him due to his sin. This isn't just physical pain, but a deep sense of spiritual and physical corruption that leaves no part of him untouched.
David is in deep distress, describing a profound physical sickness that he believes is a direct result of God's displeasure over his sin. He feels utterly broken, both in body and spirit, and this psalm is his raw cry to God, confessing his wrongdoing and pleading for mercy and healing.
David is in deep distress, describing a profound physical sickness that he believes is a direct result of God's displeasure over his sin. He feels utterly broken, both in body and spirit, and this psalm is his raw cry to God, confessing his wrongdoing and pleading for mercy and healing.
"There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin." — The psalmist isn't just saying he's sick; he's saying his entire being, from flesh to bone, is utterly broken and devoid of wholeness because God's righteous anger is upon him due to his sin. This…
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Last reviewed October 2026