My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is how the verse describes the physical toll of deep distress. The psalmist isn't just feeling worn out; his very eyesight is dimming and aging prematurely, as if grief itself is stealing his youth and clarity, making him physically weak from his relentless foes. This shows that emotional and spiritual suffering can manifest in very real, visible ways.
My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is in deep distress, overwhelmed by suffering and enemies who seem determined to bring him down. He describes his physical and emotional exhaustion, detailing how his overwhelming grief and constant anguish from his adversaries have taken a visible toll, leaving him feeling old and worn out before his time. This verse captures the profound physical symptoms of his emotional agony.
Ever felt like your eyes are just… done? Like they can't keep up with the weight of what you're carrying? The Psalmist felt this, describing a physical exhaustion that mirrored his emotional pain.
When David writes, "My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes," he's painting a raw picture of how intense emotional suffering can manifest physically.
More Than Just Tears
The Hebrew word translated "wastes away" (asheshah) suggests a kind of 'falling in' or 'withering.' It's not just about crying so much your eyes are red; it's a deep exhaustion that makes your eyes seem sunken, dim, and aged prematurely. Imagine your eyes, the windows to your soul, becoming so tired from bearing the burden of sorrow that their very vitality seems to drain away.
A Visual Metaphor for Inner Turmoil
This physical symptom serves as a powerful metaphor for David's internal state. His grief, coupled with the constant threat from his enemies, has left him utterly depleted. The stress and anxiety have taken a visible toll, making his sight weak and his appearance aged before his time.
Grief alone is heavy, but what happens when that grief is fueled by constant opposition and threat? For David, his enemies weren't just a source of abstract worry; they were the direct cause of his deep sorrow.
The second half of the verse, "it grows weak because of all my foes," highlights a crucial aspect of David's suffering: the relentless pressure from those who opposed him.
Ask a follow-up
Enemies as the Catalyst
David doesn't just experience generic grief; his grief is intensified and prolonged by specific adversaries. These weren't minor annoyances; they were forces actively working against him, causing him such profound distress that it affected his very sight. The word for "foes" or "adversaries" can imply those who distress or trouble him.
A Cycle of Pain
This suggests a vicious cycle: the enemies' actions caused grief, and the grief manifested physically, potentially making him more vulnerable. His weakened state, symbolized by his failing eyesight, could have been seen by his enemies as a sign of defeat, further emboldening them. It’s a stark reminder that our spiritual battles often have real-world, and even physical, consequences.
Understand the original words
ka'as · Hebrew Noun
The state of internal sorrow or emotional pain, often connected to suffering, bereavement, or the oppression of enemies. It denotes a heavy heart that manifests physically.
tsorer · Hebrew Noun
Those who set themselves in opposition to the psalmist, often representing the wicked who oppose God and His anointed. They represent external threats and the spiritual forces of darkness that seek to destroy the righteous.
This psalm isn't just a lament about feeling sick; it paints a vivid picture of how intense emotional and spiritual distress, especially during a time of betrayal and civil war, can physically wear a person down, making their eyes weak and dim from constant weeping and sorrow.
c. 1000 BC
David's Reign as King
David is king of Israel, a period marked by both great triumphs and significant personal turmoil, including family strife and rebellion.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Absalom's Rebellion
David's son Absalom leads a rebellion against his father, forcing David to flee Jerusalem and plunging the kingdom into civil war.
c. 1000 BC
David's Flight from Jerusalem
David and his loyal followers are forced to leave the capital city due to Absalom's advancing forces, experiencing deep sorrow and distress.
c. 1000 BC
David's Humiliation and Grief
During his exile, David experiences profound grief, not only from the rebellion but also from the perceived anger of God, leading to physical manifestations of his distress.
This passage mirrors the language of grief causing physical deterioration, specifically mentioning an eye that is 'wasted away' and 'dim' due to sorrow.
Job 17:7This verse describes how intense grief and suffering can prematurely age a person, making their sight dim and their body weak, a direct parallel to the psalmist's experience.
Jeremiah 8:21This verse speaks of a prophet's deep grief and distress over his people, describing his eyes as 'weeping away' and 'failing' because of their ruin.
Lamentations 2:11Here, the prophet laments the destruction of Jerusalem, describing his eyes as 'failing with tears' and 'disturbed' because of the deep sorrow for his people.
clarkePsalms 6:7: "Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies."
Mine eye is consumed - עששה asheshah, is blasted, withered, sunk in my head.
barnesPsalms 6:7: "Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies."
Mine eye is consumed - The word here rendered "consumed" - עשׁשׁ ‛âshêsh - means properly to fall in, to fall away, and is applied here to the "eye" as pining or wasting away from care, anxiety, and sorrow. Tears were poured forth from the eye, and it seemed to be exhausting itself in this manner. The meaning is, that it had grown "dim," or that its sight began to fail, like that of an old man, on…
What's striking here is how the verse describes the physical toll of deep distress. The psalmist isn't just feeling worn out; his very eyesight is dimming and aging prematurely, as if grief itself is stealing his youth and clarity, making him physically weak from his relentless foes. This shows that emotional and spiritual suffering can manifest in very real, visible ways.
The psalmist is in deep distress, overwhelmed by suffering and enemies who seem determined to bring him down. He describes his physical and emotional exhaustion, detailing how his overwhelming grief and constant anguish from his adversaries have taken a visible toll, leaving him feeling old and worn out before his time. This verse captures the profound physical symptoms of his emotional agony.
The psalmist is in deep distress, overwhelmed by suffering and enemies who seem determined to bring him down. He describes his physical and emotional exhaustion, detailing how his overwhelming grief and constant anguish from his adversaries have taken a visible toll, leaving him feeling old and worn out before his time. This verse captures the profound physical symptoms of his emotional agony.
"My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes." — What's striking here is how the verse describes the physical toll of deep distress. The psalmist isn't just feeling worn out; his very eyesight is dimming and aging prematurely, as if grief itself…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026