Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights the deep agony of being utterly abandoned, not just for sympathy, but even for the basic human act of sharing in sorrow, a profound isolation that could "break" one's spirit. This isn't just about feeling sad; the original language suggests a state of being "sick unto death," emphasizing the crushing weight of this complete lack of human comfort.
Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is pouring out his heart in a time of intense suffering and public shame, feeling utterly forsaken by everyone. He appeals to God, knowing God is aware of his deep distress and the hostility of his enemies. This lament then transitions into a stark portrayal of absolute isolation, where not a single person offers solace or pity amidst his suffering.
Have you ever felt utterly alone, crushed by words that weren't true? This psalm dives deep into that pain.
The psalmist here is experiencing what the commentators call a 'broken heart.' This isn't just sadness; it's a profound emotional and spiritual shattering. The 'reproach' mentioned isn't just criticism; it's the deep sting of slander, shame, and public disgrace, especially when it's undeserved and directed at you for your loyalty to God.
Think about it: when our integrity is questioned, especially when we've tried our best to do right, it cuts deeper than any physical wound. The commentators highlight that this kind of pain is particularly grievous to noble souls. It's not just about what others think; it's the feeling of being misunderstood and wrongly accused, leading to a state of despair.
When life hits hard, we often turn to others for support. But what happens when that support network dries up?
The psalmist expresses a desperate search for solace: 'I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.' This isn't to say that no one cared, but in this moment of profound crisis, the comfort he sought was absent. He felt utterly abandoned.
This experience speaks to the limitations of human companionship. Friends might offer words, but they can't always grasp the depth of our pain. Sometimes, even those closest to us can't provide the relief we desperately need. The psalm points to a profound loneliness that can arise when our deepest hurts are met with silence or indifference, leaving us feeling isolated in our suffering.
Understand the original words
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anash · Hebrew Verb/Adjective
The emotional pain of being crushed or broken, reflecting a state of severe internal agony and loss of hope.
nud · Hebrew Noun
Compassion or sympathy for someone in suffering; it implies an empathetic response to another's pain.
nacham · Hebrew Noun
Those who provide solace, encouragement, or relief to someone in mourning or distress; one who brings comfort during times of grief.
This psalm, deeply personal to David in his moments of intense public shame and isolation, also serves as a prophetic window into the utter abandonment and suffering of Jesus Christ at his crucifixion, a suffering far exceeding any earthly betrayal.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's Reign and Troubled Times
David, the anointed king of Israel, faced numerous personal and political challenges, including rebellions from his own family and constant threats from surrounding nations. This created a context of intense stress and public scrutiny.
c. 975 BC
Solomon's Accession and Early Reign
Following David's death, his son Solomon ascended the throne. While known for wisdom, his reign also saw the consolidation of power and the potential for political intrigue and shifting alliances.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom (Israel)
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of its people. This event created widespread fear and uncertainty throughout the region, impacting the consciousness of Judah as well.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian Empire destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling much of the population. This was a catastrophic national trauma, leaving survivors feeling abandoned and deeply shamed.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, exiled Jews were permitted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This period was marked by challenges, opposition, and the struggle to restore national and religious life.
c. 30 BC - AD 33
Jesus' Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection
The New Testament writers saw the ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 69 in Jesus Christ's suffering, betrayal, abandonment by his disciples, and his crucifixion, where he was given vinegar to drink.
This passage directly parallels the experience described in Psalms 69:20, where Jesus is also abandoned by His disciples, leaving Him without human comfort in His moment of deepest despair.
Jeremiah 8:14Jeremiah expresses a similar sense of despair and desolation, crying out that they looked for help but found none, and for healing but found only terror, reflecting the profound loneliness of the psalmist.
Luke 23:35-36The mocking and scorn directed at Jesus on the cross, as well as the vinegar offered to Him, echo the 'reproach' and the bitter 'gall and vinegar' mentioned in Psalm 69, highlighting the scorn Jesus endured.
Job 2:11-13Job's friends, who were expected to comfort him, instead brought him more sorrow and offered little true solace, illustrating the painful experience of having comforters who ultimately fail to provide genuine relief.
Isaiah 53:3This prophecy describes the Suffering Servant as 'despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,' which resonates deeply with the psalmist's feeling of being broken by reproach and utterly alone.
poolePsalms 69:20: "Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none."
Hath broken my heart: for reproach is most grievous to the most generous and noble souls; and besides, this was the highest degree and the worst kind of reproach, being cast upon him for God’s sake, and upon God also for his sake. None, i.e. few or none, as that word is frequently used, both in sacred and profane writers. For wh…
pulpitPsalms 69:20: "Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none."
Verse 20. - Reproach hath broken my heart. (comp. vers. 7, 9, 19). Some of his enemies' reproaches were, no doubt, based on David's old misdoings. These, which he could not rebut, would cause him the severest pain. And I am full of heaviness; or, "full of sickness;" "very sick" (Kay); "sick to death" (Delitzsch). And I looked fo…
The verse highlights the deep agony of being utterly abandoned, not just for sympathy, but even for the basic human act of sharing in sorrow, a profound isolation that could "break" one's spirit. This isn't just about feeling sad; the original language suggests a state of being "sick unto death," emphasizing the crushing weight of this complete lack of human comfort.
The psalmist is pouring out his heart in a time of intense suffering and public shame, feeling utterly forsaken by everyone. He appeals to God, knowing God is aware of his deep distress and the hostility of his enemies. This lament then transitions into a stark portrayal of absolute isolation, where not a single person offers solace or pity amidst his suffering.
The psalmist is pouring out his heart in a time of intense suffering and public shame, feeling utterly forsaken by everyone. He appeals to God, knowing God is aware of his deep distress and the hostility of his enemies. This lament then transitions into a stark portrayal of absolute isolation, where not a single person offers solace or pity amidst his suffering.
"Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none." — The verse highlights the deep agony of being utterly abandoned, not just for sympathy, but even for the basic human act of sharing in sorrow, a profound isolation that could "break" one's spirit. Thi…
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Last reviewed October 2026