Psalms 69:21
They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The enemies didn't just withhold comfort; they actively poisoned the Psalmist's basic needs for sustenance and relief. This wasn't merely a lack of help, but a deliberate act of cruelty turning even essentials into sources of suffering, a deep betrayal of basic human decency.
The Psalmist is crying out to God in extreme distress, feeling abandoned and surrounded by enemies who not only mock him but actively add to his suffering. He's poured out his heart seeking comfort and companionship, but found none. This verse describes the cruel ways his enemies have treated him, offering him bitter poison instead of nourishment and sour wine when he thirsted for relief.
Imagine being at your lowest point, utterly drained and in need of basic comfort. What would you expect from those around you? This verse reveals a depth of malice that turns even basic sustenance into an act of torture.
When Needs Become Torment
The Psalmist paints a grim picture of his enemies' actions. Instead of offering relief, they actively sought to increase his suffering.
This wasn't about minor discomforts; it was about a calculated, sustained cruelty that aimed to make life itself unbearable.
Why would the Holy Spirit guide David to describe such specific, agonizing details? This psalm isn't just about David's personal pain; it's a profound prophecy pointing to the ultimate suffering of God's Son.
More Than a Metaphor
While David certainly experienced deep personal suffering and betrayal, many scholars and the New Testament itself point to Psalm 69 as having a primary Messianic application.
Understand the original words
ro'sh · Hebrew Noun
Often refers to a poisonous or bitter substance, metaphorically representing the cruelty or malicious intent shown toward the psalmist by his enemies. It symbolizes the bitter hostility of those who reject God’s anointed.
chomets · Hebrew Noun
A sour, fermented drink, often associated with the dregs of wine, used here to depict the mockery and lack of compassion the psalmist receives in his time of need. It carries strong messianic implications in the New Testament as the drink offered to Jesus on the cross.
This psalm is understood by many to speak prophetically of the suffering of Christ. While David himself endured great hardship and betrayal, the specific imagery of poison and vinegar points to the literal torments Jesus faced during His crucifixion.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Reign of King David
The Psalms are traditionally attributed to King David, who experienced significant personal betrayal and persecution from enemies within his own court and from surrounding nations.
c. 450 BC
Compilation of the Psalms
The Psalms were compiled and organized as a collection of Israel's sacred songs and prayers. This period solidified their use in worship and personal devotion.
c. 30 BC - AD 30
Ministry and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Jesus' suffering and death are seen by Christian tradition as the literal fulfillment of many prophetic passages in the Psalms, including Psalm 69. The events surrounding His crucifixion align with the psalm's descriptions of betrayal and suffering.
c. AD 60-70
Writing of the New Testament Gospels
The Gospel accounts, particularly John's, explicitly connect the events of Jesus' crucifixion, including the offering of sour wine, to the prophecies found in Psalms 69.
This passage directly quotes Psalm 69:21 and applies it to Jesus, describing how He was given wine mixed with gall (or bitterness) to drink when He was on the cross.
John 19:28-30This passage narrates the event where Jesus, thirsty on the cross, was given sour wine (vinegar) by soldiers, fulfilling the second part of the prophecy in Psalm 69:21.
Lamentations 3:15-16Similar to Psalm 69, this passage from Lamentations describes the author's suffering, including being fed bitter things and being made to drink dust, highlighting a theme of profound affliction and the absence of comfort.
Hosea 10:4This verse uses similar imagery, stating that 'judgment springeth up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field,' which is translated in some versions as 'gall' or 'bitterness,' paralleling the theme of adding affliction through what is consumed.
clarkePsalms 69:21: "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
They gave me also gall for my meat - Even the food, necessary to preserve us in their slavery, was frequently mingled with what rendered it unpleasant and disgusting, though not absolutely unwholesome. And vinegar, sour small wines, was given us for our beverage. This is applied to our Lord, Matthew 27:34 , where the reader is requested to consult the notes.
jfbPsalms 69:21: "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
- Instead of such, his enemies increase his pain by giving him most distasteful food and drink. The Psalmist may have thus described by figure what Christ found in reality (compare Joh 19:29, 30).
The enemies didn't just withhold comfort; they actively poisoned the Psalmist's basic needs for sustenance and relief. This wasn't merely a lack of help, but a deliberate act of cruelty turning even essentials into sources of suffering, a deep betrayal of basic human decency.
The Psalmist is crying out to God in extreme distress, feeling abandoned and surrounded by enemies who not only mock him but actively add to his suffering. He's poured out his heart seeking comfort and companionship, but found none. This verse describes the cruel ways his enemies have treated him, offering him bitter poison instead of nourishment and sour wine when he thirsted for relief.
The Psalmist is crying out to God in extreme distress, feeling abandoned and surrounded by enemies who not only mock him but actively add to his suffering. He's poured out his heart seeking comfort and companionship, but found none. This verse describes the cruel ways his enemies have treated him, offering him bitter poison instead of nourishment and sour wine when he thirsted for relief.
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"They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink." — The enemies didn't just withhold comfort; they actively poisoned the Psalmist's basic needs for sustenance and relief. This wasn't merely a lack of help, but a deliberate act of cruelty turning even…
