Bible Strands
Psalms 109:18
The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist speaks to God, invoking judgment against an adversary who consistently chose cursing over blessing. This declaration occurs during a moment of intense personal persecution where the speaker seeks divine intervention.
The words — קְלָלָה (qĕlālâ) means "a curse," and וַ/יִּלְבַּ֥שׁ (wayyilbash) translates to "he put on" or "he wore." The text describes the adversary treating this curse as a garment before it penetrates his body.
The thread — The imagery of a curse soaking into a person parallels the oath ritual in Numbers 5:22 where cursed water enters the stomach. The metaphor of clothing also echoes Psalms 73:6, which depicts pride as a garment covering the wicked.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that persistent rejection of blessing and embrace of cursing invites self-destructive consequences. It calls the reader to align with divine blessing rather than pursue oaths that contradict righteousness.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
Cross-references
- Psalms 73:6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
- Numbers 5:22 May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to shrivel.’ Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’
- Matthew 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.
- Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Numbers 5:27 When he has made her drink the water, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then the water that brings a curse will enter her and cause bitter suffering; her belly will swell, her thigh will shrivel, and she will become accursed among her people.
- Job 20:12 Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
- Job 20:20 Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.
- Job 29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.
- Matthew 26:24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
- Acts 1:18 (Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.