Psalms 142:3

Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, describing his internal exhaustion and external pursuit while fleeing enemies who have concealed a trap on his route.

The words — בְּהִתְעַטֵּף (be./hit.'a.Tef) means "when faints away" and רוּחִי (ru.Ch/i) means "my spirit," describing the speaker's internal collapse. וְאַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ (ve./'a.Tah ya.Da'.ta) translates to "and you know," asserting God's awareness of the speaker's exact route.

The thread — The hidden snare on a traveler's route appears in Psalms 140:5, while the general plea for protection from snares and lures is recorded in Psalms 141:9, and the connection between a faint heart and calling to God is found in Psalms 61:2.

Why it lands — The text states the speaker's spirit fails yet affirms God's knowledge of his path, then notes enemies have hidden a snare on that same path. It asks the reader to acknowledge that divine awareness persists amid exhaustion and that danger often targets the very route one is forced to take.

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

בְּהִתְעַטֵּ֬ףbe./hit.'a.Tefwhen/ faints away עָלַ֨י׀'a.La/ion/ me רוּחִ֗יru.Ch/ispirit/ my וְאַתָּה֮ve./'a.Tahand/ you יָדַ֪עְתָּya.Da'.tayou know נְֽתִיבָ֫תִ֥יne.ti.Va.T/ipathway/ my בְּאֹֽרַח־be./'o.rach-in/ [the] path ז֥וּzuwhich אֲהַלֵּ֑ךְ'a.ha.LekhI walk טָמְנ֖וּta.me.Nupeople have hidden פַ֣חfacha snareלִֽי׃L/ifor/ me

King James Version

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

Cross-references

Psalms 140:5 The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah
Psalms 141:9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, and from the lures of evildoers.
Psalms 61:2 From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalms 139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
Psalms 143:4 My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
Jeremiah 18:22 Let a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring raiders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.
Mark 14:33 He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed.
Job 23:10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Psalms 1:6 For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalms 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.