Psalms 69:11 - When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

Generated Verse: Psalms 69:11

What does "Psalms 69:11" mean?


Psalm 69:11, "When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them," expresses the psalmist's deep sorrow and the mockery he faced because of his public display of mourning and repentance. Let's break it down:

"When I made sackcloth my clothing...": Sackcloth was a coarse, rough fabric, often made of goat or camel hair. It was typically worn as a sign of mourning, grief, humility, repentance, or deep distress. By wearing sackcloth, the psalmist was outwardly demonstrating his inner pain and repentance, likely before God and others.

"...I became a byword to them.": A "byword" is a common saying or proverb, often used to express ridicule, contempt, or mockery. In this context, it means that the psalmist's suffering and repentance made him a target of gossip, jokes, and insults. People likely used him as an example of someone to be scorned or avoided. His public display of grief, rather than evoking sympathy, led to him being ridiculed and talked about negatively.

In essence, the verse conveys:

The psalmist, in his genuine sorrow and repentance, publicly displayed his humility by wearing sackcloth. However, instead of receiving understanding or compassion, he was met with ridicule and became a common object of scorn in people's conversations and jokes. This verse highlights the isolating and painful experience of being mocked and rejected for one's faith or expressions of grief. It also touches on the themes of suffering and the alienation that can come from trying to live a righteous life in a world that often doesn't value such behavior.

Context within Psalm 69:

It's important to understand this verse within the larger context of Psalm 69. The entire psalm is a lament, a cry for help from someone in deep distress. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by enemies, suffering unjustly, and abandoned. This verse contributes to that picture by showing how his public display of repentance, which should have been seen as a sign of humility, only made him a target of further abuse.

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