For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
Parallel translations
- WEB For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
- BSB For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.
- NKJV For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
- NASB For my guilty deeds have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.
- NLT My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David's iniquities have risen over his head like a flood and weigh on him like a burden too heavy to bear. Sin's load is crushing.
Overview
David pictures his guilt as overwhelming waters above his head and an unbearable weight pressing him down. Sin felt rightly is intolerable. This sense of an impossible burden prepares the heart for the gospel, where Christ invites the heavy-laden to come to Him for rest and bears the load of guilt we cannot carry (Matthew 11:28-30).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ps 40:12For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
- Ezra 9:6And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
- Matt 11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- Lam 1:14The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the LORD hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
- 1 Pet 2:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
- Isa 53:11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
- Lev 7:18And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 38:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.