Psalms 109:18

18 He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil.

Psalms 109:18 in Other Translations

18 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.

18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!

18 Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing, or the water he drinks, or the rich food he eats.

18 He dressed up in curses like a fine suit of clothes; he drank curses, took his baths in curses.

18 He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment, And it came into his inward parts like water, And like oil into his bones.

18 He wore cursing as though it were clothing, so cursing entered his body like water and his bones like oil.

18 He wore cursing like his coat- let it enter his body like water and go into his bones like oil.

18 They called down curses on others as easily as they put on clothes. Cursing was as natural to them as getting a drink of water or putting olive oil on their bodies.

Psalms 109:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 109:18

As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment,
&c.] He was full of it; his mouth was full of cursing and bitterness; it was visible in him, easy to be discerned; he took pride as well as pleasure in it, it was in his esteem an ornament to him, as his clothes were. The Syriac version renders it, "as armour"; as if it was a protection to him, or he thought it to be so.

So let it come into his bowels like water;
the meaning is, let the wrath of God and the curse of the law come into his conscience, and make sad work there, and fill him with dread and terror, and that in great abundance, and with great force; like a flood of waters that carry all before it; or like the waters of jealousy which made the belly to swell and the thigh to rot; or the flying roll of the curse, which entering into the house of the sinner destroyed it, and all in it, ( Numbers 5:22 ) ( Zechariah 5:4 ) .

And like oil into his bones;
which is more piercing and penetrating than water; and signifies the inward and quick sense he should have of his sins, and of the wrath of God for them; see ( Job 20:11 ) .

Psalms 109:18 In-Context

16 For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted.

17 He loved to pronounce a curse— may it come back on him. He found no pleasure in blessing— may it be far from him.

18 He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil.

19 May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him.

20 May this be the LORD’s payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil of me.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 10:7; Psalms 73:6
• 2. Numbers 5:22