Psalms 119:83

“For I am become like a bottle in the smoke, etc.] Like a bottle made of the skins of beasts, as was usual in those times and countries: hence we read of old and new bottles, and of their rending, (<070913>Judges 9:13) (<400917>Matthew 9:17). Now such a bottle being hung up in a smoky chimney, would be dried and shrivelled up, and be good for nothing; so Jarchi’s note is, “like a bottle made of skin, which is dried in smoke;” and the Targum is, “like a bottle that hangs in smoke.” It denotes the uncomfortable condition the psalmist was in, or at least thought himself to be in; as to be in the midst of smoke is very uncomfortable, so was he, being in darkness, and under the hidings of God’s…”

“For I am become like a bottle in the smoke - Bottles in the East were commonly made of skins. See the notes at Matthew 9:17. Such “bottles,” hanging in tents where the smoke had little opportunity to escape, would, of course, become dark and dingy, and would thus be emblems of distress, discomfort, and sorrow. The meaning here is, that, by affliction and sorrow, the psalmist had been reduced to a state which would be well represented by such a bottle. A somewhat similar idea occurs in Psalms 22:15 : “My strength is dried up like a potsherd.” See the notes at that place. Yet do I not forget thy statutes - Compare the notes at Psalms 119:51. Though thus deeply afflicted, though without comfort…”

“Bottle - A leathern bottle. My natural moisture is dryed and burnt up. Psalms 119:84”

“like a bottle in the smoke: As the bottles in the East are made of skin, it is evident that one of these hung up in the smoke must soon be parched, shrivelled up, lose all its strength, and become unsightly and useless. Thus the Psalmist appeared to himself to have become useless and despicable, through the exhausted state of his body and mind, by long bodily afflictions and mental distress. Psa 22:15, Psa 102:3, Psa 102:4; Job 30:30 yet do I: Psa 119:16, Psa 119:61, Psa 119:176 Psalms 119:84”