תהלים, פרק כ״ב, פסוק ט״ו

Facing enemies can create a terror so deep that it triggers a complete physical and mental collapse. The body loses its natural stability, leaving the person completely broken and unable to stand firm.

The primary approach among commentators is that this extreme weakness feels like spilled water. Just as liquid scatters across the ground and can never be gathered back, the limbs simply give out from fear. All strength drains away, leaving the person entirely powerless against those hunting them down [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This physical breakdown extends far beyond the soft tissues of the body. Bones serve as the hard, solid foundation of the human frame. Yet, in this state of panic, even these rigid parts detach from their joints, knocking against one another from sheer terror [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, מאירי]. Offering a spiritual view on this separation, [אלשיך] explains that a person's bones are normally held together by the merit of the Commandments performed with them. However, when overwhelmed by worry and total loss, and lacking any good news to provide strength, that inner spiritual connection shatters.

The collapse eventually reaches the deepest parts of the body. The heart, which normally acts as the core of human strength, loses all its power, melting away just as wax breaks down under intense heat [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודות, מאירי, מלבי״ם]. Adding a vivid detail to this process, [אלשיך] describes how extreme anxiety causes the inner organs to effectively boil. This internal heat acts like a fire, melting the heart within. Ultimately, this deep internal breakdown results in a total loss of power, leaving the individual feeling as though they have lost their mind [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ].