What does it mean that Paul's thorn in the flesh was like an impalement?
It means Paul's thorn was a painful, ongoing affliction comparable to being impaled—like crucifixion—that he had to live with, given by the Lord to keep him humble. It was not a brief trial; he endured it over fourteen years and likely carried it to his death.
Les explains that one translation described Paul's thorn in the flesh as being "like an impalement," and he ties that language to crucifixion, which was itself like an impalement Paul had to live with. He notes Paul had already had it over fourteen years and probably carried it to his death. Les acknowledges much controversy over what the thorn was, calling some views absurd, but he holds that it was likely a vicious case of ophthalmia, common in the ancient world. It would have caused a repulsive appearance, mattery eyes, and damaged eyesight. He points to Galatians 4:15, where the Galatians would have plucked out their own eyes for Paul, and the closing verses of Galatians, where Paul says he wrote in large print with his own hand, as support for this view.