Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 35:19
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
19. wrongfully ] Lit., falsely (Psa 38:19; Psa 69:4); the grounds they allege for their enmity being untrue.
neither let them wink ] The insertion of the negative is grammatically justifiable, and probably right; though the clause may also be rendered, they wink &c., describing the confederates’ malicious signals of satisfaction at his misfortune (Pro 6:13; Pro 10:10).
that hate me without a cause ] Cp. Psa 69:4. Our Lord refers to these words as ‘fulfilled’ in Himself (Joh 15:25).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
19 28. Renewed prayer in a somewhat calmer tone.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me – Margin, falsely. Literally, My enemies of falsehood; that is, who are falsely my foes; who have no just cause for being opposed to me. Compare Mat 5:11. David was conscious that he had done them no wrong, or that he had given no occasion for their conduct toward him, and hence, his prayer is simply a request that justice might be done.
Neither let them wink with the eye – Compare the notes at Job 15:12. See also Pro 6:13; Pro 10:10. The word rendered wink means properly to tear or cut asunder; and then, to cut with the teeth, to bite; and hence, the phrase to bite the lips, as an expression of malice, or mischief-making: Pro 16:30; and to bite or pinch the eyes, that is, to press the eyelids together in the manner of biting the lips – also a gesture of malice or mischief. So Gesenius, Lexicon. But perhaps the more probable meaning is that of winking literally; or giving a significant wink of the eyes as an expression of triumph over anyone. In this sense the term is often used now.
That hate me without a cause – To whom I have given no occasion for opposition. In the case under consideration the psalmist regarded himself as entirely innocent in this respect.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. That are mine enemies] Saul and his courtiers.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Wink with their eye, i.e. mock me, or insult over me, as this phrase signifies, Pro 6:13; 10:10.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. enemies wrongfullybyfalse and slanderous imputations.
wink with the eyeaninsulting gesture (Pr 6:13).
without a causemanifestsmore malice than having a wrong cause.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me,…. The word “wrongfully” is to be joined not to the word “rejoice”, but to the word “enemies”; and the sense is, that they were his enemies wrongfully, for false reasons, unjust causes, or without any cause that was just; as follows;
[neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause; such were David’s enemies, particularly Saul, Ps 7:4; and such were the enemies of Christ: this last clause is thought to be referred to by him, and applied to himself, Joh 15:25; and the whole of this is said him and by him, Ps 69:4; see also Ps 109:3. These were the Jews, of whom he came, among whom he was, and who had no reason to be his enemies, and to hate him; since he was harmless and inoffensive in his life and conversation among them; went about doing a great deal of good to them, both for soul and body, and always expressed the most tender concern for them: they had reasons for their hatred and rejection of him, but not justifiable ones; such as the meanness of his person and state in their view, the doctrines he preached relating to his deity, divine sonship, and the distinguishing grace of God; and his inveighing against the sins and vices which prevailed among them; and such are the enemies of his people, who hate them, though they are the quiet in the land, as is said in Ps 35:20; and are harmless and inoffensive in their behaviour towards men: these are hated for Christ’s sake; and because he has chosen and called them out of the world; and because of their principles, which are distinguishing, and their practices, which are good: now the psalmist entreats that such might not be suffered to go on rejoicing over him, and at his calamities, but that he might be delivered out of all troubles, and out of their hands; and that they might not have any reason to wink with their eyes in a scornful and deriding way to him, and as expressing their pleasure to one an other at his distresses; see Pr 1:12.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
I the third part, Psa 35:19 the description of the godlessness of his enemies is renewed; but the soul of the praying psalmist has become more tranquil, and accordingly the language also is more clear and moves on with its accustomed calmness. and are genitives, having an attributive sense (vid., on 2Sa 22:23). The verb signifies both to pinch = nip , Job 33:6 (cf. the Arabic karada, to cut off), and to pinch together, compress = to wink, generally used of the eyes, but also of the lips, Pro 16:30, and always as an insidiously malicious gesture. rules over both members of the verse as in Psa 75:6, and frequently. in Psa 35:20 is the word for whatever proceeds from good intentions and aims at the promotion or restoration of a harmonious relationship. (from , cf. , Psa 76:10, Zep 2:3, , Psa 83:4) are those who quietly and unostentatiously walk in the ways of God. Against such they devise mischievous, lying slanders and accusations. And with wide-opened mouth, i.e., haughty scorn, they cry, as they carouse in sight of the misfortune of those they have persecuted: now we have that which we have longed to see. (composed of and ) is a cry of joy, and more especially of malignant joy at another’s hurt (cf. Eze 25:3).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
19. Let not those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me. Because David’s enemies already exulted in the hope of seeing his overthrow and destruction, he prays that God would not suffer them to realize a desire so wicked. In order to render God favorable to his cause, he again protests that they hated him without any fault or occasion on his part, and that it was their own malice which urged them to such cruelty against him; for in order to secure the help of God, it is necessary to come before him with the testimony of a good conscience.
The Hebrew word שקר , sheker, which we have rendered wrongfully, is by some translated deceitfully, as if David meant that his enemies lay in wait for him. But this is to reason with too much subtilty. Besides, the repetition which immediately follows shows that he complains of their wilful hatred, inasmuch as of their own accord, and from deliberate design, they persecuted a man who had given them no cause of offense, but was their friend and benefactor. The Hebrew word קרף, karats, here signifies to wink with the eyes askance in mockery, as in Psa 22:8, it denotes, to wag the head, and to shoot out the lip.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(19) Wink.Pro. 6:13; Pro. 10:10; a common gesture of agreement among confederates.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. Hate me without a cause Quoted by Christ and applied to himself, Joh 15:25. The closing strophe is more chastened and calm, yet prayer against his enemies prevails. For wink with the eye, as a silent token of agreement, see Pro 6:13; Pro 10:10
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Earnest Prayer for Relief
v. 19. Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me, v. 20. For they speak not peace, v. 21. Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me v. 22. This Thou hast seen, O Lord, v. 23. v. 24. Judge me, O Lord, my God, according to Thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
v. 25. Let them not say in their hearts, v. 26. Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together, v. 27. Let them shout for joy and be glad that favor my righteous cause, v. 28. And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Psa 35:19. Wink with the eye i.e. In derision of my misfortunes.
REFLECTIONS.The cause of God and truth has hitherto been here more or less under the cross. We have,
1. David calling upon God to plead his cause, and vindicate his injured innocence. His enemies maligned and traduced him; not satisfied with plundering him of all, and driving him out as a vagabond in the earth, they thirsted for his precious blood. Note; (1.) The best of men have been often persecuted as the vilest criminals; and the most inoffensive and peaceable in the land, charged with the blackest designs of conspiracy and rebellion. (2.) When we have a good cause and a good conscience, it should make us the more easily put up with the revilings of men. (3.) God will one day visit for oppression and wrong; till then, let us possess our souls in patience.
2. He prays that God would inwardly support him, and outwardly manifest his power to the confusion of his enemies. [1.] He begs inward support, say unto my soul, I am thy salvation: all other trials would sit light upon him, while he possessed this consciousness of God’s power and grace engaged for him. Note; When the conscience of the believer assures him of his part in the Almighty Saviour, then all is peace within, and he can defy the glittering sword without. [2.] He cries for God’s appearing to protect him, and confound his enemies; not in the language of revenge, but under the spirit of prophesy, as what would surely come to pass. God’s shield and buckler spread over him, and sword and spear lifted up against his persecutors, will not only save him, but confound them. Note; (1.) Though we may not indulge private resentment, nor wish evil to our worst enemies, we may safely pray for the deliverance of God’s suffering people, and the confusion of the enemies of Christ and his church. (2.) The sinner’s foot is in a slippery place, and through the darkness of his fallen mind he sees not the dreadful pit just before him.
3. He rejoices in the confidence that God would save him, and therefore ascribes to him the glory. All my bones, my soul and body, my whole man, shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee? so peerless in thy own excellencies, so condescending to thy poor people, so good to redeem, so great to deliver them from all their mighty adversaries. Note; (1.) They who make the Lord their strength, will find him their joy. (2.) If God be for us, no matter who are against us.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Reader! recollect the peaceable temper and meekness of Jesus: recollect the temper of his apostles and followers: recollect in all ages, and even now ask, what is the temper and pursuit of God’s people: is it not that of following peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord? And yet is not hell up in arms against them, and are they not considered as the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things? 1Co 4:13 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
Ver. 19. Neither let them wink with the eye ] Which is the gesture of a malicious scoffer, Pro 6:13 ; Pro 10:10 . Ne amarulenter ludificentur me (Trem.).
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
that hate me. Quoted in Joh 15:25.
without a cause. Note the same Greek word there (dorean) as in Rom 3:24, rendered “freely”, but meaning “without a cause”. Compare Psa 35:7, and Psa 69:4; Psa 109:3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 35:19-28
Psa 35:19-28
“Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me;
Neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
For they speak not peace;
But they devise deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me;
They said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
Thou hast seen it, O Jehovah; keep not silence:
O Lord, be not far from me.
Stir up thyself, and awake to the justice due unto me,
Even unto my cause, My God and my Lord.
Judge me, O Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
Let them not say in their heart,
Aha, so would we have it:
Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
Let them be put to shame and confounded together that rejoice at my hurt:
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause:
Yea, let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified,
Who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness
And of thy praise all the day long.”
David’s relentless enemies in the court of King Saul were not content with having driven him out of Jerusalem and having caused him to flee like a hunted animal into the cave of Adullum; they were determined to kill him. “They stirred up the jealousy and hatred of King Saul by false, lying charges, causing him to be `hunted upon the mountains’ (1Sa 26:20).
“Our eye hath seen it” (Psa 35:21) “… Thou hast seen it, O Jehovah” (Psa 35:22). What a remarkable contrast is this! The lying tongues of the enemies are claiming that they had seen David’s terrible deeds; and David’s answer is, “God, you did indeed really see, and know the falsity of the charges.’ …. Thou hast seen,’ is a perfect foil to the claim of enemies that, `our eye hath seen it.’
“The justice due unto me” (Psa 35:23). Here David appeals to God for justice to be done. What could possibly be wrong with such a plea? Oh yes, he pleaded for his enemies to be put to shame, but not for their death. But what else could he have done? In the situation in which David found himself someone was most certainly doomed to be put to shame. The only thing David pleaded for here is that it would not be himself, but his lying enemies who would be the ones thus dishonored.
This writer can find nothing wrong with this prayer. It would really be interesting to hear the prayers of some of the critics of this psalm if they were confronted with the same kind of life or death situation that faced David.
“Judge me, O Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness” (Psa 35:24). Rawlinson gave the meaning of this appeal thus: “Let thy law of righteousness be the rule by which I am judged, and mine enemies also. This clearly indicates that David was not requesting anything against his enemies that was, in any sense, contrary to God’s justice.
“Let them not say, Aha, so would we have it” (Psa 35:25). “Another more colloquial rendering of these words would be, `Aha, this is what we wanted.’
“Let them shout for joy … that favor my righteous cause” (Psa 35:27). It is important to remember that David’s prayer here is not for himself alone. “If Saul had captured David when he `hunted him upon the mountains,’ David and all of his followers would have been put to death or exiled.
In that situation, a plea on David’s part that God would not allow his enemies to rejoice over his defeat and downfall, was automatically a plea that all of his friends and followers should rejoice and praise Jehovah. There was absolutely no `middle ground’ in this unhappy circumstance.
Psa 35:28, like Psa 35:9-10; Psa 35:18, marks the close of this third section with the same promise of thanksgiving to God that marked the close of the first two sections.
One other word shall close our discussion of this psalm. Back in verse 8, the prayer has these words, “Let destruction come upon him unawares.” Rawlinson’s comment on this was, “Them is always something in David’s imprecations from which Christians shrink; and this is particularly the case here where he asks for the `destruction’ of his enemies.
We do not believe that it was David’s meaning here that God would `kill’ his enemies; but that he would accomplish the destruction of their purposes. The clothing of his enemies in “dishonor” in Psa 35:26 is a request that does not imply the death of enemies but their defeat; and we believe that this is the meaning of Psa 35:8 also.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 35:19. David never did ask to be upheld in anything that was wrong. He only prayed that his enemies not be allowed to rejoice over him in their wrong-doing. To wink with the eye is a gesture of contempt as if they would humiliate him with scorn.
Psa 35:20. David’s enemies not only did nothing in behalf of peace, but were active in devising plots against peaceful citizens of the land.
Psa 35:21. Aha, aha, was another expression of ridicule and fun-making. Hath seen it refers to the misfortunes of David, and his enemies were outwardly glad because of his troubles.
Psa 35:22. Keep not silence means for the Lord not to fail to help David.
Psa 35:23. This is similar to the preceding verse. It is a supplication for divine help. God and Lord are used in one sentence, which indicates a difference in meaning. The first is from an original that means a Being to be worshiped. The second is from a word that means a ruler. The combined thought is that God should be worshiped and obeyed as supreme Ruler.
Psa 35:24. Judge means to pronounce a verdict, and to do so according to the facts in the case. David believed he had been righteous in his conduct and therefore was not useasy as to the judgment that God would form. In that case his enemies would have no ground for rejoicing over him.
Psa 35:25. David could not bear the thought of giving his enemies something to gloat over. The mere fact of having some kind of unpleasant experience would not have troubled him so much, but he did not want his enemies to claim credit for it.
Psa 35:26. Ashamed and confusion are practically the same and are used together for the purpose of emphasis. They mean for the enemies to be defeated in their plots against David. Shame means a feeling of humiliation, and dishonor has the sense of disgrace. All of these conditions were what David wished to come on his enemies because they magnified or boasted themselves against him.
Psa 35:27. We should like the spirit of this verse. David was not interested merely in his own welfare, but wished the Lord to receive due credit for it. The people he expected to take such an attitude were those who were in sympathy with him in his righteous service to God.
Psa 35:28. Thy righteousness had special reference to God’s righteous dealings with man. Thy praise meant the praise that David believed to be justly due the Lord.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Let: Psa 35:15, Psa 13:4, Psa 25:2, Psa 38:16, Joh 16:20-22, Rev 11:7-10
wrongfully: Heb. falsely, Psa 38:19
wink: Job 15:12, Pro 6:13, Pro 10:10
that hate: Psa 69:4, Psa 109:3, Psa 119:161, 1Sa 24:11, 1Sa 24:12, Lam 3:52, Joh 15:25
Reciprocal: Psa 30:1 – hast not Psa 35:24 – and let Psa 69:14 – let me Psa 119:86 – they Pro 24:17 – General Mic 7:8 – Rejoice Mat 5:22 – without Luk 23:35 – derided 1Pe 2:19 – suffering Rev 11:10 – rejoice
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 35:19-21. Neither let them wink with the eye That is, mock me, or insult over me, as this phrase signifies. For they speak not peace They are enemies to all peaceable counsels; they breathe out nothing but threatenings and war. They devise deceitful matters They use, not only open violence, but deceit and subtle artifices; against them that are quiet in the land Against me and my followers, who desire nothing more than to live quietly and peaceably under Sauls government. They opened their mouth wide To pour forth whole floods of scoffs, slanders, and contumelies. Or, to devour me. It is a metaphor taken from wild beasts, when they come within reach of their prey. And said, Aha, Aha! An expression of joy and triumph. Our eye hath seen it Namely, what we have long desired and hoped for. Or, as Bishop Patrick paraphrases it, So, so, we have found him out; his treasonable practices are discovered; we ourselves are eye-witnesses of it.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them {p} wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
(p) In token of contempt and mocking.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
3. A petition for justice 35:19-28
In this section the emphasis lies on the need for God to act for David.
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Winking at one another, David’s enemies communicated their sneaky intention to trap the psalmist in their plot. They were lying to turn others against him. They were also giving false testimony concerning his actions.