Psalm 35 15

Psalm 35:15 kjv

But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

Psalm 35:15 nkjv

But in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease;

Psalm 35:15 niv

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing.

Psalm 35:15 esv

But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;

Psalm 35:15 nlt

But they are glad now that I am in trouble;
they gleefully join together against me.
I am attacked by people I don't even know;
they slander me constantly.

Psalm 35 verses

Psalm 35 15 Meaning

Psalm 35:15 describes the bitter experience of King David when his adversaries, instead of showing sympathy, celebrated and gathered to intensify their attacks against him during his time of weakness. They were people of low moral character who slandered him relentlessly and without cessation. It highlights the profound ingratitude and malicious joy of those whom David had previously shown compassion towards, demonstrating their perversion of justice and human kindness.

Psalm 35 15 Context

Psalm 35 is a psalm of lament and imprecation by David, appealing to God for deliverance and justice from treacherous enemies. The immediate verses preceding verse 15 (vv. 13-14) reveal David's compassionate behavior towards these very enemies when they were suffering; he would mourn, fast, and pray for them as if for a friend or brother. Verse 15 marks a stark and painful contrast: despite his prior benevolence, when David himself experienced distress ("adversity"), these same individuals maliciously rejoiced and escalated their attacks. This abrupt shift highlights their ingratitude and wickedness, providing the emotional and moral basis for David's subsequent plea for God's intervention against them. The broader historical context is David's numerous experiences of betrayal and unprovoked hostility, whether from King Saul, Absalom, or others who turned against him without cause.

Psalm 35 15 Word analysis

• But (וְאָֽכְלִי – v'akheliy): The "but" signifies a strong contrast or opposition. It dramatically shifts from David's compassion to his enemies' malevolence. It acts as an adversative conjunction, setting the stage for a revelation of extreme hypocrisy and ingratitude.
• in mine adversity (בְּצַלְעִ֣י – betzali'y): From the root tsela (צלע), meaning "lameness," "limping," "stumbling," "fall," or "calamity." It denotes a state of weakness, vulnerability, or misfortune. David was in a predicament where he was exposed and unable to defend himself fully, akin to someone stumbling and falling. This state invited not help, but further attack.
• they rejoiced (שָׂמְח֥וּ – samechu): From samach (שמח), "to be glad," "rejoice." Here, it expresses a perverse, malicious delight (schadenfreude) at David's suffering, demonstrating a cruel and ungodly spirit.
• and gathered themselves together (וְנֶֽאֱסְפ֨וּ – v'ne'esfu): From 'asaf (אסף), "to gather," "collect," "assemble." This indicates a deliberate, concerted, and organized effort by the adversaries to gang up on him. It's not a casual gathering but a hostile assembly.
• yea (וְנֶֽאֱסְפ֨וּ – v'ne'esfu, preceding 'the abjects'): Often translated as "indeed" or "moreover," this repetition emphasizes and intensifies the gathering action, adding a further dimension to their malice. It points to an even more specific and abhorrent group within the general assembly.
• the abjects (נֵכִ֤ים – nech'im): From the root nakah (נכה), "to strike," "maim." It can refer to "smiters," "crippled ones," "menials," "worthless persons," or "those smitten." In context, it primarily refers to morally base, unscrupulous, contemptible individuals, or perhaps "the vicious" or "strikers." These were people of low standing, possibly the dregs of society or morally corrupt individuals, who are often emboldened to act with malice against the vulnerable. Some commentaries interpret them as "violent men."
• assembled themselves against me (נֶֽאֱסְפוּ־עָלַ֨י – ne'esfu-'alay): Reinforces the preceding phrase. The prefix al (עַל) explicitly states their hostile posture—against him, indicating a deliberate and targeted aggression, possibly conspiratorial.
• they did tear me (קָרְע֣וּ – kar'u): From kara (קרע), "to tear," "rend." This is a powerful metaphor for vicious verbal assault, character assassination, public scorn, or slander. They tore his reputation, his dignity, and his peace with their words, much like an animal tearing its prey. It conveys an act of extreme hostility, defaming or destroying him socially.
• and ceased not (וְלֹ֣א דָ֑מּוּ – v'lo damu): From damam (דמם), "to be silent," "still," or "rest." The negative particle "lo" (לא) means "not." Thus, "they did not cease," implying a relentless, continuous, and unabating assault. Their malicious actions and verbal attacks were persistent, offering no respite.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together": This phrase sharply contrasts David's previous benevolent actions with the cruel reaction of his enemies. When David was in a vulnerable state, they did not offer aid but found perverse joy and coalesced into a hostile group. This highlights their utter lack of empathy and malicious intent. The gathering signifies a planned, collective attack, moving beyond mere schadenfreude to active aggression.
• "yea, the abjects assembled themselves against me": This amplifies the nature of the adversaries. It is not just anyone, but specifically the "abjects" or contemptible ones who joined this hostile gathering. The repetition of "assembled themselves" emphasizes the concerted effort, underscoring the personal and deliberate nature of their attack "against me," intensifying the feeling of persecution by the morally depraved.
• "they did tear me, and ceased not": This describes the method and duration of the attack. The "tearing" implies a violent, destructive act, primarily metaphorical for vicious slander, character assassination, or public humiliation. It was not a physical tearing but an assault on his reputation and person. The phrase "and ceased not" reveals the relentless nature of this persecution; their hostility was unyielding, constantly assaulting David with their lies and malice.

Psalm 35 15 Bonus section

The "abjects" (נֵכִ֤ים - nech'im) often refer to individuals afflicted with physical ailments like lameness or paralysis. However, in this context, it takes on a morally derogatory meaning. This implies that those who were perhaps weak or dependent on society (or perhaps even David himself, given his history of care for the poor and afflicted) were among his fiercest and most ignoble persecutors. This adds another layer of betrayal and ingratitude. It is possible David felt double pain: not only were his enemies rejoicing, but they were the 'lowest' members of society or the ones considered 'smiters', compounding the humiliation and demonstrating how far people can sink into malice. This is akin to the lowest elements of society joining forces to deride and attack Jesus during His passion, illustrating the universal truth of such malice across generations.

Psalm 35 15 Commentary

Psalm 35:15 encapsulates the profound suffering of the righteous at the hands of the wicked, marking a crucial turning point in David's lament. The verse portrays a deeply ungrateful and cruel betrayal, as those David had compassionately aided now delight in his misfortune and conspire against him. Their joy in his "adversity" reveals a distorted moral compass, while their organized "gathering" indicates a concerted, calculated effort to harm. The description of them as "abjects" or "base persons" underscores the indignity of David's persecution, that such low characters could rise to maliciously attack him. The imagery of "tearing" points to brutal verbal assaults—slander, defamation, and public shaming—which, combined with "ceased not," emphasizes the unrelenting, relentless nature of their attacks, denying him any peace or respite. This verse perfectly foreshadows the baseless hatred and relentless persecution experienced by Christ, who also loved and served those who ultimately conspired against Him. It reminds believers that true faith may encounter severe, unprovoked hostility from those who oppose God's righteous standard.