Psalm 35 21

Psalm 35:21 kjv

Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

Psalm 35:21 nkjv

They also opened their mouth wide against me, And said, "Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it."

Psalm 35:21 niv

They sneer at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."

Psalm 35:21 esv

They open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!"

Psalm 35:21 nlt

They shout, "Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we saw him do it!"

Psalm 35 verses

Psalm 35 21 Meaning

Psalm 35:21 expresses the deep distress of David (the psalmist) at the malicious glee and triumphal mockery of his enemies. They revel in what they perceive as his downfall or wrongdoing, opening their mouths wide in scorn and uttering an interjection of victory and satisfaction ("Aha, aha!"). Their declaration, "Our eye hath seen it," suggests they believe they have witnessed evidence against him or the fulfillment of their ill wishes, justifying their false accusations and demonstrating their lack of empathy and pervasive hatred. This verse captures the torment of being a target of public derision based on deceit and unrighteousness.

Psalm 35 21 Context

Psalm 35 is a fervent prayer of David, a psalm of lament and petition, seeking divine intervention against unrighteous and cruel adversaries who unjustly pursue his life. The psalm progresses from a plea for God to contend with those who contend with him (v. 1-8) to describing the malicious nature of his enemies (v. 9-16) and his lament at their treachery, despite his own past kindness towards them. Verse 21 falls within David's continued plea for justice and vindication (v. 17-26). Here, he vividly portrays the scorn and false triumph of his enemies. They openly mock him, falsely asserting they have "seen" something that validates their animosity. This underscores their malevolence and highlights the immense psychological burden David faced from their verbal and social attacks. The psalm ends with a renewed cry for God to act, assuring that His justice will lead to the psalmist's ultimate praise.

Psalm 35 21 Word analysis

• Yea: An emphatic particle, emphasizing the strong and deliberate action of the enemies. It highlights the psalmist's certainty regarding their actions.
• they opened: (וַיַּרְחִיבוּ - vayyarchi·vu) From the Hebrew root rachav (רחב), meaning "to be wide" or "to make wide." The use of "opened wide" implies an unrestrained, boastful, and aggressive verbal assault. It conveys a sense of unbridled contempt and a lack of any restraint in their derision.
• their mouth wide: (פִּיהֶם - pihem for "their mouth"). This phrase denotes public and aggressive speech. The "mouth opened wide" is often a gesture of scorn, contempt, and unrestrained malice, indicating a total lack of respect or pity.
• against me: (עָלַי - alay) Clearly establishes David as the specific target of their scorn and malevolence.
• and said: (אָמְרוּ - am'ru) Introduces the direct words spoken by the adversaries.
• Aha, aha: (הֶאָח הֶאָח - he'akh he'akh) An interjection expressing triumph, malicious glee, and derision. It's a shout of vindictive satisfaction, signifying that the enemies are delighted at what they perceive as the psalmist's misfortune or disgrace. This exclamation is used elsewhere in scripture to denote gloating over an enemy's downfall (e.g., Ezek 25:3, Ezek 26:2).
• our eye: (עֵינֵנוּ - eynenu) A collective possessive, emphasizing the unified perception of the enemies. It's presented as a shared conviction.
• hath seen it: (רָאֲתָה - ra'atah, from the root ra'ah רָאָה, "to see"). This statement implies they believe they have empirical proof of David's guilt or misfortune, or that their predictions of his ruin have come true. This false "seeing" stands in stark contrast to God's true seeing, which perceives justice and truth. They are delighted by what they "see," even if it is based on deceit or a skewed perspective, believing it validates their hostility.

Psalm 35 21 Bonus section

This verse profoundly impacts the psalmist, showcasing the psychological torture inflicted by enemies who gloat over another's pain. It underscores the biblical truth that a significant portion of suffering comes from the unkindness and malevolence of others. The enemies' phrase "our eye hath seen it" represents their conviction that they possess knowledge, whether actual or fabricated, that condemns the psalmist. This often manifests in gossip, slander, and the spread of false narratives designed to undermine one's reputation or cause. In contrast, God is presented in scripture as the One whose eye truly sees all things, especially the heart (1 Sam 16:7), and He is the ultimate vindicator. This highlights a recurring theme: human "seeing" is often fallible and biased, while divine "seeing" is just and perfect.

Psalm 35 21 Commentary

Psalm 35:21 powerfully conveys the crushing burden of verbal abuse and false accusation from malicious enemies. The phrase "opened their mouth wide against me" depicts an unbridled, aggressive stream of ridicule and scorn, intended to shame and demoralize. The repeated "Aha, aha!" is the cruel sound of triumph and schadenfreude, reflecting an almost demonic delight in perceived adversity. Their claim "our eye hath seen it" implies a false accusation or a distorted observation, as if they possess indisputable proof of David's fault or fall, thereby justifying their contempt. This verse highlights the deep pain caused not just by physical threats, but by psychological warfare, where adversaries gloat openly and maliciously over a victim's suffering, whether real or fabricated. For the believer, this imagery speaks to the spiritual reality of adversaries, visible and invisible, who delight in attempting to trip up and discredit God's people, often with false pretenses, just as Christ Himself experienced.