Psalm 35 25

Psalm 35:25 kjv

Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

Psalm 35:25 nkjv

Let them not say in their hearts, "Ah, so we would have it!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."

Psalm 35:25 niv

Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up."

Psalm 35:25 esv

Let them not say in their hearts, "Aha, our heart's desire!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."

Psalm 35:25 nlt

Don't let them say, "Look, we got what we wanted!
Now we will eat him alive!"

Psalm 35 verses

Psalm 35 25 Meaning

Psalm 35:25 is a fervent plea from the psalmist, David, asking God to prevent his enemies from experiencing malicious triumph over his suffering or destruction. The first phrase, "Aha, so we desired!", reflects their eager longing and the profound satisfaction they would feel at his downfall, stemming from their inner intentions. The second phrase, "We have swallowed him up," describes their ultimate aim: complete and utter obliteration, as if consuming and removing all trace of him. This verse reveals the deep malice of David's adversaries and his desperate cry for God's divine intervention to frustrate their wicked joy and maintain his justice and the honor of God.

Psalm 35 25 Context

Psalm 35 is a raw and urgent prayer of David for divine deliverance from treacherous enemies. These adversaries, who he had previously shown compassion towards, are now falsely accusing and seeking to destroy him without cause. The psalm oscillates between an appeal for God's decisive intervention, a vivid depiction of the enemies' malice and cunning, and a renewed vow of praise upon his anticipated deliverance. Verse 25 captures a specific dread of David: the enemies not only desire his harm but also wish to gloat publicly and privately over his complete ruin. It's a plea for God to prevent them from achieving the ultimate satisfaction of their evil intentions, emphasizing that such a triumph would dishonor God's justice and David's righteous cause. The request for divine intervention is not merely for personal safety but also to uphold the righteousness of God in the sight of those who scoff.

Psalm 35 25 Word analysis

• Let them not say (אַל יֹאמְרוּ, al yo'mru): This is a strong negative imperative, a forceful prohibition and plea. David is not merely wishing, but actively imploring God to stop their words and by extension, their underlying desires and actions from coming to pass. It underscores the profound distress and the fervent nature of the prayer.
• in their hearts (בִּלְבָבָם, bilvavam): Refers to their innermost being, intentions, and thoughts. It highlights that their malice is deep-seated and not just outward behavior. The gloating isn't just external but springs from a wicked gratification within their very core.
• 'Aha' (הֶאָח, he'akh): This interjection is a sound of malicious triumph, gloating, or scorn. It indicates extreme satisfaction or delight at the misfortune or destruction of another. It's often associated with derision or mockery. Its use implies a celebratory cry of success.
• so we desired! / our soul (נַפְשֵׁנוּ, naf'shenu): Literally "our soul" or "our life," but in this context, it idiomatically means "our desire" or "our longing." It signifies that their deepest cravings and malevolent aspirations for David's destruction have been fully satisfied or achieved. Their inner being finds wicked pleasure in his downfall.
• 'We have swallowed him up.' (בִּלַּעֲנֻהוּ, billa'anu hu): Swallowed him up (בִּלַּע, billa'*): This verb means to consume, engulf, devour, or utterly destroy. The imagery is graphic: complete obliteration, leaving no trace. It implies a total victory where the victim is entirely assimilated or removed from existence, utterly vanquished and without hope of recovery. This goes beyond mere defeat; it's annihilation.

• "Aha, so we desired!": This phrase represents the pinnacle of enemy malice. It's the inner satisfaction, the fulfillment of their wicked plot, turning into an outward shout of triumph. It is deeply rooted in what their evil nature craves.
• "We have swallowed him up.": This phrase illustrates the utter completeness of their destructive aim. It conveys not just conquest, but absorption and annihilation, erasing the opponent as if they never existed. This double emphasis on inner desire and outward destructive fulfillment powerfully portrays the depths of the enemies' malevolent intent.

Psalm 35 25 Bonus section

The concept of "schadenfreude" — joy in the suffering of others — is a distinctly condemned characteristic in biblical wisdom, highlighting the perversion of the heart found in David's enemies here. The repeated negative imperatives, "Let them not say," underscore the psalmist's urgent plea, indicating the absolute necessity for divine intervention to prevent such a shameful and blasphemous outcome. This Psalm anticipates Messianic suffering; Jesus too faced enemies who wished to swallow Him up, both physically and reputably. However, God did not permit their ultimate triumph, but swallowed up death through Christ's resurrection (1 Cor 15:54), thereby preventing the ultimate "Aha!" of the evil one and securing His eternal victory. For believers, this verse is a prayer model for when facing persecution; we seek not only deliverance from affliction but also God's public vindication, so that His name may be glorified and those who plot evil may be put to shame.

Psalm 35 25 Commentary

Psalm 35:25 serves as a profound expression of a righteous man's fervent prayer against the gloating and complete triumph of his adversaries. David’s petition to God stems from his deep understanding of his enemies’ inherent wickedness. They harbored not merely animosity, but an "aha!" of wicked glee—a satanic joy in the suffering and collapse of another—rooted deeply "in their hearts." This wasn't superficial enmity, but a consuming passion to see him eradicated, summed up by the chilling declaration, "We have swallowed him up." The verse implores God to thwart this diabolical celebration, recognizing that a righteous man's downfall at the hands of the wicked, particularly if met with their unbridled triumph, could dishonor God's justice and covenant faithfulness. David implicitly asks God to vindicate His own name and demonstrate His power to protect His servant, thereby silencing the taunts of the ungodly. The psalmist is not only seeking personal deliverance but also God's glory in disarming those who would revel in the suffering of the righteous.