Psalm 35:4 kjv
Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
Psalm 35:4 nkjv
Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor Who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion Who plot my hurt.
Psalm 35:4 niv
May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
Psalm 35:4 esv
Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!
Psalm 35:4 nlt
Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me;
turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.
Psalm 35 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 7:15-16 | He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the pit... | Plotters fall into their own traps. |
| Ps 9:15-16 | The nations have sunk in the pit... His own hands trapped the wicked. | God's justice turns evil plans on the wicked. |
| Ps 10:2 | In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught... | God catches wicked in their schemes. |
| Ps 31:17 | Let the wicked be put to shame... be silent in Sheol. | Plea for divine judgment on wicked. |
| Ps 40:14-15 | Let those be put to shame and dishonor who seek to snatch away my life... | Similar prayer for enemies' shame. |
| Ps 69:22-28 | Let their table become a snare... and for their fellowship, a trap. | Extensive imprecation against enemies. |
| Ps 70:2-3 | Let those be put to shame... who seek my life... | Near identical prayer to Ps 40:14-15. |
| Ps 83:13-17 | O my God, make them like whirling dust... | Desire for enemies' defeat and humiliation. |
| Ps 109:29 | Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor; let them be covered... | Opposers clothed with shame. |
| Ps 129:5 | Let all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward! | Desire for Israel's enemies to retreat. |
| Ps 140:9-10 | As for the head of those who encompass me... May burning coals fall on them. | Evil plans to backfire severely. |
| 2 Sam 15:31 | O Lᴏʀᴅ, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. | David's prayer against treacherous counsel. |
| Esth 9:25 | For Haman had devised against the Jews... returned upon his own head. | Haman's plot backfiring on him. |
| Prov 26:27 | Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back... | Consequences of devising harm for others. |
| Jer 17:18 | Let those who persecute me be put to shame, but let me not be put to shame. | Prophet's prayer for justice. |
| Lk 6:28 | Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. | Contrast: NT call for love of enemies. |
| Rom 12:14 | Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. | New Testament principle of blessing enemies. |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God... | God is ultimate avenger; not human revenge. |
| 2 Thess 1:6-8 | God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you. | God's righteous judgment against persecutors. |
| 2 Tim 4:14 | Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him... | Paul trusts God for recompense. |
| Rev 18:6 | Pay her back as she herself has paid back, and render to her double... | Eschatological divine judgment on Babylon. |
Psalm 35 verses
Psalm 35 4 Meaning
Psalm 35:4 is a fervent prayer by King David, expressing his plea for divine intervention against his adversaries. It requests that those who unjustly seek to harm or destroy him be utterly disgraced, their malicious intentions turned back upon themselves, and their evil plans thwarted and brought to naught. The verse seeks not personal revenge, but God's public vindication of the righteous by exposing and shaming the wickedness of the ungodly.
Psalm 35 4 Context
Psalm 35 is a raw and passionate prayer by David for divine intervention and justice against his relentless enemies. David identifies himself as one unjustly persecuted, enduring slander, deceit, and malice from those who repaid him evil for good, even while he prayed for them when they were sick (Ps 35:12-14). This verse (Ps 35:4) flows directly from David's initial cries for God to "contend with those who contend with me" and "fight against those who fight against me" (Ps 35:1-3), specifying the desired outcome of God's action: the public shame and frustration of his enemies. Historically, this psalm resonates with periods in David's life when he was pursued without cause, such as by King Saul, or during Absalom's rebellion, when those he had formerly aided turned against him. The plea is rooted in the covenant understanding that Yahweh is a righteous judge who defends the innocent and punishes the wicked, not a call for personal revenge but for divine, covenantal justice to be manifested.
Psalm 35 4 Word analysis
- Let them be confounded: From the Hebrew root בוש (bosh), meaning to be ashamed, to be put to confusion, to be disappointed. This is a plea for God to act in such a way that their plots fail spectacularly, leading to public disgrace and the recognition of their folly. It implies not just an inner feeling but a public manifestation of their plans falling apart.
- and put to shame: From the Hebrew root כּלם (kalam), which carries the strong sense of dishonor, ignominy, disgrace. This reinforces and intensifies the preceding idea. It suggests being covered with public reproach and utter humiliation as a consequence of their wicked actions failing.
- that seek after my soul: Hebrew מבקשי נפשי (mᵊbaqqᵊshê naphshi). "Seek" (baqash) means to earnestly look for, to strive for. "My soul" (naphshi) here means "my life" or "myself." This phrase signifies that the adversaries are not merely annoyed or causing slight harm, but are actively and intentionally plotting to take David's life, destroy his existence, or utterly ruin him. It indicates a grave and malicious intent.
- let them be turned back: Hebrew יסוגו אחור (yissoghu achor). The verb sug means to backslide, withdraw, or recede. Achor means backward. This phrase signifies a reversal of their aggressive pursuit. It implies their plans will be halted, their advance thwarted, and they will be forced into a humiliating retreat, abandoning their wicked objectives.
- and brought to confusion: Hebrew יחפרו (yechapheru). The root chapher means to dig, often in the context of digging a pit or hole. Metaphorically, it refers to digging a trap for others and then falling into it oneself (e.g., Ps 7:15). It carries the sense of utter frustration, perplexity, and disappointment as their efforts and cunning prove futile. Their malicious endeavors will lead to nothing but their own bewildered collapse.
- that devise my hurt: Hebrew חושבי רעתי (choshevei ra'ati). "Devise" (chashav) means to think, to plan, to calculate, to scheme, to invent. "My hurt" (ra'ati) means my evil, my misfortune, my calamity, or harm against me. This highlights the premeditated and calculated nature of the enemies' actions. They are not acting spontaneously but deliberately plotting and planning specific harm against David, underlining their wickedness.
- Word group analysis: The coupling of "confounded and put to shame" emphasizes a comprehensive disgrace – both internally frustrated and externally humiliated. "Seek after my soul" and "devise my hurt" paint a picture of deliberate, life-threatening malice. "Turned back and brought to confusion" illustrates the complete failure of their schemes, where their advance becomes a humiliating retreat, and their carefully laid plans dissolve into disarray.
Psalm 35 4 Bonus section
The strong, emotive verbs used in this verse ("confounded," "put to shame," "turned back," "brought to confusion") reflect the intensity of David's spiritual and physical anguish, and his conviction that God is deeply concerned with the injustice His faithful endure. This type of imprecation served a theological purpose, expressing confidence that God sees and responds to evil, providing comfort to the oppressed that their cries for justice do not go unheard. The desire for the enemies to be "brought to confusion" connects to a broader biblical theme where God causes confusion among the wicked, frustrating their plans and revealing their foolishness, ultimately for His glory (e.g., Babel, Gen 11:7; Philistines, 1 Sam 7:10).
Psalm 35 4 Commentary
Psalm 35:4 encapsulates David's righteous indignation and profound trust in God as the ultimate judge and defender. It is a heartfelt appeal for God's divine justice to publicly humble and defeat those who plot malevolently against His servant. This verse is not born of a spirit of personal vendetta but a fervent desire for the vindication of God's name and the triumph of righteousness. David desires that the adversaries' meticulous evil designs "be turned back" on them, leading to their shame and disarray, effectively undoing their every move. The prayer acknowledges God's sovereignty over evil intentions, demonstrating that no plot, however cunning, can ultimately stand against the Lord's protective hand over His own. While Christians are called to love enemies (Matt 5:44) and leave vengeance to God (Rom 12:19), this psalm articulates a truthful longing for justice in a world fraught with evil, and a trust that God will indeed ensure that wickedness does not ultimately prevail.