Psalm 35:6 kjv
Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
Psalm 35:6 nkjv
Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the LORD pursue them.
Psalm 35:6 niv
may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
Psalm 35:6 esv
Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!
Psalm 35:6 nlt
Make their path dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
Psalm 35 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 73:18 | Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. | Wicked's precarious position |
| Prov 4:19 | The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. | Wicked walk in darkness, lack direction |
| Isa 59:9-10 | Therefore justice is far from us... We grope for the wall like the blind. | Judgment leads to stumbling and darkness |
| Jer 23:12 | Their way shall be to them Like slippery ways in the darkness; They shall be driven on and fall in them. | False prophets' treacherous path and fall |
| Rom 12:19 | Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. | God's exclusive right to retribution |
| Heb 10:30 | For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay." | Divine vengeance for justice |
| Exod 14:24-25 | The Lord brought on the Egyptian army... causing their chariots to drive with difficulty. | Divine action against pursuers (Angel often present) |
| 2 Sam 22:28 | You will save the humble people, But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down. | God humbles the proud and wicked |
| Ps 18:37 | I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. | Ps 35:6 reverses the psalmist's experience |
| Job 18:5-6 | Indeed, the light of the wicked will be put out; And the flame of his fire will not shine. | Darkness as judgment for the wicked |
| Dan 5:6 | His knees knocked together. | Instability of those facing divine judgment |
| 1 Jn 2:11 | He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness... | Moral darkness and lack of direction |
| Isa 30:8-9 | A rebellious people... they will not hear the law of the Lord; | Rejecting truth leads to confusion |
| Zech 12:4 | I will strike every horse with bewilderment and its rider with madness. | Divine disorientation of enemies |
| Prov 16:9 | A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. | God controls destiny, can thwart plans |
| Exod 23:20-23 | See, I am sending an angel before you... to keep you in the way... but if you obey, I will be an enemy to your enemies. | Angel can guide or fight for God's people |
| Num 22:22-35 | The Angel of the Lord stood in the way as an adversary against him. | Angel of the Lord actively obstructs wicked |
| 2 Kgs 19:35 | The Angel of the Lord went out, and struck in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand. | Angel of the Lord as agent of swift destruction |
| 2 Thess 1:7-8 | When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance... | Christ's future judgment with angels |
| Acts 12:23 | The angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give glory to God. | Angel of the Lord strikes Herod for impiety |
| Ps 34:7 | The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them. | Angel of the Lord protects the righteous |
| Deut 32:35 | Vengeance is Mine, and recompense. | God's justice ultimately prevails |
Psalm 35 verses
Psalm 35 6 Meaning
Psalm 35:6 is an impassioned plea to God for divine judgment upon the psalmist's enemies. It seeks for their chosen path, symbolic of their lives and schemes, to become obscure and dangerous, making them prone to falling. Further, it invokes the direct, active intervention of the Angel of the Lord to relentlessly pursue and overtake them, ensuring their defeat and the execution of divine retribution. It is a prayer for God's justice to be meted out against those who unjustly oppose His servant.
Psalm 35 6 Context
Psalm 35 is an impassioned individual lament and imprecation (a prayer invoking divine judgment) written by David, crying out for God’s intervention against his adversaries. These enemies unjustly persecute and accuse him without cause, despite David having shown them kindness and even mourning for them in their distress (35:12-14). The psalm moves from a desperate plea for God to take up arms against his foes (35:1-3) to a vivid portrayal of the retribution he desires upon them (35:4-8). Verse 6 specifically focuses on their disorientation and vulnerability, culminating in their active pursuit by a divine agent. The broader context includes David’s reliance on God’s righteousness, his yearning for vindication, and his ultimate commitment to praise the Lord when delivered (35:18, 27-28). It is a call for justice to be upheld against profound injustice, not merely a personal desire for revenge, but an appeal to God's righteous governance of the world.
Psalm 35 6 Word analysis
- Let their way: A jussive form, indicating a strong desire or command for something to happen. It speaks to the conduct, lifestyle, and destiny chosen or incurred by the adversaries. This is not passive observation but an active prayer for a specific outcome concerning their future and spiritual standing.
- be dark: (Hebrew: חֹשֶׁךְ - choshek) Signifies obscurity, confusion, spiritual blindness, and the absence of divine guidance or favor. It implies disorientation and a loss of clarity, making it impossible to see or understand one's path, leading to peril. In biblical terms, darkness is often associated with judgment, evil, and the realm opposed to God's light.
- and slippery: (Hebrew: חֲלַקְלַקּוֹת - chalaqlaqqot) This intensive plural noun suggests extreme slipperiness, treacherous conditions, and places of constant instability. It metaphorically describes an insecure footing, where one is prone to stumbling and falling easily. This reflects moral instability, a lack of solid ground, and an impending, inevitable downfall due to their own unrighteousness.
- and let the angel of the Lord: (Hebrew: מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - mal'akh Yahweh) This is a highly significant figure in the Old Testament, often appearing as a pre-incarnate manifestation of God Himself (a theophany or Christophany) or as a direct, powerful divine agent embodying God's presence and will. The prayer specifies not just any angel, but this unique, authoritative divine messenger, emphasizing the direct and irresistible nature of the desired judgment.
- pursue them: (Hebrew: רָדַף - radaf) Implies a relentless, active, and persistent chase. It is not merely a wish for a single encounter, but a continuous, unyielding pursuit until they are overtaken and the judgment is fully executed. This divine pursuit signifies inevitable doom and capture, mirroring how enemies often pursue the psalmist, but now in reversal.
Words-group analysis
- "Let their way be dark and slippery": This phrase functions as a comprehensive curse upon the path of the wicked. It seeks disorientation, moral and spiritual blindness (darkness), coupled with treacherous and unstable conditions (slippery), ensuring their downfall. It's the antithesis of the righteous path, which is clear and firm (Prov 4:18, Ps 119:105).
- "and let the angel of the Lord pursue them": This specifies the divine agent and action that will ensure the outcome prayed for in the first part of the verse. It's a plea for active, powerful, and decisive divine intervention. The Angel of the Lord’s pursuit signifies inescapable judgment, indicating God's direct involvement in vindicating the righteous and bringing retribution upon the wicked. This reflects the sovereignty and active justice of Yahweh.
Psalm 35 6 Bonus section
The imprecatory prayers found in the Psalms, such as this verse, are not endorsements of personal vengeance for believers but rather fervent appeals to God, the ultimate Judge, to exercise His righteous authority in a world riddled with injustice. They reflect a strong faith in God's moral governance and a plea for the vindication of His holy name against those who oppose His divine order and oppress His people. Such prayers often embody a desire for divine justice that goes beyond immediate circumstances, pointing to a future where God's ultimate kingdom will bring all unrighteousness to an end. This particular prayer serves as a stark reminder of the fate of those who reject God's ways: ultimate confusion, instability, and unavoidable divine judgment.
Psalm 35 6 Commentary
Psalm 35:6 expresses a deep cry for divine justice against severe and unwarranted aggression. It describes the psalmist's longing for his enemies' destruction not out of personal vindictiveness, but as a righteous act of God to uphold truth and moral order. The imagery of a "dark and slippery way" powerfully conveys utter confusion, danger, and a predestined fall. This is the opposite of the secure, illuminated path God provides for the righteous. The inclusion of "the Angel of the Lord" elevates the imprecation from a human wish to a profound theological request for God's personal and irresistible intervention. This figure, often a divine manifestation, indicates that judgment will not be delayed or deflected; it will be direct, relentless, and decisive, ensuring that divine righteousness prevails over wickedness.