Psalm 40 15

Psalm 40:15 kjv

Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

Psalm 40:15 nkjv

Let them be confounded because of their shame, Who say to me, "Aha, aha!"

Psalm 40:15 niv

May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame.

Psalm 40:15 esv

Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, "Aha, Aha!"

Psalm 40:15 nlt

Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, "Aha! We've got him now!"

Psalm 40 verses

Psalm 40 15 Meaning

Psalm 40:15 is a fervent prayer asking God to bring about just recompense for the psalmist's adversaries. It expresses a desire that those who gloat maliciously over the psalmist's distress ("Aha, aha!") would themselves experience complete ruin and public disgrace as a deserved outcome of their contemptible actions. The verse embodies a plea for divine vindication, where the Lord turns the shame intended for His righteous servant back upon the wicked mockers.

Psalm 40 15 Context

Psalm 40 opens as a psalm of thanksgiving, with the psalmist (traditionally David) expressing profound gratitude to God for deliverance from a "horrible pit" and establishing his feet upon a rock (verses 1-10). This deliverance prompts him to faithfully proclaim God's righteousness, truth, and salvation. However, the psalm shifts abruptly from past deliverance to present petition and lament in verse 11, revealing that the psalmist is still in deep trouble, burdened by "innumerable evils" and assailed by "those who seek my life" (verse 12, 14). Verse 15 is an intensely personal plea embedded within this section of petition, directed at the specific, malicious behavior of his enemies. These adversaries are not merely opponents; they actively mock and celebrate his perceived downfall, using the scornful exclamation "Aha, aha!" This direct, triumphant mockery is what provokes the psalmist's strong request for their deserved desolation and shame. The entire psalm reflects a deeply personal experience of suffering, trust in God, and an appeal for justice in the face of ongoing persecution and scorn.

Psalm 40 15 Word analysis

• Let them be desolate (Hebrew: יֵשֹׁ֣מּוּ, yêshōmū, from the root שָׁמֵם, shamem):

  • Word Level: The root shamem means to be utterly waste, to lay waste, to be appalled, stunned, devastated. It describes a state of profound ruin, emptiness, and shock, often indicating divine judgment.
  • Significance: This is a petition for divine judgment that strips the adversaries of their power, stability, and dignity, leaving them in a state of abandonment and ruin. It stands as a direct contrast to their momentary triumph.

• for a reward (Hebrew: עֵ֣קֶב, ʿēqeb):

  • Word Level: Eqeb carries meanings such as "as a consequence of," "the heel," "track," "recompense," or "reward." In this context, it functions as a marker of consequence, signifying a just retribution or recompense. It’s not a positive award, but a fitting outcome directly linked to preceding actions.
  • Significance: This highlights the principle of divine justice, ensuring that the adversaries' actions directly lead to their appropriate judgment. Their ruin is not random, but a just consequence.

• of their shame (Hebrew: בָּשְׁתָּ֣ם, bāštām, from בֹּשֶׁת, boshet):

  • Word Level: Boshet denotes shame, disgrace, or confusion. It refers to public dishonor, humiliation, or a sense of utter failure. Here, "their shame" is the contemptible character of their malicious actions (the mocking) for which they deserve a reciprocal judgment.
  • Significance: The mocking and derision were intended to bring shame upon the psalmist. This prayer requests a complete reversal, where the very act that reveals their shameful character will bring actual shame and ruin upon them, exposing their moral bankruptcy before God.

• that say unto me, Aha, aha (Hebrew: אָח֮ אָח֮, āḥ āḥ, he'akh, he'akh):

  • Word Level: He'akh is an onomatopoeic exclamation, expressing malicious glee, scorn, triumph, or derision. It’s a sound of mockery and satisfaction at another's distress, indicating intense schadenfreude.
  • Significance: This phrase precisely defines the nature of the adversaries’ sin – active, vocal, and malicious enjoyment of the psalmist’s suffering. Its repetition emphasizes their strong and unreserved delight in the psalmist’s troubles, making their deserving judgment all the more evident.

• Words-group Analysis (Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame): This phrase invokes a fundamental biblical principle of divine retribution. It articulates the desire for God's just intervention, where the contemptible acts of the wicked—characterized by the intent to shame others—boomerang back upon them. Their deserved "reward" is the ignominious experience of their own undoing and public disgrace, brought about by God.

• Words-group Analysis (that say unto me, Aha, aha): This emphasizes the specific and offensive nature of the adversaries' hostility. Their "Aha, aha!" is not mere disapproval but a loud, scornful celebration of the psalmist's perceived misfortune, indicating profound disrespect and cruel enjoyment of his distress. This public and malicious gloating underscores the type of sin that the psalmist brings before God for divine judgment.

Psalm 40 15 Bonus section

• Prophetic Shadow: Many Christian interpreters view this type of psalm, especially its lament and call for justice against enemies, as foreshadowing Christ. He was the ultimate righteous Sufferer who was mocked and scorned ("Aha, aha!") during His passion (Mk 15:29-32). The ultimate judgment upon those who reject and revile God's Anointed, culminating in their shame and desolation, can be seen in these prophetic words.
• Ethical Consideration: While seemingly imprecatory, this prayer is rooted in a desire for divine justice, not personal vindictiveness. It models the practice of bringing grievances before God, recognizing His exclusive right to judge and punish. It sets a boundary for personal revenge by entrusting retribution wholly to the Lord.
• Contrast in Shame: The shame wished upon the enemies stands in stark contrast to the hope for the righteous: while enemies find shame, those who seek the Lord will rejoice and be glad in Him, and "let those who love your salvation say continually, 'The Lord be magnified!'" (Ps 40:16).

Psalm 40 15 Commentary

Psalm 40:15 is a potent prayer arising from the depths of distress, requesting God's divine justice against scornful enemies. It demonstrates the psalmist's reliance on God to deal with malicious mockery, a type of attack that not only inflicts suffering but also attempts to invalidate one's faith or righteous standing. The "Aha, aha!" expresses the height of cruel, triumphant schadenfreude, where enemies relish the troubles of the upright. The plea for them to "be desolate for a reward of their shame" is a request for a righteous, divinely ordained reversal: the very shame and ruin they desired for the psalmist will justly befall them. This reflects a profound trust in God as the ultimate arbiter of justice, who ensures that the intentions of the wicked will ultimately lead to their own undoing and public disgrace. It is a powerful reminder that God defends His own and that those who mock His faithful people ultimately mock God Himself, facing His inevitable and just judgment. The verse teaches believers to entrust their vindication to God rather than seeking personal vengeance, affirming His sovereignty over all retribution.