Psalms 35:23
in Psalms 35Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Stir up thyself, and awake to the justice due unto me, Even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
KJV
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
⋯
This verse in Psalms 35
Commentary
11 notes on this verseStir up thyself and awake,.... Who seemed to be asleep in the apprehensions of the psalmist, and to take no notice of his distresses, and the insults of his enemies; see Psa 44:23; he adds, to my judgment, even to my cause; that is, to plead it and maintain it, and avenge him of his enemies, as in Psa 35:1; making use of his covenant interest in him as a plea for it to engage him to do it, saying, my God, and my Lord; see Psa 22:1.
This site's exposition
You have seen it
on Psalms 35:22-24
The enemies had just said their own eyes had seen, and verse 22 answers that God has seen it. Awake and rise to my defense asks God to take up the case as a judge takes a cause. Vindication is asked by Your righteousness.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Arise, Lord, and attend to My judgment" [Psalm 35:23]. To what judgment? That Thou art in tribulation; that Thou art tormented with labours and pains? Do not even many wicked men suffer the same? To what judgment? Therefore art Thou righteous, because Thou sufferest these things? No: but what? "To My judgment." What followeth? "Attend to My judgment; even to My cause, My God, and My Lord." Not to My punishment, but to My cause: not to that which the robber hath in common with Me, but to that whereof is said, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake." For this cause is distinguished. For punishment is equal to good and bad. Therefore Martyrs, not the punishment, but the cause maketh, for if punishment made Martyrs, all the mines would be full of Martyrs, every chain would drag Martyrs, all that are executed with the sword would be crowned. Therefore let the cause be distinguished; let none say, because I suffer, I am righteous. Because He who first suffered, suffered for righteousness' sake, therefore He added a great exception, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake." For many having a good cause do persecution, and many having a bad cause suffer persecution. For if persecution could not be done rightly, it had not been said in a certain Psalm, "Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him did I persecute." ...Let none then say, I suffer persecution: let him not sift the punishment, but prove the cause: lest if he prove not the cause, he be numbered with the ungodly. Therefore how watchfully, how excellently hath This Man recommended Himself, "O Lord, attend to My judgment," not to My punishments; "even to My cause, My God, and My Lord."
According to our human custom, one often says "arise" to one who is always awake and always attentive. Since he constantly reviews all things, he is regarded as having paid attention when he punishes.
Since by his long-suffering he gives the impression of sleeping, as it were, he urges him to arise and deliver a verdict in his favor.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Arise." Here he sets forth the process of judgment. For three things are required in a judgment. First, that the judge take up the case. Second, that he consider the merits of the case. Third, that he pronounce a just sentence. As to the first, …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the L ORD : it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, L ORD , who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:92%@v9-10
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
"Stir up thyself." Be upon thy mettle. Prove that thou art no indifferent witness to all this infamy. "Awake to rail judgment." Take the sceptre and summon the great assize; vindicate justice, avenge oppression. Do not tarry as men do who sleep. "Even unto my cause, my God and my Lord." He claims a nearness to his God, he holds him with both hands; he leaves his case with the righteous Judge. He begs that the suit may be brought on, heard, tried, and verdict given.
"Stir up thyself." Be upon thy mettle. Prove that thou art no indifferent witness to all this infamy. "Awake to rail judgment." Take the sceptre and summon the great assize; vindicate justice, avenge oppression. Do not tarry as men do who sleep. "Even unto my cause, my God and my Lord." He claims a nearness to his God, he holds him with both hands; he leaves his case with the righteous Judge. He begs that the suit may be brought on, heard, tried, and verdict given.
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment - I have delivered my cause into thy hand, and appeal to thee as my Judge; and by thy decision I am most willing to abide.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Stir up thyself - Arouse thyself as if from sleep. See Psa 44:23. And awake to my judgment - To execute judgment for me, or to render me justice. A similar petition (almost in the same words) occurs in Psa 7:6. See the notes at that passage. Even unto my cause - In my behalf; or, in the cause which so nearly pertains to me.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הָעִ֣ירָה | hairah | wake up ! | H5782 → | 80 times |
| וְ֭הָקִיצָה | vehakitzah | and awake ! | H6974 → | 22 times |
| לְמִשְׁפָּטִ֑י | lemishpati | for judgment my | H4941 → | 422 times |
| אֱלֹהַ֖י | ʾelohai | O God my | H430 → | 2601 times |
| וַֽאדֹנָ֣י | vadonai | and O Lord | H136 → | 440 times |
| לְרִיבִֽי׃ | lerivi | for cause my | H7379 → | 61 times |
הָעִ֣ירָהwake up !
hairahH5782 →80 times
וְ֭הָקִיצָהand awake !
vehakitzahH6974 →22 times
לְמִשְׁפָּטִ֑יfor judgment my
lemishpatiH4941 →422 times
אֱלֹהַ֖יO God my
ʾelohaiH430 →2601 times
וַֽאדֹנָ֣יand O Lord
vadonaiH136 →440 times
לְרִיבִֽי׃for cause my
leriviH7379 →61 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 51:9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the…
it leads to
- Psalms 74:13–14
You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;
- Isaiah 52:1
Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
- Psalms 89:10
You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.
- Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.
- Isaiah 30:7
Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.
- Psalms 74:13–14
Through
Psalms 7:6Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.
it leads to
- Psalms 44:23
Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 44:23
Through
Psalms 89:26He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock of my salvation.’
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 7:14
I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
- 2 Samuel 22:47
The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! And may God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted—
- 2 Samuel 7:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 35; Cassiodorus, EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:23; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Diodorus of Tarsus, COMMENTARY ON PSALM 35; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.