Psalms 44:16
in Psalms 44at the voice of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy, bent on revenge.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth, By reason of the enemy and the avenger.
KJV
For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
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This verse in Psalms 44
Commentary
8 notes on this verseFor the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth. It seems that from mocking the people of God, the adversaries advanced to reviling God himself, they proceeded from persecution to the sin which is next of kin, namely blasphemy. By reason of the enemy and avenger. The enemy boasted of avenging the defeats of their forefathers; they took revenge for the ancient victories of Israel, by insulting over the now fallen people.
This site's exposition
a reproach to our neighbors
on Psalms 44:13-16
The words pile up: a mockery, a byword among the nations, a reproach to our neighbors. Then it narrows to one face, shame has covered my face. Clarke reads the list as built from the nation's humiliation down to one man's shame, at the voice of the scorner.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"My shame is continually before me; and the confusion of my face has covered me." "For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth": that is to say, from the voice of them that insult over me, and who make it a charge against me that I worship Thee, that I confess Thee! and who make it a charge against me that I bear that name by which all charges against me shall be blotted out. "For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth," that is, of him that speaketh against me. "By reason of the enemy and the persecutor." And what is the "understanding" conveyed here? Those things which are told us of the time past, will not be done in our case: those which are hoped for, as to be hereafter, are not as yet manifest. Those which are past, as the leading out of Thy people with great glory from Egypt; its deliverance from its persecutors; the guiding of it through the nations, the placing of it in the kingdom, whence the nations had been expelled. What are those to be hereafter? The leading of the people out of this Egypt of the world, when Christ, our "leader" shall appear in His glory: the placing of the Saints at His right hand; of the wicked at His left; the condemnation of the wicked with the devil to eternal punishment; the receiving of a kingdom from Christ with the Saints to last for ever. These are the things that are yet to be: the former are what are past. In the interval, what is to be our lot? Tribulations! "Why so?" That it may be seen with respect to the soul that worships God, to what extent it worships God; that it may be seen whether it worships Him "freely" from whom it received salvation "freely." ...What hast thou given unto God? Thou wert wicked, and thou wert redeemed! What hast thou given unto God? What is there that thou hast not "received" from Him "freely"? With reason is it named "grace," because it is bestowed (gratis, i.e.) freely. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
As to the second he says, "At the voice of one who reproaches." Reproach is when a taunt is cast in someone's face. Ps. 102: "All the day they reproached me," etc. Slander is a secret detraction. Eccl. 10: "If a serpent bites in silence, …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
There was therefore strong reason to believe that God would appear for them. As there is no trouble more grievous to a generous and ingenuous mind than reproach and calumny, so there is none more grievous to a holy gracious soul than blasphemy and dishonour done to God. 17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
For the voice, of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth. It seems that from mocking the people of God, the adversaries advanced to reviling God himself, they proceeded from persecution to the sin which is next of kin, namely blasphemy. By reason of the enemy and avenger. The enemy boasted of avenging the defeats of their forefathers; they took revenge for the ancient victories of Israel, by insulting over the now fallen people. Here was a sad plight for a nation to be placed in, but it was by no means a hopeless case, for the Lord who brought all this evil upon them could with equal ease release them from it. So long as Israel looked alone to her God, and not to her own arm, no foe could retain her beneath his foot; she must arise, for God was on her side.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For the voice of him ... - That is, Because I hear the voice of him that reproaches and blasphemes. The word rendered blasphemeth, means properly to use cutting words; then, to reproach or revile. It may be applied either to people or to God. In the former case, it means reproach or reviling; in the latter, blasphemy in the usual sense of that term, denoting reproachful words concerning God. The word may be used here in both these senses, as it is evident that not only were the people the subject of reproach, but that God was also. By reason of the enemy - That is, the foreign enemies, or those who had invaded the land. And avenger - Of him who had come to take vengeance. Here the word refers to the foreign enemies of the nation, and to the spirit by which they were actuated; their purposes to avenge themselves of what they regarded as wrongs, or take vengeance on a nation which they had long hated. Compare the notes at Psa 8:2.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מִ֭קּוֹל | mikol | from [the] sound of | H6963 → | 506 times |
| מְחָרֵ֣ף | mecharef | [one who] taunts | H2778 → | 41 times |
| וּמְגַדֵּ֑ף | umegadef | and [one who] reviles | H1442 → | |
| מִפְּנֵ֥י | mipenei | <from> because of | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| א֝וֹיֵ֗ב | ʾoyev | an enemy | H341 → | 282 times |
| וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃ | umitnakem | and an avenger | H5358 → | 35 times |
מִ֭קּוֹלfrom [the] sound of
mikolH6963 →506 times
מְחָרֵ֣ף[one who] taunts
mecharefH2778 →41 times
וּמְגַדֵּ֑ףand [one who] reviles
umegadefH1442 →
מִפְּנֵ֥י<from> because of
mipeneiH6440 →2123 times
א֝וֹיֵ֗בan enemy
ʾoyevH341 →282 times
וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃and an avenger
umitnakemH5358 →35 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
Psalms 8:2From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.
it leads to
- Matthew 21:16
“Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
- Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- Psalms 46:10
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:27
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
- Matthew 21:16
Through
Psalms 74:10How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever?
it leads to
- Psalms 89:50–51
Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants, which I bear in my heart from so many people—
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 89:50–51
Through
Isaiah 37:17Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to all the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.
it leads to
- 2 Chronicles 6:40
Now, my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
- Psalms 17:6
I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.
- 2 Chronicles 6:40
About Psalms
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 44; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.