Psalms 35:19
in Psalms 35Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; Neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
KJV
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
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This verse in Psalms 35
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me - Margin, “falsely.” Literally, “My enemies of falsehood;” that is, who are “falsely” my foes; who have no just cause for being opposed to me. Compare Mat 5:11. David was conscious that he had done them no wrong, or that he had given no occasion for their conduct toward him, and hence, his prayer is simply a request that justice might be done. Neither let them wink with the eye - Compare the notes at Job 15:12. See also Pro 6:13; Pro 10:
This site's exposition
those who hate me without reason
on Psalms 35:19-21
At John 15:25 Jesus takes the words They hated Me without reason as written in their Law. The phrase stands here and at Psalm 69:4. Verse 20 says they do not speak peace and aim their schemes at people living quietly in the land.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Let not them that are Mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over Me:" for they rejoice over Me because of My chaff. "Who hate Me without a cause;" that is, whom I never hurt; "winking with their eyes" [Psalm 35:19]: that is, pretending hypocrites, "For they spake indeed peace to Me" [Psalm 35:20]. What is, "winking with their eyes"? Declaring by their looks, what they carry not in their heart. And who are these "winking with their eyes"? "For they spake indeed peace to Me; and with wrath devised craftily." ...What peace spake they? "Master, we know that Thou acceptest not man's person, and teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" They spake indeed peace unto Me. What then? Didst not Thou know them, and deceived they Thee, winking with their eyes? Truly He knew them; therefore said He, "Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites?" ...
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Let them not rejoice over me, my enemies." Here the fruit on the part of the enemies is set forth, where he asks that their exultation be repressed. And first, he sets forth this fruit. Second, he sets forth the root of insult, at "they …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
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
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
He earnestly prays that as they have no cause for their enmity, they may have no cause for triumph either in his folly, sin, or overthrow. "Neither let them wink with the eye that hale me without a cause." The winking of the eye was the low-bred sign of congratulation at the ruin of their victim, and it may also have been one of their scornful gestures as they gazed upon him whom they despised. To cause hatred is the mark of the wicked, to suffer it causelessly is the lot of the righteous.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
He earnestly prays that as they have no cause for their enmity, they may have no cause for triumph either in his folly, sin, or overthrow. "Neither let them wink with the eye that hale me without a cause." The winking of the eye was the low-bred sign of congratulation at the ruin of their victim, and it may also have been one of their scornful gestures as they gazed upon him whom they despised. To cause hatred is the mark of the wicked, to suffer it causelessly is the lot of the righteous.
That are mine enemies - Saul and his courtiers.
The words behind it
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַֽל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| יִשְׂמְחוּ־ | yismechu- | they rejoice | H8055 → | 155 times |
| לִ֣י | li | to me | ||
| אֹיְבַ֣י | ʾoyevai | enemies my | H341 → | 282 times |
| שֶׁ֑קֶר | sheker | falsehood | H8267 → | 113 times |
| שֹׂנְאַ֥י | soneai | [those who] hate me | H8130 → | 146 times |
| חִ֝נָּ֗ם | chinam | without cause | H2600 → | 32 times |
| יִקְרְצוּ־ | yikretzu- | let them wink | H7169 → | |
| עָֽיִן׃ | ʾayin | an eye | H5869 → | 887 times |
אַֽל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
יִשְׂמְחוּ־they rejoice
yismechu-H8055 →155 times
לִ֣יto me
li
אֹיְבַ֣יenemies my
ʾoyevaiH341 →282 times
שֶׁ֑קֶרfalsehood
shekerH8267 →113 times
שֹׂנְאַ֥י[those who] hate me
soneaiH8130 →146 times
חִ֝נָּ֗םwithout cause
chinamH2600 →32 times
יִקְרְצוּ־let them wink
yikretzu-H7169 →
עָֽיִן׃an eye
ʾayinH5869 →887 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
John 15:25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
it leads to
- Psalms 69:4
Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me— my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 109:3
They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.
- Luke 24:44
Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,…
- Psalms 69:4
Through
Psalms 69:4Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me— my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
it leads to
- John 15:25
But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
- Psalms 109:3–5
They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.
- Psalms 35:11–12
Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.
- John 15:25
Through
Psalms 13:4lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes rejoice when I fall.
it leads to
- Psalms 25:2
in You, my God, I trust. Do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
- Jeremiah 1:19
They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
- Psalms 25:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
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); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 35; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; 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.