Psalms 38:19
in Psalms 38Many are my enemies without cause, and many hate me without reason.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But mine enemies are lively, and are strong; And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
KJV
But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
⋯
This verse in Psalms 38
Commentary
12 notes on this verse(Verses 19, 20.) My enemies, he says, are alive and they have become strong against me; and they have multiplied, those who hate me unjustly. They repay evil for good, they spoke ill of me; because I pursued justice. But how much more illustrious was he, who died daily, so that he might give life to his people: and he offered his body to the wounds of death; as he himself says: In deaths often (2 Corinthians 11:23)!
This site's exposition
I confess my iniquity
on Psalms 38:18-20
The confession is plain, the iniquity named and the sin grieved. Alongside it stand enemies who hate without cause and repay his good with evil. Both hold at once, a guilty man before God and a wronged man before his enemies.
This site's exposition
Many are my enemies without cause
The Hebrew text reads that his enemies are living. Adam Clarke proposed changing one letter to read without cause, which matches the second line and Psalm 35:19, and the Berean follows that sense. Albert Barnes kept living and read the enemies as full of vigor while he lay near death.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"But mine enemies live" [Psalm 38:19]. They are well off: they rejoice in worldly prosperity, while I am suffering, and "roaring with the groaning of my heart." In what way do His enemies "live," in that He has said of them already, that they have "spoken vanity"? Hear in another Psalm also: "Whose sons are as young plants; firmly rooted." But above He had said, "Whose mouth speaks vanity. Their daughters polished after the similitude of a temple: their garners full bursting forth more and more; their cattle fat, their sheep fruitful, multiplying in their streets; no hedge falling into ruin; no cry in their streets." "Mine enemies" then "live." This is their life; this life they praise; this they set their hearts upon: this they hold fast to their own ruin. For what follows? They pronounce "the people that is in such a case" blessed. But what do you say, who "hast a care for your sin"? What do you say, who "confessest your iniquity"? He says, "Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord." "But mine enemies live, and are strengthened against me, and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied." What is "hate me wrongfully"? They hate me, who wish their good, whereas were they simply requiting evil for evil, they would not be righteous; were they not to requite with good the good done to them, they would be ungrateful: they, however, who "hate wrongfully," actually return evil for good. Such were the Jews; Christ came unto them with good things; they requited Him evil for good. Beware, brethren, of this evil; it soon steals upon us. Let no one of you think himself to be far removed from the danger, because we said, "Such were the Jews." Should a brother, wishing your good, rebuke you, and you hate him, you are like them. And observe, how easily, how soon it is produced; and avoid an evil so great, a sin so easily committed.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"But my enemies live," etc. Here is set forth the reason for mercy, namely the prosperity of enemies; and he sets forth the cause regarding three things. First, regarding the stability of their heart, at "they live." Second, regarding the magnitude of their power, at …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But mine enemies are lively,....
It is then only that our enemies do us a real mischief when they provoke us to sin ( Neh. vi. 13 ), when they prevail to put us out of the possession of our own souls, and drive us from God and our duty. If by divine grace we are enabled to prevent this mischief, we quench their fiery darts, and are saved from harm.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong. However weak and dying the righteous man may be, the evils which oppose him are sure to be lively enough. Neither the world, the flesh, nor the devil, are ever afflicted with debility or inertness; this trinity if evils labour with mighty unremitting energy to overthrow us. If the devil were sick, or our lusts feeble, or Madame Bubble infirm, we might slacken prayer; but with such lively and vigorous enemies we must not cease to cry mightily unto our God. And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong. However weak and dying the righteous man may be, the evils which oppose him are sure to be lively enough. Neither the world, the flesh, nor the devil, are ever afflicted with debility or inertness; this trinity if evils labour with mighty unremitting energy to overthrow us. If the devil were sick, or our lusts feeble, or Madame Bubble infirm, we might slacken prayer; but with such lively and vigorous enemies we must not cease to cry mightily unto our God. And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. Here is another misery, that as we are no match for our enemies in strength, so also they outnumber us as a hundred to one. Wrong as the cause of evil is, it is a popular one. More and more the kingdom of darkness grows. Oh, misery of miseries, that we see the professed friends of Jesus forsaking him, and the enemies of his cross and his cause mustering in increasing bands!
But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong. However weak and dying the righteous man may be, the evils which oppose him are sure to be lively enough. Neither the world, the flesh, nor the devil, are ever afflicted with debility or inertness; this trinity if evils labour with mighty unremitting energy to overthrow us. If the devil were sick, or our lusts feeble, or Madame Bubble infirm, we might slacken prayer; but with such lively and vigorous enemies we must not cease to cry mightily unto our God. And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
But mine enemies are lively - Instead of חיים chaiyim, lively, I would read חינם chinam, without cause; a change made by the half of one letter, נ nun for a י yod. See the parallel places, Psa 35:19 (note); Psa 79:5 (note). See also the Preliminary Dissertation to Dr. Lowth’s Isaiah, p. 40: “But without cause my enemies have strengthened themselves; and they who wrongfully hate me are multiplied.” Here the one member of the verse answers to the other.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But mine enemies are lively ... - DeWette renders this, “My enemies live and are strong.” The word translated “lively” - חיים chayiym - means properly “living, being alive.” The literal translation would be, “My enemies, being alive, are strong.” The idea is, that while he was weak and apparently near to death, they were in the full vigor of life and health. They were able to engage in active efforts to accomplish their purposes. They could take advantage of his weakness; and he could not contend with them, for he was no match for them. In every respect they had the advantage of him; and he prays, therefore, for the divine interposition in his behalf. And they that hate me wrongfully - Hebrew, “falsely.” See Psa 35:19. Are multiplied - They are numerous. They are constantly increasing.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְֽ֭אֹיְבַי | veoyevai | and enemies my | H341 → | 282 times |
| חַיִּ֣ים | chaiyim | life | H2416 → | 498 times |
| עָצֵ֑מוּ | ʾatzemu | they are numerous | H6105 → | 20 times |
| וְרַבּ֖וּ | verabu | and they are many | H7231 → | 21 times |
| שֹׂנְאַ֣י | soneai | [those who] hate me | H8130 → | 146 times |
| שָֽׁקֶר׃ | shaker | falsehood | H8267 → | 113 times |
וְֽ֭אֹיְבַיand enemies my
veoyevaiH341 →282 times
חַיִּ֣יםlife
chaiyimH2416 →498 times
עָצֵ֑מוּthey are numerous
ʾatzemuH6105 →20 times
וְרַבּ֖וּand they are many
verabuH7231 →21 times
שֹׂנְאַ֣י[those who] hate me
soneaiH8130 →146 times
שָֽׁקֶר׃falsehood
shakerH8267 →113 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
Matthew 10:22You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
it leads to
- Matthew 24:13
But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful…
- Mark 13:13
You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
- Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
- Matthew 24:13
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.’
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 35:19
Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.
- John 15:25
Through
Psalms 3:1O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!
it leads to
- Psalms 17:7
Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.
- Psalms 17:7
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 on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 38; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; 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.