Psalms 35:11

11 1Malicious[a] witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.

Psalms 35:11 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 35:11

False witnesses did rise up
Against David, saying he sought the hurt of Saul, ( 1 Samuel 24:9 ) , as did against David's antitype, the Lord Jesus Christ, ( Matthew 26:59-61 ) ; and against his apostles, ( Acts 24:5 Acts 24:6 ) ; and very frequently do they rise up and bear false witness against his people, which is a very heinous crime;

they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not:
such as David was not conscious of, never thought of doing, much less attempted to do; as the taking away of Saul's life, the contrary of which appeared by his cutting off his skirt only when he was in his hands, and taking away his spear from his bolster when he could have taken off his head; and such were the things laid to the charge of the Messiah, David's son, who knew no sin, nor did any; and the like are exhibited against his members, who go through good report and bad report, and whose good conversation is falsely accused by malicious men.

Psalms 35:11 In-Context

9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?"
11 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.
13 But I, when they were sick-- I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.

Cross References 1

  • 1. See Psalms 27:12

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.