Psalm 35 Study Notes

35:18 This is called a vow of praise.

35:19 Wink at me maliciously is literally “wink the eye.” On those who hate me without cause, compare Ps 38:19; 69:4. Either 35:19 or 69:4 is quoted in Jn 15:25 as applying to Jesus.

35:20 Live peacefully (lit “quietly”) in the land is a phrase that occurs only here in the OT, but it describes those who are faithful to the Lord since God promised to give his people peace in the land when they obeyed him (Lv 26:6). The usual word for “peace” (Hb shalom) is actually in the first line and is translated as friendly ways. The irony is that those who are not peaceful are plotting against those who are at peace.

35:21 Aha is used in contexts involving ridicule. It attempts to shame further those who have suffered some calamity (40:16; 70:4; Ezk 25:3; 26:2; 36:2).

35:22 You saw it is in contrast to “we saw it” in the previous verse. In that case it was the enemies who ridiculed the psalmist because they saw his affliction; here it is the Lord who saw his suffering and was called upon to act on it.

35:23 Wake up is parallel to rise and probably has the same idea as other contexts calling for the Lord to “rise up” for his people (see note at 7:6-8).

35:24-25 Do not let them rejoice over me is repeated from v. 19. To “swallow” someone is to destroy him so that there is nothing left.

35:26 Clothing is a figure of speech often used with attributes such as majesty in the case of the Lord (93:1; 104:1) or salvation in the case of priests (132:16). In this instance shame and reproach are negative attributes that are to be worn (as clothing) by the enemies.

35:27-28 God’s righteousness is connected with the psalmist’s vindication. The term for “righteousness” (Hb tsedaqah) can also mean “justice,” so the call for vindication is actually a request for the execution of God’s justice in the psalmist’s situation.