Psalms 109:3

They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

They compassed {H5437} me about also with words {H1697} of hatred {H8135}; and fought {H3898} against me without a cause {H2600}.

surrounded me with hateful words, and attacked me without cause.

They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.

They have compassed me about also with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause.

Commentary

Context of Psalms 109:3

Psalm 109 is a deeply emotional imprecatory psalm, a prayer where the psalmist (traditionally David) pours out his heart to God concerning his adversaries. The preceding verses establish the psalmist's profound distress and the insidious nature of his enemies' actions. He feels utterly surrounded by deceit and malice. Verse 3 specifically details two primary forms of attack: verbal assault and unprovoked physical or social aggression. This psalm offers a raw look into the suffering of the righteous at the hands of the wicked, appealing for divine intervention and justice.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unjust Persecution: The core message of this verse is the experience of being attacked without legitimate reason. The psalmist is a victim of baseless hostility, highlighting the painful reality of unearned suffering.
  • Verbal Assault and Slander: "They compassed me about also with words of hatred" points to the insidious power of malicious speech. The enemies didn't just oppose him; they actively sought to destroy his reputation and peace through venomous words. This theme resonates throughout the Psalms, where the psalmist often laments the deceitful and slanderous tongues of his foes (Psalm 52:2).
  • Unprovoked Hostility: The phrase "fought against me without a cause" emphasizes the gratuitous nature of the opposition. There was no provocation, no offense given that warranted such animosity. This echoes similar complaints found elsewhere in Scripture, notably referenced by Jesus Himself regarding the world's hatred for Him (John 15:25, citing Psalm 69:4).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "words of hatred" is divrei sin'ah, which vividly conveys the venomous and destructive intent behind the speech. It's not just disagreement, but speech fueled by deep-seated animosity. The term "without a cause" translates the Hebrew word chinnam. This word means "for nothing," "gratuitously," or "baselessly." Its use here underscores the utter injustice of the enemies' actions; their hostility was entirely unearned and unwarranted, making the psalmist's suffering all the more poignant.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful insights for believers facing similar trials today:

  1. Acknowledge the Pain of Unjust Attacks: The psalmist's cry validates the pain of being slandered or fought against for no reason. It's a reminder that such experiences are not new and are deeply felt.
  2. Turn to God in Distress: Like the psalmist, we are encouraged to bring our hurt and confusion directly to God when faced with unprovoked hostility. This psalm models honest prayer in times of severe persecution.
  3. Understand the Nature of Spiritual Warfare: Often, opposition against those who follow God comes "without a cause" because it is ultimately spiritual in nature, driven by forces that hate righteousness (Ephesians 6:12).
  4. Seek Divine Justice: While believers are called to forgive and not repay evil for evil (Romans 12:19), this psalm shows that it is righteous to desire and pray for God's justice to be done in His perfect timing and way.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 69:4

    They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, [being] mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored [that] which I took not away.

  • Psalms 35:7

    For without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul.

  • Psalms 35:20

    For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against [them that are] quiet in the land.

  • Psalms 88:17

    They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.

  • John 15:24

    If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

  • John 15:25

    But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

  • 1 Samuel 19:4

    And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works [have been] to thee-ward very good:
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