Psalms 35:4

KJV

Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let them be confounded {H954} and put to shame {H3637}{H8735)} that seek {H1245}{H8764)} after my soul {H5315}: let them be turned {H5472}{H8735)} back {H268} and brought to confusion {H2659}{H8799)} that devise {H2803}{H8802)} my hurt {H7451}.

Complete Jewish Bible

May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to confusion; may those who are plotting harm for me be repulsed and put to shame.

Berean Standard Bible

May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.

American Standard Version

Let them be put to shame and brought to dishonor that seek after my soul: Let them be turned back and confounded that devise my hurt.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 35:4 is a fervent imprecatory prayer from David, expressing a deep plea for divine intervention against his adversaries. It captures the psalmist's profound distress and his unwavering reliance on God for vindication and protection from those who maliciously seek his life and plot his harm, appealing for their plans to be utterly frustrated and their efforts publicly shamed.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 35 is a classic example of a psalm of lament and imprecation, where the psalmist pours out his heart to God concerning his enemies and appeals for divine justice. It is structured into three main sections (vv. 1-10, 11-18, 19-28), each beginning with a plea for God's intervention and concluding with a vow of praise. Verse 4 is part of the initial, urgent appeal for God to act as a warrior on David's behalf, setting the tone for the intense desire for justice against those who unjustly persecute him. It immediately follows a plea for God to "take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help" as described in [Psalm 35:2](/psalms/35-2 "Psalm 35:2 - God as Warrior") and precedes a request for the angel of the Lord to pursue his enemies, as detailed in [Psalm 35:5-6](/psalms/35-5-6 "Psalm 35:5-6 - The Pursuit of Enemies"). The psalmist contrasts his own righteous conduct and suffering with the malicious intent of his foes, a poignant theme found throughout the entire [Book of Psalms](/psalms/1 "The Book of Psalms - Songs and Prayers").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific historical situation prompting Psalm 35 is not explicitly stated, its themes resonate deeply with numerous periods in David's life when he faced unjust persecution. These include his flight from King Saul, who relentlessly sought his life as recorded in [1 Samuel 19](/1_samuel/19 "1 Samuel 19 - Saul's Attempts to Kill David"), or the painful betrayal and rebellion of his son Absalom, recounted in [2 Samuel 15](/2_samuel/15 "2 Samuel 15 - Absalom's Rebellion"). In the ancient Near East, personal honor and public shame were paramount. A public shaming or "confounding" of one's enemies by divine action was not merely an act of personal revenge but a powerful demonstration of God's justice, a vindication of the psalmist's righteousness, and a restoration of his honor within the community. The psalmist's appeal to God for judgment reflects a worldview where God is actively involved in the affairs of humanity, upholding justice and punishing wickedness.
* **Key Themes:** Psalm 35:4 contributes to several major theological and narrative themes within the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Justice and Vindication**, portraying God as the ultimate judge who will right wrongs and defend the innocent. David is not seeking personal revenge but entrusting his cause to the Lord, appealing for God to execute justice against his foes, a concept powerfully echoed in passages like [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance is Mine"). Secondly, the verse underscores the **Frustration of Evil Plans**, as David prays that the malicious schemes of his enemies to "seek after my soul" (life) and "devise my hurt" will be utterly thwarted and exposed. This demonstrates a belief in God's sovereignty over human evil, as seen in [Proverbs 19:21](/proverbs/19-21 "Proverbs 19:21 - Many Plans in a Person's Heart"). Finally, it implicitly conveys the **Vindication of the Righteous**, as the public shaming of the enemies serves to highlight God's favor on His servant and prove David's innocence against false accusations, a common plea in psalms of lament like [Psalm 7:8](/psalms/7-8 "Psalm 7:8 - God Judges the Peoples").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Confounded (Hebrew, _bûwsh'_):** Derived from a primitive root meaning "to pale," this word signifies being ashamed, disappointed, or confused. In the context of Psalm 35:4, it denotes a profound public humiliation and the utter failure of one's expectations or malicious plans, leading to a visible state of disgrace. It implies that the enemies' schemes will not only fail but will also result in their public exposure and discomfiture.
* **Soul (Hebrew, _nephesh'_):** This term, used in the phrase "seek after my soul," encompasses more than just the spiritual aspect of a person. From a primitive root meaning "a breathing creature" or "vitality," _nephesh_ refers to the whole person, one's life, or one's very being. Thus, "seeking after my soul" implies a desire to destroy the psalmist completely, whether physically through death, or by utterly undermining his existence, reputation, or well-being. It signifies a malicious intent to cause ultimate ruin.
* **Devise (Hebrew, _châshab'_):** This primitive root means "to plait or interpenetrate," and figuratively, "to plot or contrive," often in a malicious sense. In the context of "devise my hurt," it highlights the deliberate, premeditated, and carefully thought-out plotting of evil or mischief against someone. It emphasizes the calculated and intentional nature of the adversaries' actions, underscoring that their desire for David's harm is not accidental but strategic and well-planned.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let them be confounded and put to shame":** This is a powerful imprecation, a direct prayer for God to intervene and cause David's enemies to experience profound public humiliation and disgrace. It reflects a desire for their malicious plans to fail spectacularly and for their efforts to backfire, leading to their utter disappointment and public exposure of their wickedness.
* **"that seek after my soul":** This clause identifies the specific nature of the adversaries' actions: they are actively pursuing David's very life or existence. It underscores the severity of the threat, implying a desire for his complete destruction or ruin, whether physically, socially, or spiritually.
* **"let them be turned back and brought to confusion":** This second pair of imperatives reiterates and intensifies the initial plea. "Turned back" implies a reversal of their advance or progress, causing their efforts to be thwarted and their momentum to be halted. "Brought to confusion" suggests a state of disarray, disorientation, and perplexity, where their plans become muddled and their actions ineffective, leading to their ultimate failure.
* **"that devise my hurt":** This final clause further characterizes the enemies as those who meticulously plot and plan evil against the psalmist. It emphasizes the premeditated and malicious intent behind their actions, reinforcing the psalmist's plea for God to intervene against their calculated schemes.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 35:4 employs several potent literary devices to convey David's fervent prayer. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second half of the verse reiterates and intensifies the thought of the first half using different but equivalent terms. "Let them be confounded and put to shame" is paralleled by "let them be turned back and brought to confusion," both expressing a desire for the enemies' humiliation and frustration. Similarly, "that seek after my soul" is paralleled by "that devise my hurt," both describing the malicious intent of the adversaries. This repetition amplifies the psalmist's plea and emphasizes the totality of the desired outcome. The verse also functions as a strong **Imprecation**, a direct prayer or curse against enemies, which is a common feature in the Psalms, reflecting a raw and unfiltered expression of human emotion and a plea for divine justice. The use of strong, active verbs like "seek," "devise," "confound," and "turn back" creates a vivid and dynamic portrayal of both the enemies' aggression and the desired divine intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 35:4, while an imprecatory prayer, offers profound theological insights into God's character and the nature of justice. It underscores the biblical truth that God is a righteous judge who sees all injustice and will ultimately bring about vindication for His suffering servants. The psalmist's appeal is not a call to personal vengeance but a surrender of his cause to the divine court, recognizing that ultimate justice belongs to the Lord. This prayer acknowledges God's sovereignty over evil and His power to frustrate the most cunning schemes of the wicked. While the New Testament calls believers to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors, the underlying principle of entrusting injustice to God remains vital. These psalms teach us to bring our raw emotions, including anger and a desire for justice, before God, trusting His perfect timing and methods for rectifying wrongs. They remind us that God is actively involved in upholding righteousness and will not allow evil to triumph indefinitely.

* [Psalm 7:15-16](/psalms/7-15-16 "Psalm 7:15-16 - The Wicked Fall into Their Own Pit")
* [Psalm 109:29](/psalms/109-29 "Psalm 109:29 - Shame for Adversaries")
* [Isaiah 41:11](/isaiah/41-11 "Isaiah 41:11 - Those Who Contend with You Will Be Ashamed")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 35:4, with its raw plea for divine judgment against adversaries, can initially seem challenging for modern believers accustomed to New Testament teachings on loving enemies. However, it offers crucial lessons on how to navigate injustice and malicious opposition. This psalm teaches us to bring our deepest hurts, our sense of betrayal, and our righteous indignation directly to God. Instead of harboring bitterness or seeking personal retaliation, we are invited to entrust our cause to the only truly righteous Judge. It's a powerful reminder that God sees, God knows, and God will act. This verse encourages us to release the burden of revenge and rely on God's perfect justice to expose and frustrate the plans of evil. It cultivates a profound trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that no scheme, however cunningly devised, can ultimately succeed against His will or His children without His permission. Our prayer, then, becomes less about wishing ill upon others and more about desiring God's glory to be revealed through the triumph of His righteousness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Psalm 35:4 challenge or affirm your understanding of divine justice in the face of personal wrongdoing?**
* **In what ways can you entrust your feelings of injustice or desire for vindication to God, rather than seeking personal retaliation or harboring resentment?**
* **What comfort can you draw from knowing that God is sovereign over the schemes of those who intend harm, even when their plans seem to succeed temporarily?**

### FAQ
**Are imprecatory psalms like Psalm 35:4 still relevant for Christians today, given the New Testament's command to love enemies?**

Answer: Yes, imprecatory psalms remain highly relevant, though their application requires careful discernment through a Christ-centered lens. They are divinely inspired expressions of raw human emotion—anger, pain, and a profound desire for justice—that teach us to bring *all* our feelings, even the difficult ones, honestly before God. They are not a license for personal revenge or hatred, which the New Testament explicitly forbids (e.g., [Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")), but rather a model for prayer in the face of injustice. They remind us that ultimate vengeance belongs to God alone ([Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance Belongs to God")), and we can trust Him to act righteously in His perfect timing. For Christians, these psalms channel our desire for justice into a plea for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done, which includes the defeat of evil and the vindication of the righteous, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's triumph over sin and death.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalm 35:4 is a prayer for the confounding of David's earthly enemies, its deepest fulfillment is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the ultimate righteous sufferer, faced the most profound betrayal and malicious plotting, as those who "sought after His soul" and "devised His hurt" ultimately delivered Him to crucifixion, as recorded in [Matthew 26:47-50](/matthew/26-47-50 "Matthew 26:47-50 - The Betrayal of Jesus"). Yet, unlike David, Jesus did not call down imprecations upon His persecutors but instead prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," as seen in [Luke 23:34](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Jesus Prays for His Executioners"). However, His resurrection and ascension represent the ultimate "confounding and putting to shame" of the powers of darkness—Satan, sin, and death—who had seemingly triumphed. Through the cross, Christ disarmed principalities and powers, triumphing over them, as [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers") declares, turning back and bringing to confusion every scheme against God's redemptive plan. He is the ultimate vindicator of all who suffer unjustly for righteousness' sake, and at His return, every enemy will be put under His feet, as affirmed in [1 Corinthians 15:25](/1_corinthians/15-25 "1 Corinthians 15:25 - Christ Must Reign Until All Enemies Are Under His Feet"). Thus, believers, united with Christ, find their ultimate vindication and the frustration of all evil plans not in their own prayers for vengeance, but in the accomplished victory of the Lamb of God, who will one day judge all the earth in righteousness, as depicted in [Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11-16 "Revelation 19:11-16 - Christ the Warrior King").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 70:2

Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Psalms 70:3

Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

Jeremiah 46:5

Wherefore have I seen them dismayed [and] turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: [for] fear [was] round about, saith the LORD.

Psalms 35:26

Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me.

Psalms 38:12

¶ They also that seek after my life lay snares [for me]: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

Psalms 129:5

¶ Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

Psalms 31:17

Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be silent in the grave.