Psalms 6:10

KJV

Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return [and] be ashamed suddenly.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let all mine enemies {H341} be ashamed {H954} and sore {H3966} vexed {H926}: let them return {H7725} and be ashamed {H954} suddenly {H7281}.

Complete Jewish Bible

All my enemies will be confounded, completely terrified; they will turn back and be suddenly put to shame.

Berean Standard Bible

All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

American Standard Version

All mine enemies shall be put to shame and sore troubled: They shall turn back, they shall be put to shame suddenly.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 6:10 concludes a profound penitential psalm, marking a dramatic shift from David's intense lament and plea for mercy to an unwavering declaration of faith. After pouring out his anguish over physical and spiritual distress and the malicious intent of his adversaries, David expresses a renewed confidence that God has heard his prayer. This final verse is a powerful, confident expectation of divine justice, anticipating the swift and decisive shaming and confusion of his enemies, serving as a testament to God's ultimate vindication of the righteous.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 6 is traditionally categorized as one of the seven "penitential psalms" (alongside Psalms 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), characterized by deep confession, lament, and a plea for divine mercy. The psalm begins with David's desperate cry for God to cease His anger and deliver him from severe physical and emotional suffering, exacerbated by his enemies' taunts (verses 1-7). The pivotal turn occurs in [Psalms 6:8-9](/psalms/6-8 "Psalms 6:8-9 - David's Turn to Confidence"), where David abruptly addresses his enemies, commanding them to depart, declaring with newfound assurance that the Lord has heard his weeping and accepted his prayer. Verse 10, therefore, is the confident culmination of this shift, not a desperate plea, but a prophetic declaration of the inevitable outcome for those who oppose God's servant, flowing directly from the certainty of God's intervention.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** David, as king and a man after God's own heart, frequently faced both personal adversaries (like Saul or Absalom) and national enemies. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, "shame" (Hebrew: _bosh_) was a profoundly humiliating experience, signifying public disgrace, failure, and the frustration of one's intentions, often worse than physical defeat. Conversely, "honor" was paramount. To be "sore vexed" (Hebrew: _bahal_) implies a state of sudden terror and confusion, a loss of composure and strategic thinking. David's prayer reflects the cultural understanding of divine justice, where God actively intervenes in human affairs to uphold righteousness, protect His covenant people, and bring judgment upon those who defy His will or persecute His chosen ones. This was not merely personal vengeance but an appeal for God to demonstrate His sovereignty and justice within the community and before the nations.
* **Key Themes:** This concluding verse powerfully reinforces several key themes woven throughout Psalms 6 and the broader Psalter. The most prominent is **Divine Justice and Vindication**, underscoring David's unwavering belief that God is a righteous judge who will not allow wickedness to triumph indefinitely. His plea for his enemies to be shamed is not merely personal retribution but an appeal for God to publicly demonstrate His righteousness and vindicate His suffering servant, echoing themes found in [Psalms 9:8](/psalms/9-8 "Psalm 9:8 - God's Righteous Judgment"). Another theme is the **Defeat of Wickedness**, where the psalmist desires the complete frustration of his enemies' malicious schemes, leading to their humiliation and terror. Finally, the emphasis on "suddenly" highlights **Swift Divine Intervention**, suggesting that God's response to the cries of the righteous will be immediate and unexpected, catching the adversaries off guard and preventing prolonged suffering for God's people, a concept reinforced in passages like [Psalms 35:8](/psalms/35-8 "Psalm 35:8 - Sudden Ruin for the Wicked").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ashamed (Hebrew, _bosh_ - בּוֹשׁ):** This term signifies more than mere embarrassment; it denotes utter disappointment, humiliation, and the complete failure of one's intentions or plans. When applied to enemies in a biblical context, it implies the public disgrace and frustration of their malicious designs, revealing their impotence before God's power. It's the opposite of honor and success.
* **Sore vexed (Hebrew, _bahal_ - בָּהַל):** This word conveys a sense of being terrified, dismayed, thrown into sudden confusion, or experiencing panic. It describes an intense, unsettling distress that seizes the enemies, robbing them of their composure and ability to act, often in the face of an unexpected divine intervention. It suggests a state of disoriented fright.
* **Suddenly (Hebrew, _petaʿ_ - פֶּתַע):** This adverb emphasizes the abrupt, unexpected, and immediate nature of the divine action. It highlights that God's judgment will come without warning, catching the enemies off guard and demonstrating the swiftness and decisiveness of His intervention, preventing any further harm to His servant.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed":** This is an imprecatory prayer, an earnest plea or command for a specific outcome from God. David desires that his adversaries, who have caused him such distress, experience public humiliation (shame) and profound inner turmoil or terror (sore vexed). This is not just a personal wish but a declaration of faith in God's character as a righteous judge who will expose and dismantle the schemes of the wicked. The "shame" here is the just consequence of their failed malice, while "sore vexed" describes the emotional and psychological impact of God's intervention.
* **"let them return [and] be ashamed suddenly":** The phrase "let them return" implies a retreat or turning back in defeat, a reversal of their aggressive posture. This return is coupled with a renewed or intensified sense of shame, emphasizing the complete and utter failure of their opposition. The addition of "suddenly" underscores the unexpected and immediate nature of this divine judgment. It signifies that God's vindication of David and His judgment upon his enemies will be swift, decisive, and without warning, leaving them no time to react or recover from their ignominious defeat.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 6:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The predominant device is **Imperative Mood**, expressed through the repeated "Let them..." (or "May they..."), which functions as an imprecation or a confident prophetic declaration. This is not a mere wish but a forceful appeal to divine action, demonstrating David's certainty in God's response. There is also a strong element of **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, in the repetition of "be ashamed." The first instance sets the stage for their humiliation, while the second, coupled with "return" and "suddenly," reinforces and intensifies the idea of their complete and abrupt disgrace. The phrase "sore vexed" also contributes to **Hyperbole**, conveying an extreme level of distress and terror that amplifies the severity of their impending judgment. Finally, there is an underlying **Irony** in the verse: the enemies sought to shame and vex David through their persecution, but the tables are turned, and they themselves will experience shame and vexation by divine decree.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 6:10, though an imprecatory prayer, is deeply rooted in the biblical understanding of God's justice and sovereignty. It reflects a profound trust that God is not indifferent to suffering or wickedness. While the New Testament calls believers to [love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies"), the psalm reminds us that God remains the ultimate arbiter of justice. David's prayer is an appeal for God to uphold His righteous character and vindicate His servant, not an act of personal vengeance. It teaches us that we can bring our deepest hurts and desire for justice before God, trusting that He will ultimately set all things right. This verse foreshadows the eventual triumph of righteousness over evil, a theme consistently woven throughout Scripture, culminating in God's final judgment and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.

* [Psalms 35:4](/psalms/35-4 "Psalm 35:4 - Shame and Dishonor for Adversaries")
* [Psalms 9:15](/psalms/9-15 "Psalm 9:15 - The Wicked Ensnared by Their Own Devices")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance Belongs to the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 6:10, arising from a place of deep distress and culminating in confident faith, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It teaches us the importance of honest, heartfelt prayer, even when our emotions are raw and our circumstances dire. David models bringing his entire being—his pain, his trust, and his desire for justice—before God. While we are called to love our enemies, this psalm reminds us that we do not have to pretend injustice doesn't exist or that it doesn't wound us. Instead, we are invited to lay our burdens and our longing for righteousness at the feet of a just God, trusting that He sees, He hears, and He will act in His perfect timing and according to His perfect will. Our confidence should rest in God's ultimate sovereignty over all things, including the schemes of the wicked, knowing that He will bring about vindication for His people and defeat for evil, often in ways that are swift and unexpected. This trust frees us from the burden of seeking personal revenge, allowing us to rest in God's righteous hand.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's shift from lament to confident declaration in Psalms 6 inform your own prayer life when facing adversity?**
* **In what ways does this psalm encourage you to trust in God's justice, even when you feel wronged or see wickedness seemingly triumphing?**
* **How do you reconcile the imprecatory nature of this verse with New Testament commands to love your enemies, and what practical steps can you take to apply this understanding?**

### FAQ

**Is this verse promoting personal vengeance or hatred towards enemies?**

Answer: While the language of Psalms 6:10 is strong and expresses a desire for the enemies' downfall, it's crucial to understand it within its biblical and theological context. This is not a call for personal vengeance or hatred, which is explicitly forbidden elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., [Proverbs 24:17-18](/proverbs/24-17 "Proverbs 24:17-18 - Do Not Rejoice When Your Enemy Falls")). Instead, it is an appeal to God's divine justice. David, as a righteous king and God's chosen servant, is appealing for God to uphold His honor and demonstrate His sovereignty by bringing judgment upon those who oppose not just David, but implicitly, God's righteous order. It's a prayer for God to act as the ultimate judge, vindicating the righteous and defeating wickedness, rather than a license for personal retaliation. It expresses a deep trust that God will ultimately set things right.

**What does "suddenly" imply about God's intervention?**

Answer: The word "suddenly" (Hebrew: _petaʿ_) emphasizes the unexpected, abrupt, and decisive nature of God's intervention. It implies that when God acts, His judgment will be swift, catching the enemies off guard and leaving them no time to prepare or escape their fate. This highlights God's absolute power and control, demonstrating that His timing is perfect and His actions are irresistible. For the righteous, it offers comfort and hope that their deliverance will not be indefinitely delayed, while for the wicked, it portends an inescapable and immediate consequence for their defiance. It underscores the certainty and finality of God's righteous judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 6:10, with its cry for vindication and the shaming of enemies, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's suffering and his longing for divine justice foreshadow the ultimate suffering of the Messiah, who endured the ultimate shame and vexation on the cross. Jesus, the truly righteous one, bore the full weight of sin and the malice of spiritual enemies, being "ashamed" and "sore vexed" in a way David could only partially experience. Yet, through His death and glorious resurrection, Christ "returned" not in shame, but in triumph, utterly shaming and disarming the principalities and powers that sought to defeat Him ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph over Spiritual Foes")). The "suddenly" of Psalms 6:10 is echoed in the unexpected victory of the cross and the swiftness of the resurrection, which declared Jesus to be the Son of God in power ([Romans 1:4](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Declared Son of God in Power")). His victory ensures the ultimate defeat of sin, death, and Satan, our true spiritual enemies ([1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory over Death")). Thus, Psalms 6:10 points beyond David's personal struggle to the cosmic triumph of Christ, who, by enduring shame, brought eternal glory and vindication to all who believe in Him ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus Endured the Cross")).

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

Jeremiah 20:11

But the LORD [is] with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: [their] everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

Malachi 3:18

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Psalms 86:17

Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see [it], and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

Isaiah 26:11

LORD, [when] thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: [but] they shall see, and be ashamed for [their] envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

Psalms 40:14

Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

Psalms 40:15

Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

Psalms 83:16

Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.