Psalms 109 · Verse 4

Psalms 109:4

For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
Psalms 109:4, King James Version

Psalms 109:4 in other translations

BSBIn return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
WEBIn return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.
ASVFor my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer.
YLTFor my love they oppose me, and I--prayer!
DARBYFor my love they are mine adversaries; but I give myself unto prayer.
BBEFor my love they give me back hate; but I have given myself to prayer.
WebsterFor my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself to prayer.

What does Psalms 109:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 109:4-5
4-5. They return evil for good (compare Psa 27:12; Pr 17:13). I give myself unto prayer--or literally, "I (am) prayer," or, "as for me, prayer," that is, it is my resource for comfort in distress.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 For my love they are my adversaries - In their behalf I have performed many acts of kindness, and they are my adversaries notwithstanding; this shows principles the most vicious, and hearts the most corrupt. Many of the fathers and commentators have understood the principal part of the things spoken here as referring to our Lord, and the treatment he received from the Jews; and whatever the original intention was, they may safely be applied to this case, as the Psa 109:2, Psa 109:3, Psa 109:4, and Psa 109:5 are as highly illustrative of the conduct of the Jewish rulers towards our Lord as the following verses are of the conduct of Judas; but allowing these passages to be prophetic, it is the Jewish state rather than an individual, against which these awful denunciations are made, as it seems to be represented here under the person and character of an extremely hardened and wicked man; unless we consider the curses to be those of David's enemies. See the note on Psa 109:20 (note). But I give myself unto prayer - ואני תפלה vaani thephillah; "And I prayer." The Chaldee: ואנא אצלי vaana atsalley, "but I pray." This gives a good sense, which is followed by the Vulgate, Septuagint, Ethiopic, Arabic, and Anglo-Saxon. The Syriac, "I will pray for them." This, not so correctly; as dreadful imprecations, not prayers, follow. But probably the whole ought to be interpreted according to the mode laid down, Psa 109:20. The translation and paraphrase in the old Psalter are very simple: - Trans. For that thyng that thai sulde hafe lufed me, thai bakbited me; bot I prayed. Par - That is, that sulde haf lufed me for I was godson, and thai bakbited me sayande, in Belzebub he castes oute fendes; bot I prayed for thaim.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 109:1-5

It is the unspeakable comfort of all believers, that whoever is against them, God is for them; and to him they may apply as to one pleased to concern himself for them. David's enemies laughed at him for his devotion, but they could not laugh him out of it.

Read the full comment on Psalms 109:1-5 →

Psalms 109:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

תַּֽחַת\־ta.chat-in place ofH8478
אַהֲבָתִ֥י'a.ha.va.Tilove myH160
יִשְׂטְנ֗וּנִיyis.te.Nu.nithey accuse meH7853
וַאֲנִ֥יva.'a.Niand IH589
תְפִלָּֽה\׃te.fi.Lah[am] prayerH8605

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 109:4

  • Psalms 38:20

    They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

  • 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.

  • Luke 23:34

    Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

  • Psalms 69:12-13

    They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

  • Psalms 55:16-17

    As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

  • Luke 6:11-12

    And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus. And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

  • Psalms 35:12

    They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

  • John 10:32

    Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

  • 2 Corinthians 12:15

    And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

  • Daniel 6:10

    Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

  • 2 Samuel 15:31-32

    And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

  • 2 Samuel 13:39

    And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For my.
35:7,12; 38:20; 2Sa 13:39; Joh 10:32; 2Co 12:15
but I.
55:16,17; 69:12,13; 2Sa 15:31,32; Da 6:10; Lu 6:11,12; 23:34

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 109:3

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

  • Psalms 109:4

    For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

  • Psalms 109:5

    And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Read all of Psalms 109

Psalms 109:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		En pago de mi amor me han sido adversarios: mas yo oraba.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pour mon amour, ils ont été mes adversaires; mais moi je me suis adonné à la prière.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Für meine Liebe feindeten sie mich an; ich aber bin stets im Gebet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Juravit Dominus, et non pœnitebit eum: Tu es sacerdos in æternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech.