Psalms 44:14
Psalms 44:14 in Multiple Translations
You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
Thou makest us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples.
Our name is a word of shame among the nations, a sign for the shaking of heads among the peoples.
You have made us a joke to the other nations; they scornfully shake their heads at us.
Thou makest vs a prouerbe among the nations, and a nodding of the head among the people.
Thou makest us a simile among nations, A shaking of the head among peoples.
You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.
Thou makest us a by-word among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
All the glory of the king’s daughter is within in golden borders,
They make jokes using the name of our country, they shake their heads to indicate that they despise us.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 44:14
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 44:14 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תְּשִׂימֵ֣/נוּ
חֶ֭רְפָּה
לִ/שְׁכֵנֵ֑י/נוּ
לַ֥עַג
וָ֝/קֶ֗לֶס
לִ/סְבִיבוֹתֵֽי/נוּ
תְּשִׂימֵ֣/נוּ
sûwm
H7760
to set
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff
חֶ֭רְפָּה
cherpâh
H2781
reproach
N-fs
לִ/שְׁכֵנֵ֑י/נוּ
shâkên
H7934
neighboring
Prep | Adj | Suff
לַ֥עַג
laʻag
H3933
derision
N-ms
וָ֝/קֶ֗לֶס
qeleç
H7047
derision
Conj | N-ms
לִ/סְבִיבוֹתֵֽי/נוּ
çâbîyb
H5439
around
Prep | N-cp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 44:14
תְּשִׂימֵ֣/נוּ
sûwm
H7760
"to set"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means to put or place something, and is used in many different ways in the Bible, such as to appoint or determine something. It is first used in Genesis to describe God's creation. In the KJV, it is translated as 'appoint' or 'set' in various contexts.
Definition: : make/establish 1) to put, place, set, appoint, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on 1a2) to set, direct, direct toward 1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig) 1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix 1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix 1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give 1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign 1c) (Hophal) to be set
Usage: Occurs in 550 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work. See also: Genesis 2:8; Leviticus 20:5; 1 Samuel 21:13.
חֶ֭רְפָּה
cherpâh
H2781
"reproach"
N-fs
Cherpah means reproach or shame, often used to describe scorn or disgrace. In the Bible, it is used to express strong feelings of shame or humiliation.
Definition: 1) reproach, scorn 1a) taunt, scorn (upon enemy) 1b) reproach (resting upon condition of shame, disgrace) 1c) a reproach (an object)
Usage: Occurs in 72 OT verses. KJV: rebuke, reproach(-fully), shame. See also: Genesis 30:23; Isaiah 25:8; Psalms 15:3.
לִ/שְׁכֵנֵ֑י/נוּ
shâkên
H7934
"neighboring"
Prep | Adj | Suff
This word describes someone who lives near you, like a neighbor or a fellow citizen. It's used in books like Genesis and Jeremiah to talk about the people around you.
Definition: 1) inhabitant, neighbour 1a) inhabitant 1b) neighbour
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: inhabitant, neighbour, nigh. See also: Exodus 3:22; Psalms 89:42; Psalms 31:12.
לַ֥עַג
laʻag
H3933
"derision"
N-ms
Derision or scoffing is what this word is all about, describing a strong feeling of contempt or mocking.
Definition: 1) mocking, derision, stammering 1a) mocking, derision 1b) stammerings
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: derision, scorn (-ing). See also: Job 34:7; Psalms 123:4; Psalms 44:14.
וָ֝/קֶ֗לֶס
qeleç
H7047
"derision"
Conj | N-ms
Derision is when someone is laughed at or made fun of, and this word is used to describe times when people were mocked or ridiculed. It is found in the book of Psalms and other places. Derision can be very hurtful.
Definition: derision, ridicule
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: derision. See also: Psalms 44:14; Psalms 79:4; Jeremiah 20:8.
לִ/סְבִיבוֹתֵֽי/נוּ
çâbîyb
H5439
"around"
Prep | N-cp | Suff
This word describes something that surrounds or encompasses, like a circle or neighborhood, and can also mean around or about, as in on every side. It is used to describe physical locations and proximity. The KJV translates it as about or circuit.
Definition: : around/border subst 1) places round about, circuit, round about adv 2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about prep 3) in the circuit, from every side
Usage: Occurs in 282 OT verses. KJV: (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side. See also: Genesis 23:17; 1 Kings 7:24; Psalms 3:7.
Study Notes — Psalms 44:14
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 44:14 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 44:14
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 44:14
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 44:14
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 44:14
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 44:14
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 44:14
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 44:14
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 44:14
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 44:14
- Sermons on Psalms 44:14
Context — Redeem Us, O God
12You sell Your people for nothing; no profit do You gain from their sale.
13You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, a mockery and derision to those around us.
14You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
15All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face, 16at the voice of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy, bent on revenge.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 24:9 | I will make them a horror and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a disgrace and an object of scorn, ridicule, and cursing wherever I have banished them. |
| 2 | 2 Kings 19:21 | This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: ‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you. |
| 3 | Job 16:4 | I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you. |
| 4 | Job 17:6 | He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit. |
| 5 | Lamentations 2:15–17 | All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?” All your enemies open their mouths against you. They hiss and gnash their teeth, saying, “We have swallowed her up. This is the day for which we have waited. We have lived to see it!” The LORD has done what He planned; He has accomplished His decree, which He ordained in days of old; He has overthrown you without pity. He has let the enemy gloat over you and exalted the horn of your foes. |
| 6 | 1 Kings 9:7 | then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples. |
| 7 | Deuteronomy 28:37 | You will become an object of horror, scorn, and ridicule among all the nations to which the LORD will drive you. |
| 8 | Psalms 109:25 | I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. |
| 9 | Isaiah 37:22 | this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: ‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you. |
| 10 | Psalms 22:7 | All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: |
Psalms 44:14 Summary
This verse means that God's people feel like they are being laughed at and ridiculed by the nations around them, and it's a very painful and humbling experience, similar to what is described in Psalms 79:4. But even in the midst of this hardship, we can trust that God is still with us and that He will ultimately vindicate us, as promised in Psalms 37:6. We can also remember that Jesus Himself was ridiculed and scorned, as seen in Matthew 27:39-44, and that we are not alone in our suffering. By trusting in God's goodness and sovereignty, we can find comfort and strength in the midst of being a laughingstock, and remember that our true identity and worth come from Him, as stated in 1 Peter 2:9-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be a 'byword among the nations'?
To be a byword means to be a subject of ridicule or scorn, as seen in Psalms 44:14, and is similar to what is described in Psalms 79:4, where the nations mock God's people.
Why would God allow His people to be a laughingstock?
God's ways are not always easy to understand, but as Romans 11:33-34 reminds us, His judgments are unsearchable and His paths are beyond tracing out, and sometimes He allows hardship to refine and purify His people, as seen in Isaiah 48:10.
How can we respond when we feel like a laughingstock or are being ridiculed for our faith?
We can respond with faith and trust in God, remembering that He is our Rock and our Redeemer, as stated in Psalms 19:14, and that He will ultimately vindicate us, as promised in Psalms 37:6.
Is being a laughingstock a sign of God's displeasure?
Not necessarily, as seen in the life of Job, who suffered greatly but was still considered blameless and upright by God, according to Job 1:1, and in the example of the apostle Paul, who suffered for the sake of the Gospel, as described in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I have felt like a laughingstock or been ridiculed for my faith, and how can I trust God in those situations?
- How can I balance the desire for respect and approval from others with the knowledge that I may be called to be a fool for Christ, as stated in 1 Corinthians 4:10?
- In what ways can I identify with the feelings of the psalmist in this verse, and how can I express my own frustrations and hurts to God in prayer?
- What are some ways I can remember that my identity and worth come from God, not from the opinions of others, as stated in 1 Peter 2:9-10?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 44:14
Thou makest us a byword among the Heathen,.... Among the Papists, as the Jews were among the Gentiles, Deuteronomy 28:37; calling them schismatics, heretics, fanatics, and what not?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 44:14
Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 44:14
A by-word, or a proverb. They used to say proverbially, More despicable or miserable than an Israelite. A shaking of the head; a gesture of scorn and insultation. See Poole "".
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 44:14
Psalms 44:14 Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.Ver. 14. Thou makest us a byword among the heathen] Who use to say, As base as a Jew, as wretched as an Israelite, &c. The Turks at this day say, Iudaeus sim si fallam, If I be not as good as my word, count me a very Jew. We use to say, As hard hearted as a Jew. Thus is fulfilled that which was threatened Deuteronomy 28:37 1 Kings 9:7 Jeremiah 24:9.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 44:14
(14) Shaking of the head.—Comp. Psalms 22:7.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 44:14
Verse 14. Thou makest us a byword] We are evidently abandoned by thee, and are become so very miserable in consequence, that we are a proverb among the people: "See the Hebrews! see their misery and wretchedness! see how low the wrath of God has brought down an offending people!" And the worst curse that can be imprecated against a wicked nation is: "Mayest thou become as wretched as the Jews;" or as the old Psalter: "Thou has seet us reprove til our neghburs: scornyng and hethyng til tha that er in our umgang. That es, gref, tourment that es of our neghburs, and that hethyng es noght sone gave or passand, that we suffer of tha, that er al aboute us. When men sais so byfal ye, als byfel him."
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 44:14
14. the heathen … the people] Render with R.V., the nations … the peoples. They point to our fate as a proverbial instance of a people abandoned by its God, and make us the subject of taunting songs: they shake their heads at us in derision. Cp. Deuteronomy 28:37; 1 Kings 9:7; Jeremiah 24:9; Joe 2:17 (R.V. marg.); Psalms 22:7; and generally Lamentations 2:15 ff.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 44:14
Thou makest us a byword among heathen - The word rendered “by-word” - משׁל mâshâl - means properly a similitude or parable; then, a sententious saying, and apophthegm; then, a proverb; then, a song
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 44:14
9-16. The strain suddenly turns to lamentation and complaint, and the poet spreads the national distress before God.
Sermons on Psalms 44:14
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Crusading On--Our Responsibility by Beryl Amos | The preacher delves into the meaning of 'mukterizo,' which signifies mocking, deriding, and treating with contempt. The concept of sowing and reaping is emphasized, highlighting th |
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Nerves, Continued by Harmon A. Baldwin | Harmon A. Baldwin addresses various scenarios where nerves may manifest in outward behavior, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure and seeking God's peace amidst chal |
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America's Godly Heritage by John Franklin | In this sermon, the speaker recounts the story of the early pilgrims and Puritans who settled in America, seeing themselves as a type of the children of Israel. The sermon referenc |
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Spiritual Times and Seasons by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches on the vanity of all creature enjoyments and the importance of experiencing the killing and healing work of grace in the soul. Through the examples of King So |
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Jacob and Esau by Paul Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of separating the precious from the vile in order to experience true life. He discusses the power of atmosphere and how it ca |
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All That Jesus Taught Bible Study - Part 77 by Zac Poonen | This sermon delves into the profound events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion, highlighting his obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, |
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The Seventh Degree of Humility by St. Benedict of Nursia | St. Benedict of Nursia preaches on the seventh degree of humility, emphasizing the importance of considering oneself lower and of less account than anyone else, not just in words b |