Psalms 109:3 — Word Study
WLCוְדִבְרֵ֣י שִׂנְאָ֣ה סְבָב֑וּנִי וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֥וּנִי חִנָּֽם׃
BSAThey surround meçâbab■ [compass, encircle] with hatefulsinʼâh wordsdâbâr [words of hatred, detestable] and attack melâcham▸ [fight, make war] without causechinnâm [for no reason, in vain, justification, provocation]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְדִבְרֵ֣י | and words of | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct |
| שִׂנְאָ֣ה | hatred | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| סְבָב֑וּנִי | they have surrounded me | Verb qal perfect third person common plural, suffix |
| וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֥וּנִי | and they have fought against me | Verb niphal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
| חִנָּֽם׃ | without cause | Adverb |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause. |
| KJV | They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. |
| ASV | They have compassed me about also with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause. |
| YLT | They have compassed me about, And they fight me without cause. |
| WEB | They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause. |
| BBE | Words of hate are round about me; they have made war against me without cause. |
Where they part company is חִנָּם — see How Translations Differ.
The structure shows a main action followed by a description of the attack, emphasizing the unjust nature of the psalmist's suffering.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 109:3
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Lament of Persecutiongenerated
Psalm 109:3 describes the psalmist's experience of being surrounded by hateful words and unjust attacks. This verse highlights the emotional and spiritual turmoil faced by the psalmist, who feels the weight of hostility from those around him. The surrounding context includes further expressions of his plight, as seen in verses 2 and 4, where he speaks of deceitful mouths and the return of evil for good.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 17:11 | They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground, |
| 2 | Psalm 22:12 | Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. |
| 3 | Psalm 88:17 | All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side. |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 16:7–8 | And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed! |
| 5 | Hosea 11:12 | Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — דָּבָר, ve.div.Reigenerated
The word דָּבָר (dabar) is a noun that means 'word' or 'speech'. It encompasses a wide range of meanings, including discourse, saying, and matter. In this verse, it refers to the hateful words directed at the psalmist, emphasizing the verbal assault he faces.
The parsing indicates that it is a plural construct noun, showing that multiple words or expressions are involved in this attack. The lexicons confirm that דָּבָר can refer to anything spoken, making it a fitting term for the psalmist's experience of verbal hostility.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase hateful words to translate דָּבָר. Other translations, like the KJV and ASV, also convey the same meaning, maintaining the essence of the original Hebrew.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of חִנָּם. The BSB, WEB, and others use without cause, while the FBV and NETB opt for for no reason, reflecting a subtle difference in interpretation.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses: the first describes the action of being surrounded, and the second details the attack. The finite verb סְבָב֑וּ (they have surrounded) governs the structure, with the noun phrase וְדִבְרֵ֣י שִׂנְאָ֣ה (and words of hatred) serving as the subject.
The order of the Hebrew words emphasizes the psalmist's experience of being encircled by hostility, with the verbs indicating ongoing actions against him.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew דָּבָר is translated as λόγοις (words), which maintains the focus on verbal expression. This choice shows continuity in the theme of verbal assault.
The translation of חִנָּם as δωρεάν (gratis) suggests a focus on the unjust nature of the attacks, highlighting that they occur without any justification.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 109:3 expresses the psalmist's feeling of being surrounded by hateful words and attacked without cause. This verse captures the pain of verbal abuse and unjust treatment, reflecting a common theme of lament in the psalms.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It refers to experiencing verbal abuse and hostility from others, which can be deeply hurtful and isolating.
This indicates that the attacks are unjustified and that the psalmist has not done anything to deserve such treatment.
It shows the psalmist's vulnerability and reliance on God in times of distress, as he seeks help in the face of unjust attacks.
We can understand the pain of being unjustly treated and the importance of seeking refuge in God during difficult times.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced or witnessed verbal hostility, and how did it affect me or others?
- How can I respond to unjust treatment in a way that reflects my faith?
- What does this verse teach me about the nature of hatred and its impact on relationships?
- How can I support someone who is facing similar challenges as the psalmist?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early interpretations of this verse, such as Augustine's commentary, highlight the psalmist's experience of unjust treatment and the response of love amidst hostility.
"In place," says he, "of loving me, they detracted from me" [Psalms 109:3].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 109 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 109:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey compassed me about also with words of hatred,.... They surrounded him as he hung on the cross, and expressed their malice and hatred against him; then was he enclosed with these spiteful
Read John Gill on Psalms 109 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. They compassed me about also with words of hatred - with malicious charges.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 109 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWords of hatred; which, though covered with specious pretences, proceeded from deep malice and hatred, and were designed to work my destruction. Without a cause; without any just provocation given them by me.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 109 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 109:3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.Ver. 3. They compassed me about also, &c.] So that I could not find out any way to clear myself, though never so innocent. And fought against me] So they smote Jeremiah with the tongue, and our Saviour suffered the opposition of sinners, Hebrews 12:3
Read John Trapp on Psalms 109 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3. Yea, with words of hatred have they surrounded me, And fought against me without cause. Cp. Psalms 35:7; Psalms 35:19-20; Psalms 69:4; Proverbs 1:11. “Come and let us smite him with the tongue” was the cry of Jeremiah’s opponents (Jeremiah 18:18). “Denounce, yea, let us denounce him” (Jeremiah 20:10).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 109 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThey compassed me about also with words of hatred - They attacked me on every side; they assailed me, not merely in one form and direction, but in every form, and in every direction.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 109 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible3. Compassed… fought—Military terms; enemies surrounded and fought him with the words of falsehood and hatred. These were their weapons and their policy of war.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 109 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.
They surround me and say hateful things; they attack me for no reason.
Tyndale line
They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
They have compassed me about also with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause.
They compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
They encompassed me also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
They compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
Strictly literal
And with words of hatred have they encompassed me; and they fight against me without a cause.
They have compassed me about, And they fight me without cause.
They have surrounded me about, || And they fight me without cause.
Also with words of hatred have they encompassed me, and they fight against me without a cause.
They surround me and say hateful things, and they attack me without cause.
From the Latin
With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day star I begot thee.
Simplified
They surround me with words of hate, fighting against me for no reason.
Words of hate are round about me; they have made war against me without cause.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all five words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the core message remains consistent across these witnesses, emphasizing the psalmist's experience of unjust hostility.
וְדִבְרֵ֣י שִׂנְאָ֣ה סְבָב֑וּנִי וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֥וּנִי חִנָּֽם׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[ודברי] [שנאה] [סבבו׳ני] [וילחמו׳ני] חנם
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 109:3
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural constructHC/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
שִׂנְאָה (sin'ah) refers to the concepts of hating and hatred. It encompasses the idea of intense dislike, applicable to both human and divine contexts. The word is derived from a root meaning to hate, and its usage is noted in various instances throughout the Old Testament.
שִׂנְאָה n.f. hating, hatred
base
H8135 שִׂנְאָה hating, hatred
8135 sin'ah sin-aw'
from 8130; hate:--+ exceedingly, hate(-ful, - red).
see HEBREW for 08130
שִׂנְאָה (sin.ah) — hating.
1) hating, hatred, hate
1a) hatred
1a1) of man, God
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
Hatred
Among the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:20). Altogether different is the meaning of the word in Deut. 21:15; Matt. 6:24; Luke 14:26; Rom. 9:13, where it denotes only a less degree of love.
The Hebrew word סָבַב (savav) means to turn or go around, encompassing a range of actions such as surrounding, marching, and changing direction. It is built from a primitive root and has various applications, both literal and figurative, including transforming or enclosing. The entries detail its uses in different verbal forms, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicons.
סָבַב vb. turn about, go around, surround
Qal
turn, intrans.
march, or walk, around
go partly round, circle, skirt
make a round, or circuit, go about to
surround, encompass
Niph.
turn oneself against, close round upon
turn round (from a direct course)
esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward
pass. be turned over to, into the power of
Pi. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter
Po‛.
encompass (with protection)
come about, assemble round
march or go about
enclose, envelop
Hiph.
turn (trans.), cause to turn
bring over (i.e. to allegiance)
turn into, of changing name
= bring round, of changing name
cause to go around
surround with (acc.) wall
perh. also encompass (as foe)
Hoph.
be turned, of cart wheel
surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels
base
H5437 סָבַב turn about, go around, surround .. turn, intrans.
. . march, or walk, around
. go partly round, circle, skirt
. make a round, or circuit, go about to
. surround, encompass
. . . turn oneself against, close round upon
. turn round (from a direct course)
. esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward
. pass. be turned over to, into the power of
. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter
. . encompass (with protection)
. come about, assemble round
. march or go about
. enclose, envelop
. . . turn (trans.), cause to turn
. bring over (i.e. to allegiance)
. turn into, of changing name
. = bring round, of changing name
. . cause to go around
. surround with (acc.) wall
. perh. also encompass (as foe)
. . be turned, of cart wheel
. surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels
5437 cabab saw-bab'
a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in
various applications, literally and figuratively (as
follows):--bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X
round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset
(about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to
come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round),
drive, environ, X on every side, beset (close, come, compass,
go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit
down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).
סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: turn.
: turn/bring_around
1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change
1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round
1b2) to be turned over to
1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform
1d) (Poel)
1d1) to encompass, surround
1d2) to come about, assemble round
1d3) to march, go about
1d4) to enclose, envelop
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to turn, cause to turn, turn back, reverse, bring over, turn into, bring round
1e2) to cause to go around, surround, encompass
1f) (Hophal)
1f1) to be turned
1f2) to be surrounded
סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: surround.
: surround/go_round
V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff — Verb qal perfect third person common plural · suffixHVqp3cp/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word לָחַם (lacham) has two primary meanings: to fight or do battle, and to eat or use as food. It is a primitive root that conveys both the act of engaging in combat and the act of consuming food. The entries indicate that the word can imply destruction in the context of battle.
[לָחַם] 171 vb. fight, do battle
Qal fight, do battle
Niph. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war
base
[לָחַם] vb. use as food, eat
base
H3898a לָחַם fight, do battle .fight, do battle
. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war
H3898b לָחַם use as food, eat
3898 lacham law-kham'
a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by
implication, to battle (as destruction):--devour, eat, X ever,
fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).
לָחַם (la.cham) — to fight.
1) to fight, do battle, make war
1a) (Qal) to fight, do battle
1b) (Niphal) to engage in battle, wage war
לָחַם (la.cham) — to feed on.
(Qal) to eat, use as food
Conj | V-Niphal-ConsecImperf-3mp | Suff — Verb niphal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHc/VNw3mp/Sp1bs
חִנָּם (chinnam) means 'for nothing' or 'gratis,' indicating something given without cost or reason. It conveys ideas of being free, undeserved, or in vain. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be devoid of advantage.' Various lexicons emphasize its use in contexts that highlight lack of purpose or cause.
חִנָּם subst., used chiefly in the accus. as adv.—lit. out of favour; i.e.
gratis, gratuitously, for nothing
for no purpose, in vain
gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly
base
H2600 חִנָּם lit. out of favour; i.e. . gratis, gratuitously, for nothing
. for no purpose, in vain
. gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly
2600 chinnam khin-nawm'
from 2580; gratis, i.e. devoid of cost, reason or
advantage:--without a cause (cost, wages), causeless, to cost
nothing, free(-ly), innocent, for nothing (nought, in vain.
see HEBREW for 02580
חִנָּם (chin.nam) — for nothing.
1) freely, for nothing, without cause
1a) gratis, gratuitously, for nothing
1b) for no purpose, in vain
1c) gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly
Adv — AdverbHD
kos: In both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "for this cause" (the King James Version "cause") occurs in Ex 9:16 as the rendering of ba`abhur zo'th = "in order that"; "to the end that"; so also in Da 2:12 for kol-qebhel denah, and in 2Ch 32:20 the King James Version for `al-zo'th, where RVS read "because of." In the New Testament the word is used adverbially in the translation of several Greek phrases: heneka toutou (Mt 19:5; Mr 10:7); dia touto, Joh 12:27; Ro 1:26; 13:6; 15:9…
→ See ACTIONS AT LAW