Psalms 35:24 — Word Study
WLCשָׁפְטֵ֣נִי כְ֭צִדְקְךָ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָ֗י וְאַל־ יִשְׂמְחוּ־ לִֽי׃
BSAVindicate meshâphaṭ [judge, prove innocent] by Your righteousnesstsedeq [according to Your justice, holy character] O LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah] ◂my Godʼĕlôhîym [Elohim, the supreme God] and do not let themʼal [let not] gloatsâmach▸ [rejoice, be glad]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שָׁפְטֵ֣נִי | vindicate me | Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| כְ֭צִדְקְךָ | according to righteousness your | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יְהוָ֥ה | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| אֱלֹהָ֗י | God my | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְאַל־ | and may not | Conjunction, particle |
| יִשְׂמְחוּ־ | they rejoice | Verb, Qal, jussive third person masculine plural |
| לִֽי׃ | to me | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me. |
| KJV | Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. |
| ASV | Judge me, O Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me. |
| YLT | Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me. |
| WEB | Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me. |
| BBE | Be my judge, O Lord my God, in your righteousness; do not let them be glad over me. |
The translations agree on the essence of the verse, focusing on the psalmist's plea for vindication and justice.
The verse contains a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase and a direct address, concluding with a negative clause that expresses the psalmist's desire to prevent his enemies from rejoicing.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׂמַח
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 35:24
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 Plea for Justicegenerated
Psalm 35:24 expresses a heartfelt plea from the psalmist, who is in distress and seeks God's righteous judgment. The surrounding verses highlight the psalmist's urgency for divine defense against his adversaries, who are eager to see him suffer. This context reflects a common theme in the Psalms, where the faithful cry out for God's intervention in times of trouble.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 7:8 | The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity. |
| 2 | Psalm 18:20–24 | The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. |
| 3 | Psalm 26:1 | Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. |
| 4 | Psalm 43:1 | Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; deliver me from deceitful and unjust men. |
| 5 | 2 Thessalonians 1:6 | After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׁפְטֵ֣נִי, sha.fe.Te.nigenerated
The verb שָׁפַט (shaphat) means to judge or govern, and in this context, it carries the connotation of vindication. The imperative form indicates a direct request for action, asking God to judge the psalmist favorably based on His righteousness.
The parsing as a second person masculine singular imperative shows that the psalmist is directly addressing God, pleading for His intervention. This reflects the deep trust in God's ability to judge justly and the psalmist's reliance on divine justice in the face of human opposition.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses vindicate to convey the psalmist's plea for justice.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main finite verb is שָׁפְטֵ֣נִי, vindicate me, which governs the entire verse. The structure includes a prepositional phrase specifying the basis of the request, followed by a direct address to God, and concludes with a negative clause expressing the psalmist's desire to prevent his enemies' rejoicing.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the imperative request, highlighting the urgency of the psalmist's plea for divine intervention.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שָׁפְטֵ֣נִי as κρίνε (krine), meaning 'judge'. This choice reflects a clear alignment with the Hebrew meaning while also emphasizing the act of judgment rather than vindication.
The use of σου (sou) for כְ֭צִדְקְךָ highlights the personal nature of God's righteousness in the psalmist's appeal.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 35:24 is a plea for God to judge the psalmist fairly and not allow his enemies to rejoice in his suffering. The psalmist is asking for divine help in a time of distress, trusting in God's righteousness to deliver him.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To ask God to vindicate is to request that He judge fairly and prove the person innocent or justified in their cause.
The psalmist appeals to God's righteousness as the basis for his plea, indicating that he seeks justice according to God's holy character.
The enemies gloating represents a desire to see the psalmist humiliated and defeated, highlighting the emotional and spiritual stakes of the psalmist's plea.
This verse reflects the theme of seeking divine justice and intervention in the face of adversity, a frequent motif throughout the Psalms.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's vindication and justice?
- How can I trust in God's righteousness when facing opposition or injustice?
- What does it mean for me to rely on God's character in my prayers?
- How can I respond to those who may gloat over my difficulties?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early interpretations of this verse from church fathers like Augustine of Hippo and Cassiodorus highlight the themes of divine justice and mercy in the psalmist's plea.
"Judge me, O Lord, according to My righteousness" [Psalms 35:24]; that is, attend to My cause.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 35 →
Although he had the best case, since he had committed no sins, he still asks that he be judged in mercy to show us, who would not be able to carry out this activity as those without sin, an example of prayer.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 35 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 35:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleJudge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness,.... Either that righteousness of his, by which he justifies his people, which Christ has wrought out, God has accepted of, and imputes; and
Read John Gill on Psalms 35 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryJudge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. Let ... - (Psalms 35:19.)
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 35 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThy righteousness; whereby thou usest and lovest to defend the innocent, and to punish their oppressors.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 35 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 35:24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.Ver. 24. According to thy righteousness] i.e. For the honour of thy justice, wherein else thou art likely to suffer. And let them not rejoice over me] For I quarter arms, as I may so say, with thee, Lord; and my disgrace will reflect upon thee.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 35 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 24. Judge me, O Lord my God] The manner of his appeal shows the strong confidence he had in his own innocence.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 35 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges24. Judge me] Do me justice. Cp. Psalms 7:8; and for the plea, according to thy righteousness, see Psalms 7:17; Psalms 31:1.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 35 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleJudge me, O Lord my God - Pronounce judgment, or judge between me and my enemies. Compare the notes at Psalms 26:1. According to thy righteousness - That is, “rightly.” Let there be a righteous judgment.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 35 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible24. According to thy righteousness—An appeal to God’s knowledge of the right as to the points at issue with his enemies. Justice, not private victory, is his plea with God.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 35 →The verse in English, compared — 16 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
Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me.
Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.
Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me.
Vindicate me by your justice, O Lord my God! Do not let them gloat over me!
Tyndale line
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Judge me, O Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me.
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Iudge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousnesse, and let them not reioyce ouer mee.
Strictly literal
Judge me, Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me.
Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me.
Judge me according to Your righteousness, O YHWH my God, || And they do not rejoice over me.
Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice over me.
Defend me, Yahweh my God, because of your righteousness; do not let them rejoice over me.
Simplified
Vindicate me, my Lord and my God, because you are just and right. Don't let them gloat over me.
Be my judge, O Lord my God, in your righteousness; do not let them be glad over me.
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 on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This consistency underscores the shared understanding of the psalmist's plea across these ancient traditions.
שָׁפְטֵ֣נִי כְ֭צִדְקְךָ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָ֗י וְאַל־ יִשְׂמְחוּ־ לִֽי׃
7 of the 7 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.
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 35:24
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.
שָׁפַט (shaphat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to judge or govern. It encompasses a range of actions including pronouncing sentences, executing judgments, and deciding controversies in various contexts such as civil and religious matters. The word can also imply being judged or entering into legal disputes. There is a specific mention of its use in the context of final judgment.
שָׁפַט 185 vb. judge, govern
Qal
act as law-giver, judge, governor
specif. decide controversy, discriminate betw. persons, in civil, political, domestic and religious questions
execute judgment
Niph.
recipr., enter into controversy, plead
pass. be judged
Pô‛el = my opponent-at-law
base
H8199 שָׁפַט judge, govern .. act as law-giver, judge, governor
. specif. decide controversy, discriminate betw. persons, in civil, political, domestic and religious questions
. execute judgment
. . recipr., enter into controversy, plead
. pass. be judged
.= my opponent-at-law
8199 shaphat shaw-fat'
a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or
against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by
extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or
figuratively):--+ avenge, X that condemn, contend, defend,
execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), X needs, plead,
reason, rule.
שָׁפַט (sha.phat) — to judge.
1) to judge, govern, vindicate, punish
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to act as law-giver or judge or governor (of God, man)
1a1a) to rule, govern, judge
1a2) to decide controversy (of God, man)
1a3) to execute judgment
1a3a) discriminating (of man)
1a3b) vindicating
1a3c) condemning and punishing
1a3d) at theophanic advent for final judgment
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to enter into controversy, plead, have controversy together
1b2) to be judged
1c) (Poel) judge, opponent-at-law (participle)
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVqv2ms/Sp1bs
צֶ֫דֶק (tsedeq) refers to concepts of rightness and righteousness, encompassing moral, legal, and natural dimensions. It includes justice in governance, ethical correctness, and vindication in disputes. The term also suggests prosperity and deliverance, particularly in relation to God's covenant and the Messianic king. The entries consistently emphasize its broad application in both personal and societal contexts.
צֶ֫דֶק n.m. rightness, righteousness
what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness, of weights and measures
righteousness, in government
righteousness, justice, in a case or cause
rightness, in speech
righteousness, as ethically right
righteousness, as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity
base
H6664 צֶ֫דֶק rightness, righteousness . what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness, of weights and measures
. righteousness, in government
. righteousness, justice, in a case or cause
. rightness, in speech
. righteousness, as ethically right
. righteousness, as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity
6664 tsedeq tseh'-dek
from 6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also
(abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity:--X even, (X
that which is altogether) just(-ice), ((un-))right(-eous)
(cause, -ly, - ness).
see HEBREW for 06663
צֶ֫דֶק (tse.deq) — righteousness.
1) justice, rightness, righteousness
1a) what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures)
1b) righteousness (in government)
1b1) of judges, rulers, kings
1b2) of law
1b3) of Davidic king, Messiah
1b4) of Jerusalem as seat of just government
1b5) of God's attribute
1c) righteousness, justice (in case or cause)
1d) rightness (in speech)
1e) righteousness (as ethically right)
1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification (in controversy), deliverance, victory, prosperity
1f1) of God as covenant-keeping in redemption
1f2) in name of Messianic king
1f3) of people enjoying salvation
1f4) of Cyrus
צֶ֫דֶק (tse.deq) — Righteousness.
This name means justice, righteousness
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.
אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.
pl. in number.
rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
angels
gods
pl. intensive
god or goddess
godlike one
works of God, or things belongng to him
God
הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
אֱלֹהִים = God
base
H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
. angels
. gods
. pl. intensive . god or goddess
. godlike one
. works of God, or things belongng to him
. God
. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
. אֱלֹהִים = God
430 'elohiym el-o-heem'
plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically
used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the
supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to
magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X
exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X
mighty.
see HEBREW for 0433
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.
This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.
Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.
Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs
אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.
אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
base
H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
408 'al al
a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified
negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,
nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing
(worth), rather than.
see HEBREW for 03808
אַל (al) — not.
1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)
Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
שָׂמַח (samach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rejoice or be glad. It can express joy in everyday life, religious contexts, or even exultation. The verb has different forms: Qal (to rejoice), Piel (to cause to rejoice), and Hiphil (to make glad). The entries indicate a range of meanings related to joy and merriment.
שָׂמַח, שָׂמִ֑חַ 154 vb. rejoice, be glad
Qal 126
in common life
rejoice religiously
subj. י׳
Pi. cause to rejoice, gladden
Hiph. = Pi.
base
H8055 שָׂמַח, שָׂמִ֑חַ rejoice, be glad
8055 samach saw-makh'
a primitive root; probably to brighten up, i.e.
(figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or
gleesome:--cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy(-ful),
be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, X very.
שָׂמַח (sa.mach) — to rejoice.
1) to rejoice, be glad
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to rejoice
1a2) to rejoice (arrogantly), exult (at)
1a3) to rejoice (religiously)
1b) (Piel) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad
V-Qal-Juss-3mp — Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine pluralHVqj3mp
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs