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Psalms 35:21

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 35:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me; They said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me; They said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
Psalms 35:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 35

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18I will give thee thanks in the great assembly: I will praise thee among much people.
19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; Neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
20For they speak not peace; But they devise deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.
21Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me; They said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
22Thou hast seen it, O Jehovah; keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
23Stir up thyself, and awake to the justice [due] unto me, [Even] unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
24Judge me, O Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me.
← Psalms 35:20Psalms 35:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, etc.] In laughter, scorn, and derision; (see <192207>Psalm 22:7,8); [and] said, Aha, aha: a word expressive of joy; and the doubling it shows the greatness of it; our eye hath seen [it]; what their heart wished for; namely, the distress of him, whose enemies they were.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“On the gesture compare Psa 22:7; and on the expressions of malicious triumph, compare Psa 10:13; Psa 28:3.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me - See the notes at Psalms 22:13. And said, Aha, aha! - See Psalms 40:15; Psalms 70:3. The language is that which we use when we “detect” another in doing wrong - in doing what he meant to conceal. Our eye hath seen it - We are not dependent on the reports of others. We have seen it with our own eyes. We have found you out. We cannot be mistaken in regard to it. The reference is to some supposed “detection” of misconduct on the part of David, and the joy and triumph of such a supposed detection. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Wide - To pour forth whole floods of scoffs and slanders. ha - An expression of joy and triumph. Our eye - What we have long desired and hoped for. Psalms 35:22”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“35:21, 25 Aha! . . . Look: Both words translate the same expression of glee (Hebrew he’akh).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Yea: Psa 22:13; Isa 9:12; Luk 11:53, Luk 11:54 Aha: Psa 40:15, Psa 54:7, Psa 70:3 Psalms 35:22”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 35 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification