Psalm 35:15-16
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The phrase "abjects whom I did not know" is more than just a complaint about strangers; it points to the chilling reality of being attacked by people so obscure and insignificant that they were virtually unknown, highlighting the sheer malice of those who found joy in David's downfall and sought to destroy him without any discernible personal grievance.
But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist is describing a harrowing experience where enemies actively sought his downfall. After detailing his own compassionate actions toward them—mourning with them, fasting, and praying on their behalf—he contrasts this with their cruel reaction to his "halting" or misfortune. Instead of showing mercy, they rejoiced, banded together, and attacked him with relentless slander and scorn, even including people he barely knew.
Have you ever felt blindsided by cruelty from people you didn't even know? This psalm dives into that raw hurt.
David is in a terrible spot. He's not just facing opposition; he's facing opposition from people he describes with striking terms. They aren't just 'enemies'; they are 'wretches whom I did not know.' This highlights a profound pain: the sting of being attacked by strangers, people with no prior connection or grievance. It's a betrayal of the human experience itself, where we might expect understanding or at least indifference, but instead find malice. This wasn't just a minor spat; it was a calculated effort to tear him down.
It’s one thing to be attacked, but what about when your attackers celebrate your struggles?
The psalm paints a disturbing picture of David's enemies. They don't just oppose him; they actively rejoice at his 'halting' – his stumble, his misfortune. This isn't neutral observation; it's gleeful malice. Imagine someone tripping, and instead of offering a hand, people gather around to laugh and mock. This reveals a deep-seated cruelty and a perverse delight in the suffering of others. David notes they 'gathered together,' not to help, but to amplify their celebration of his downfall, a stark contrast to his own compassionate heart described earlier in the psalm.
How can words inflict such deep wounds that they feel like tearing?
Ask a follow-up
The psalm uses powerful imagery to describe the attackers' actions: 'tore at me without ceasing.' This isn't literal physical violence, though that might be implied. The context, especially with the mention of 'wretches' and 'gathering together,' points to relentless verbal assault. Slander, mockery, and ceaseless reproach can inflict damage just as real as physical blows. They 'tear' at one's reputation, dignity, and inner peace. The phrase 'without ceasing' emphasizes the relentless, overwhelming nature of this attack, leaving the victim feeling shredded and defenseless against a constant barrage of harmful words.
Understand the original words
ṣēlāʿ · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for falling into sin, moral failure, or experiencing a calamitous setback in life.
chaneph · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A term describing those who act with disregard for sacred things or God's standards; someone who is corrupt, impious, or characterized by godless behavior.
charaq · Hebrew Verb
To crush or grind with the teeth; often used metaphorically to express intense hatred, malice, or the desire to destroy an enemy.
This psalm vividly portrays the raw pain of betrayal and public humiliation, reflecting the deep personal and political turmoil David experienced, particularly during Absalom's rebellion, where even strangers rejoiced at his 'stumbling'.
c. 1000 BC
Reign of David
David, the second king of Israel, united the tribes and established Jerusalem as the capital. His reign was marked by military victories but also by internal strife and rebellion, notably from his son Absalom.
c. 970 BC
Absalom's Rebellion
David's son Absalom incited a rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. This period saw widespread betrayal and attacks on David's loyalists.
c. 970 BC
Shimei's Curses
While David fled Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion, Shimei, a relative of Saul, cursed and threw stones at David, a public humiliation and sign of intense enmity.
c. 970 BC— this verse
David's Flight and Humiliation
David experienced profound betrayal and public scorn during his flight from Jerusalem, with former allies and even unknown enemies rejoicing in his downfall.
c. 930 BC
Kingdom Divides
After Solomon's death, the unified kingdom fractured into two: Israel (north) and Judah (south). This division led to centuries of conflict and political instability.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting much of its population and scattering them, a devastating event for the people of God.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the Judahite people. This marked the end of an era and a profound crisis of faith for the survivors.
Job also describes being mocked and attacked by those he considered beneath him, people who scorned him in his misery, mirroring David's experience of being attacked by 'abjects whom I did not know.'
Psalms 38:16-17This passage echoes Psalm 35:15 by lamenting enemies who rejoice at affliction and speak boastfully, emphasizing the pain of adversaries taking advantage of vulnerability.
Matthew 27:27-31The mocking and brutal treatment of Jesus by the Roman soldiers, who reveled in His suffering and attacked Him, is a stark fulfillment of the Psalmist's experience of being torn and derided by a hostile crowd.
Luke 6:22-23Jesus directly addresses the blessing of being reviled and excluded for His sake, connecting with David's complaint about unjust hatred and public scorn.
Jeremiah 20:10Jeremiah speaks of 'everyone, all day long, is slanderously reported' and 'they have gathered together against me,' highlighting the pervasive and relentless nature of slander and conspiracy against a prophet, much like David faced.
calvinPsalms 35:11-15: "False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not."
- Violent witnesses rise up, they charge me with things which I know not. 12. They render me evil for good, to the bereaving [708] of my soul. 13. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; and have poured my prayer into my own bosom. 14. I behaved myself towards him as if he had been my friend and brother: I humbled myself as one that mourneth h…
poolePsalms 35:15: "But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:"
In mine adversity, Heb. in my halting , i.e. when I was in great danger of falling into mischief; when I had any sickness, or ill success in my affairs, and was almost lost; for such are said to halt, Micah 4:6,7 Zep 3:19 . See also Psalm 38:17 Jeremiah 20:10 . Gathered themselves together, to wit, a…
The phrase "abjects whom I did not know" is more than just a complaint about strangers; it points to the chilling reality of being attacked by people so obscure and insignificant that they were virtually unknown, highlighting the sheer malice of those who found joy in David's downfall and sought to destroy him without any discernible personal grievance.
The Psalmist is describing a harrowing experience where enemies actively sought his downfall. After detailing his own compassionate actions toward them—mourning with them, fasting, and praying on their behalf—he contrasts this with their cruel reaction to his "halting" or misfortune. Instead of showing mercy, they rejoiced, banded together, and attacked him with relentless slander and scorn, even including people he barely knew.
The Psalmist is describing a harrowing experience where enemies actively sought his downfall. After detailing his own compassionate actions toward them—mourning with them, fasting, and praying on their behalf—he contrasts this with their cruel reaction to his "halting" or misfortune. Instead of showing mercy, they rejoiced, banded together, and attacked him with relentless slander and scorn, even including people he barely knew.
"But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth." — The phrase "abjects whom I did not know" is more than just a complaint about strangers; it points to the chilling reality of being attacked by people so obscure and insignificant that they were virtu…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
