like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is the stark contrast between the setting of a feast and the violent imagery of "gnashing teeth." These weren't just casual insults; they were hostile, rage-filled outbursts happening amidst supposed celebration, revealing a deep, predatory hatred lurking beneath a veneer of fellowship.
like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is lamenting the deep betrayal he's experiencing from people who were once close, possibly even part of his own household, who now mock and plot against him. They're described as "profane mockers at a feast," suggesting a vicious disregard for decency, perhaps even gathering to ridicule him while indulging in their own comforts. This picture sets the stage for his plea to God for rescue from their relentless hostility.
Imagine sitting at a feast, only to have the hired entertainers turn their mockery on you. David describes his enemies this way, and it reveals a chilling truth about how quickly favor can turn to hate.
David uses a vivid image to describe his enemies: 'profane mockers at a feast.' The original language suggests these weren't just any guests, but potentially 'cake-mockers' or 'parasites' – people who earned their keep at banquets through jesting and flattery.
The image of enemies gnashing their teeth isn't just a cute idiom. It's a visceral expression of animalistic fury and utter hatred that David felt aimed directly at him.
The physical act of 'gnashing teeth' is a powerful descriptor of intense emotion. In this verse, it’s not just a sign of frustration; it’s a primal roar of animosity.
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David feels this rage not just as verbal abuse but as a palpable threat, a violent energy that seeks to consume him.
David’s enemies mock him at a feast – a place of celebration and fellowship. This stark contrast reveals that even in the midst of supposed joy, spiritual warfare can rage.
The setting of a feast, usually associated with joy and community, becomes the backdrop for intense malice. This highlights how spiritual opposition can infiltrate even the most normal or pleasant aspects of life.
David’s complaint is that even in a setting of supposed celebration, he finds himself the target of venomous hatred, demonstrating that spiritual battles are often hidden beneath the surface of everyday life.
Understand the original words
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.
Psalm 35 vividly portrays David's deep distress, not just from general enemies, but from a specific social context of mockery and betrayal, particularly by those who should have been allies or at least respectful observers. The imagery of 'profane mockers at a feast' highlights how his adversaries, even in seemingly convivial settings, used their words and attitudes to inflict pain and scorn.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's Rise to Power
David, a skilled musician and warrior, gains popularity as Saul's reign falters. This period is marked by David's fugitive status and Saul's intense jealousy, creating a backdrop of political intrigue and personal animosity.
c. 1000-960 BC
David's Reign as King of Israel
After Saul's death, David becomes king, unifying the tribes and establishing Jerusalem as the capital. Despite his successes, he faces numerous challenges, including internal rebellions and external threats, often fueled by his past.
c. 960 BC
Death of David
David's long reign concludes, leaving behind a stable kingdom and a complex legacy. His psalms, including those detailing his struggles, continue to offer solace and insight to future generations.
This passage describes Jesus being spit upon and struck by His accusers, mirroring the intense, violent mockery and dehumanization David experiences in Psalm 35:16.
Lamentations 2:16Jeremiah's cry of his enemies 'gnashing their teeth' at Jerusalem echoes David's description of his foes in Psalm 35:16, highlighting a shared experience of profound opposition and contempt.
Acts 7:54The violent reaction of Stephen's accusers, who 'gnashed their teeth' at him, shows this image of relentless rage and hatred is a recurring theme for those who stand for God against opposition.
Job 16:9Job describes his enemies 'gnashing their teeth' at him, indicating that this vivid imagery of rage and hostility against the righteous is a consistent pattern throughout biblical history.
calvinPsalms 35:16-18: "With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth."
Among perfidious jesters at feasts, they gnash upon me with their teeth. 17. O Lord! [714] how long wilt thou look on? deliver my soul from their tumults, and my only one [715] from the lions. 18. I will magnify thee in the great congregation: [716] I will praise thee before a great people. [717]
Among perfidious jesters. Others translate it, With hypocrites, but in my opinion David simply re…
cambridgePsalms 35:16: "With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth."
16 . Like (less probably, among ) the profanest of mocking parasites they gnash &c.; a gesture of rage, as though they would devour their victim ( Psalm 35:25 ). The obscure phrase in the first line is generally explained to mean mockers for a cake , buffoons who purchase entertainment for themselves by scurrilous jests (Gr. κνισσοκόλακες , ψωμοκόλακες , Lat. buccellarii ). Another explanation is, like (…
What's easy to miss is the stark contrast between the setting of a feast and the violent imagery of "gnashing teeth." These weren't just casual insults; they were hostile, rage-filled outbursts happening amidst supposed celebration, revealing a deep, predatory hatred lurking beneath a veneer of fellowship.
David is lamenting the deep betrayal he's experiencing from people who were once close, possibly even part of his own household, who now mock and plot against him. They're described as "profane mockers at a feast," suggesting a vicious disregard for decency, perhaps even gathering to ridicule him while indulging in their own comforts. This picture sets the stage for his plea to God for rescue from their relentless hostility.
David is lamenting the deep betrayal he's experiencing from people who were once close, possibly even part of his own household, who now mock and plot against him. They're described as "profane mockers at a feast," suggesting a vicious disregard for decency, perhaps even gathering to ridicule him while indulging in their own comforts. This picture sets the stage for his plea to God for rescue from their relentless hostility.
"like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth." — What's easy to miss is the stark contrast between the setting of a feast and the violent imagery of "gnashing teeth." These weren't just casual insults; they were hostile, rage-filled outbursts happe…
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Last reviewed October 2026