Psalms 69:12
I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to skim past, but the "gate" here isn't just any public place; it's where judges sat and justice was supposed to happen. So, it's not just random people mocking the Psalmist, but also the very authorities who should have protected him, proving how deeply he was wronged.
The Psalmist is deeply distressed, lamenting his suffering and wrongful persecution. He describes how even those in positions of authority, who gather in public places like the city gates for judgment or discourse, are speaking against him. Worse still, even the lowest elements of society, drunkards, mock him, making him the subject of their crude songs.
The place where justice was dispensed also became a stage for public scorn. Who are the 'gate-sitters' in our modern world?
The Seat of Judgment
The 'gate' in ancient cities was more than just an entrance. It was the hub of public life: a marketplace, a meeting place, and crucially, the seat of justice and governance. When the verse says 'those who sit in the gate,' it’s pointing to a broad spectrum of society.
David, or the Psalmist, felt the sting of ridicule not just from nameless masses, but from those in positions of power and influence, as well as the general public who frequented these central gathering spots.
The deepest insults aren't always shouted; sometimes they're sung. What does it mean to be the 'song of the drunkards'?
From Gossip to Grotesque Art
The second part of the verse, 'and the drunkards make songs about me,' elevates the mockery from mere talk to a form of twisted entertainment. This isn't just being the subject of conversation; it's being the punchline of crude, debased humor.
Understand the original words
sha'ar · Hebrew Noun
In biblical culture, the city gate was the center of social, legal, and commercial activity, where elders sat to judge and leaders gathered. Being the talk of those here implies public condemnation or gossip from the social elite.
This verse paints a vivid picture of public humiliation, reflecting a time when the city gates were central hubs for both justice and social life, making them prime locations for gossip and slander against prominent figures.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's Reign and Court
As king, David established his court and administrative centers, with public life and judicial proceedings often taking place at the city gates.
c. 1000-900 BC
Rise of Political Rivals and Accusations
During periods of David's or Solomon's reigns, internal strife and external threats often led to accusations, slander, and public criticism against the royal administration.
c. 1000-900 BC
Social Unrest and Popular Discontent
Periods of instability or perceived injustice could lead to widespread discontent, with common people, including those prone to drinking, expressing mockery and ridicule publicly.
This passage describes Job's suffering and shame, noting that he is now the subject of scornful songs from those who were once beneath him, mirroring David's lament about the drunkards making songs about him.
Lamentations 3:14Jeremiah expresses a similar feeling of being mocked and ridiculed by the people, even by scribes, which echoes the public shame and derision David experienced in the gate and through songs.
Luke 6:22Jesus directly blesses his followers when they are hated, excluded, insulted, and rejected because of him, a profound parallel to the experience of being spoken against and made a mockery of described in the Psalm.
John 15:18-19Jesus warns his disciples that the world will hate them because they do not belong to the world, which explains why believers might face similar scorn and mockery from society that the Psalmist describes.
jfbPsalms 69:12: "They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards."
- sit in the gate—public place (Pr 31:31).
poolePsalms 69:12: "They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards."
They that sit in the gate; either, 1. Vain and idle persons, that spend their time in the gates and markets, in which there used to be a confluence of people. Or rather, 2. The judges and magistrates, who used to sit (which was their posture, Exodus 18:14 Proverbs 20:8 , &c.) in the gates of cities, the usual places of judicature; for David oft complains of his hard usage from these men, as Psalm 58…
It's easy to skim past, but the "gate" here isn't just any public place; it's where judges sat and justice was supposed to happen. So, it's not just random people mocking the Psalmist, but also the very authorities who should have protected him, proving how deeply he was wronged.
The Psalmist is deeply distressed, lamenting his suffering and wrongful persecution. He describes how even those in positions of authority, who gather in public places like the city gates for judgment or discourse, are speaking against him. Worse still, even the lowest elements of society, drunkards, mock him, making him the subject of their crude songs.
The Psalmist is deeply distressed, lamenting his suffering and wrongful persecution. He describes how even those in positions of authority, who gather in public places like the city gates for judgment or discourse, are speaking against him. Worse still, even the lowest elements of society, drunkards, mock him, making him the subject of their crude songs.
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David's devotion to God made him a target. Why does faithfulness often draw the ire of the world?
The Cost of Godly Zeal
The surrounding verses (especially verses 10-13) reveal that David's suffering stemmed, in part, from his deep commitment to God. His 'weeping,' 'fasting,' and 'wearing sackcloth' were expressions of sorrow over the dishonor brought to God's name. This very piety became fodder for ridicule.
"I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me." — It's easy to skim past, but the "gate" here isn't just any public place; it's where judges sat and justice was supposed to happen. So, it's not just random people mocking the Psalmist, but also the v…
