Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The real sting here is the "Aha, Aha!" – it's not just a sound, but a sharp, mocking taunt, like a gloating cry of "Gotcha!" at someone's misfortune. This isn't a casual insult; it's the sound of pure, malicious joy at seeing another person brought low.
Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a desperate cry for God's immediate intervention, almost identical to the end of Psalm 40, as David feels utterly alone and under attack. He's asking God to act swiftly against his enemies who mock and rejoice in his distress, wanting them to be utterly shamed for their malicious taunts.
Have you ever heard a taunt so cutting it felt like a physical blow? The Bible uses specific sounds to express deep contempt, and this verse captures one of them.
The phrase 'Aha, Aha!' (or 'Heach, Heach!') wasn't just a casual remark; it was a shout of extreme derision and malicious joy. Imagine someone seeing you stumble, not with sympathy, but with a cruel 'Gotcha!' This is the feeling behind the words.
When people heap scorn upon you, what's your first instinct? This psalm shows a raw human desire for justice, asking God to step in.
This verse isn't just about the taunters receiving their due; it's a prayer for divine intervention. David, facing intense opposition and mockery, cries out to God for a specific outcome for his enemies.
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This verse is nearly identical, highlighting the same taunt and the desire for the enemies' shame and confusion, showing it's a recurring theme of the psalmist's plight.
Ezekiel 25:3This passage describes a similar malicious glee ('Aha!') directed at Israel by surrounding nations during their downfall, illustrating the contemptuous attitude the psalmist faces.
Job 16:4-5Job describes his friends mocking him with similar scornful exclamations ('Aha! Aha!'), showing this 'aha, aha' was a recognized expression of derision for someone in distress.
Proverbs 17:5This proverb warns against rejoicing at another's misfortune, a sentiment directly related to the 'Aha, Aha!' uttered by those who mock the suffering psalmist.
clarkePsalms 70:3: "Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha."
That say, Aha, aha - האה האה Heach! heach! a note of supreme contempt. See on Psalm 40:15 (note).
calvinPsalms 70:1-5: "<A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.>> Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD."
- O God! make haste to deliver me: O Jehovah! hasten to my help. 2. Let those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; let those who desire my hurt be turned backward, and put to confusion 3. Let those who say to me, Aha! aha! perish as a reward of their shame. 4. Let all those who seek thee rejoice and exult in thee: let those who love thy salvation say, Let God b…
The real sting here is the "Aha, Aha!" – it's not just a sound, but a sharp, mocking taunt, like a gloating cry of "Gotcha!" at someone's misfortune. This isn't a casual insult; it's the sound of pure, malicious joy at seeing another person brought low.
This psalm is a desperate cry for God's immediate intervention, almost identical to the end of Psalm 40, as David feels utterly alone and under attack. He's asking God to act swiftly against his enemies who mock and rejoice in his distress, wanting them to be utterly shamed for their malicious taunts.
This psalm is a desperate cry for God's immediate intervention, almost identical to the end of Psalm 40, as David feels utterly alone and under attack. He's asking God to act swiftly against his enemies who mock and rejoice in his distress, wanting them to be utterly shamed for their malicious taunts.
"Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!”" — The real sting here is the "Aha, Aha!" – it's not just a sound, but a sharp, mocking taunt, like a gloating cry of "Gotcha!" at someone's misfortune. This isn't a casual insult; it's the sound of pur…
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Last reviewed October 2026