Psalms 35:26Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~1000 BC. David's enemies are actively celebrating his downfall, possibly during Absalom's rebellion when the kingdom turned against him. Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: humiliated but appealing to divine justice
The original word
labash (לָבַשׁ) — to be clothed or covered, like wearing garments of shame
Why it matters
In ancient Middle East, public shame was considered worse than physical death
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 35:26
This is an imprecatory psalm - David is asking God to curse his enemies with divine justice
Common misconceptionMany think imprecatory psalms are unchristian, but Jesus quoted them and they represent legitimate appeals to God's justice against evil.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 35:26
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 35:26 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 35:26 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine justice, enemy defeat. Notable phrases: clothed with shame and dishonor; magnify themselves against. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Psalms 35:26 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "seeking"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.