The Meaning of Psalms 35:15 Explained

Psalms 35:15

KJV: 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:

YLT: And -- in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased;

Darby: But at my halting they rejoiced, and gathered together: the slanderers gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

ASV: But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: The abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; They did tear me, and ceased not:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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: 

What does Psalms 35:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 35:1-17 - Rescuing The Poor And Needy
This psalm dates from the Sauline persecution, or else from the disturbed condition of the kingdom in David's later years. Each of the three divisions into which the psalm naturally falls ends with praise, Psalms 35:9; Psalms 35:18; Psalms 35:28.
Throughout the psalm we meet with strong imprecations on the wicked. The spirit of the New Testament inculcates a higher law of love and forgiveness, Luke 9:55-56. Therefore our Lord rebuked His Apostles when they called for fire from heaven. He said: "You do not understand that you have passed out of the Old Covenant into the New." It has been suggested that the maledictions of these verses should be read as predictions. Thus, "Let them be confounded" would read, "They will be confounded." "Their way will be dark and slippery." "The angel of the Lord will oppose them," etc.
What a thrill passes through the soul when God whispers the assurance, I am thy salvation! "Who is like unto thee!" Exodus 15:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 35

1  David prays for his own safety, and his enemies' confusion
11  He complains of their wrongful dealing
22  Thereby he incites God against them

What do the individual words in Psalms 35:15 mean?

But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together gathered against me Attackers and not I did know [it] they tore [at me] and not did cease
וּבְצַלְעִי֮ שָׂמְח֪וּ וְֽנֶאֱ֫סָ֥פוּ נֶאֶסְפ֬וּ עָלַ֣י נֵ֭כִים וְלֹ֣א יָדַ֑עְתִּי קָֽרְע֥וּ וְלֹא־ דָֽמּוּ

וּבְצַלְעִי֮  But  in  my  adversity 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: צֶלַע  
Sense: limping, stumbling.
שָׂמְח֪וּ  they  rejoiced 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׂמַח  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
וְֽנֶאֱ֫סָ֥פוּ  and  gathered  together 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
נֶאֶסְפ֬וּ  gathered 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
עָלַ֣י  against  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
נֵ֭כִים  Attackers 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: נֵכֶה  
Sense: stricken, smitten.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָדַ֑עְתִּי  I  did  know  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
קָֽרְע֥וּ  they  tore  [at  me] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָרַע  
Sense: to tear, tear in pieces.
וְלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
דָֽמּוּ  did  cease 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: דָּמַם 
Sense: to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb.