The Meaning of Psalms 109:25 Explained

Psalms 109:25

KJV: I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.

YLT: And I -- I have been a reproach to them, They see me, they shake their head.

Darby: And I am become a reproach unto them; when they look upon me they shake their heads.

ASV: I am become also a reproach unto them: When they see me, they shake their head.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I became also a reproach  unto them: [when] they looked  upon me they shaked  their heads. 

What does Psalms 109:25 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 109:17-31 - The Deliverer Of The Needy
This psalm emphasizes the difference, indicated by our Lord, between His teaching and that addressed to "them of old time," especially on the point of forgiveness. It is in such teaching as this that the psalmist's mood is distinctly inferior to that which has now become the law for devout men. This at least may be said, that these ancient saints did not desire vengeance for private injuries, but that God's name and character might be vindicated. Devout men could not but long for the triumph of good and the defeat and destruction of its opposite.
The closing paragraph voices some of those lowly, sad petitions for help, which occur in so many of the psalms. This combination of devout meekness and trust with the fiery imprecations or predictions at the core of this psalm, substantiates what has been said above as to the spirit in which the psalm was conceived. It is not personal, but the voice of the Church asking God to make known the righteousness of His government. The psalm begins and ends with praise. It starts by picturing an adversary at the right hand of the wicked, Psalms 109:6, and closes with assurance that Jehovah stands at the right hand of His afflicted servant to deliver him. "I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved," Psalms 16:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 109

1  David complains of his slanderous enemies
16  He shows their sin
21  Complaining of his own misery, he prays for help
29  He promises thankfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 109:25 mean?

And I have become a reproach to them [when] they look at me they shake their heads
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ הָיִ֣יתִי חֶרְפָּ֣ה לָהֶ֑ם יִ֝רְא֗וּנִי יְנִיע֥וּן רֹאשָֽׁם

וַאֲנִ֤י ׀  And  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
הָיִ֣יתִי  have  become 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
חֶרְפָּ֣ה  a  reproach 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.
לָהֶ֑ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
יִ֝רְא֗וּנִי  [when]  they  look  at  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
יְנִיע֥וּן  they  shake 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: נוּעַ  
Sense: to quiver, totter, shake, reel, stagger, wander, move, sift, make move, wave, waver, tremble.
רֹאשָֽׁם  their  heads 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.