The Meaning of Psalms 35:8 Explained

Psalms 35:8

KJV: Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

YLT: Meet him doth desolation -- he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.

Darby: Let destruction come upon him unawares, and let his net which he hath hidden catch himself: for destruction let him fall therein.

ASV: Let destruction come upon him unawares; And let his net that he hath hid catch himself: With destruction let him fall therein.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let destruction  come  upon him at unawares;  and let his net  that he hath hid  catch  himself: into that very destruction  let him fall. 

What does Psalms 35:8 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 35:8 mean?

Let come upon him destruction not unexpectedly and his net that let he has hidden catch himself Into that very destruction let him fall in
תְּבוֹאֵ֣הוּ שׁוֹאָה֮ לֹֽא־ יֵ֫דָ֥ע וְרִשְׁתּ֣וֹ אֲשֶׁר־ טָמַ֣ן תִּלְכְּד֑וֹ בְּ֝שׁוֹאָ֗ה יִפָּל־ בָּֽהּ

תְּבוֹאֵ֣הוּ  Let  come  upon  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
שׁוֹאָה֮  destruction 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֹׁוא 
Sense: ravage.
יֵ֫דָ֥ע  unexpectedly 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
וְרִשְׁתּ֣וֹ  and  his  net 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֶשֶׁת  
Sense: net.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
טָמַ֣ן  let  he  has  hidden 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טָמַן  
Sense: to hide, conceal, bury.
תִּלְכְּד֑וֹ  catch  himself 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: לָכַד  
Sense: to capture, take, seize.
בְּ֝שׁוֹאָ֗ה  Into  that  very  destruction 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֹׁוא 
Sense: ravage.
יִפָּל־  let  him  fall 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.