תהלים 35:1

Hebrew Modern Translation

לדוד ריבה יהוה את יריבי לחם את לחמי׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Aleppo Codex
ריבה יהוה את-יריבי לחם את-לחמי

Biblia Hebrica Stuttgartensia (1967/77)
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ רִיבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־יְרִיבַ֑י לְ֝חַ֗ם אֶת־לֹֽחֲמָֽי ׃

Westminster Leningrad Codex
לְדָוִד ׀ רִיבָה יְהוָה אֶת־יְרִיבַי לְחַם אֶת־לֹֽחֲמָֽי ׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 2942, bc 1062

Plead: Psalms 43:1, Psalms 119:154, 1 Samuel 24:15, Proverbs 22:23, Proverbs 23:11, Jeremiah 51:36, Lamentations 3:58, Micah 7:9

fight: Exodus 14:25, Joshua 10:42, Nehemiah 4:20, Acts 5:39, Acts 23:9

Reciprocal: Joshua 23:10 - Lord 1 Samuel 24:12 - Lord judge Psalms 5:10 - let Psalms 7:1 - save Psalms 7:6 - Arise Psalms 108:6 - save Psalms 138:7 - thou shalt stretch Isaiah 51:22 - pleadeth Jeremiah 50:34 - plead Lamentations 3:59 - judge Habakkuk 3:9 - bow

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Plead [my cause], O Lord, with them that strive with me,.... Meaning Saul and his courtiers; concerning whom he elsewhere desires that the Lord would judge between them, plead his cause, and deliver him; as he accordingly did, and maintained it, and the righteousness of it, 1 Samuel 24:12. So Christ pleaded not his own cause as man, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously; and his people leave their cause with him, who is their advocate, and is able to plead it thoroughly; and does plead it against wicked and ungodly men, who unrighteously charge them; against. Satan the accuser of the brethren, who stands at their right hand to resist them; and against their own hearts, and the sins of them, which lust and war against them, and condemn them;

fight against them that fight against me: so the Lord is sometimes represented as a man of war, and Christ as a warrior fighting for the saints; and safe are they on whose side he is; but miserable all such who are found fighters against him and his; for none ever opposed him and prospered.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Plead my cause, O Lord - The word “plead” means, properly, to argue in support of a claim, or against the claim of another; to urge reasons for or against; to attempt to persuade one by argument or supplication; as, to plead for the life of a criminal, that is, to urge reasons why he should be acquitted or pardoned; and then, to supplicate with earnestness in any way. The original word used here - רוב rûb - means to contend, strive, quarrel; and then, to contend before a judge, to manage or plead a cause. The idea here is, that the psalmist desires that God would undertake his cause against those who had risen up against him, as if it were managed before a tribunal, or before a judge, and God should be the advocate. The same word is used, in another form, in the other member of the sentence - “with them that strive - יריבי yârı̂ybāy - against me.” The idea is, that they were “pleading” against him, or were urging arguments, as it were, before a tribunal or a judge, why he should be condemned. They were his bitter opponents, engaged in bringing all manner of false accusations against him, and seeking his condemnation. The psalmist felt that he could not manage his own cause against them; and he, therefore, pleads with God that He would interpose, and stand up for him.

Fight against them that fight against me - The same idea substantially occurs here as in the former member of the verse. It is a prayer that God would undertake his cause; that He would exert His power against those who were opposed to him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

PSALM XXXV

The psalmist, in great straits, prays for his personal safety,

1-3;

and for the confusion of his enemies, 4-8;

expresses has confidence in God, 9, 10;

mentions his kindness to those who had rewarded him evil for

his good, 11-16;

appeals to God against them, 17-26;

prays for those who befriended him; and praises God for his

goodness, 27, 28.

NOTES ON PSALM XXXV

There is nothing in the title worthy of remark. The Psalm is simply attributed to David, and was most probably of his composing; and refers to the time of his persecution by Saul and his courtiers. The Syriac says it was composed when the Idumeans attacked David. The Arabic says it is a prophecy concerning the incarnation, and concerning the things practised against Jeremiah by the people. Some think that our Lord's sufferings are particularly pointed out here; and Bishop Horsley thinks that verses Psalms 35:11-16 apply more literally and exactly to Christ than to any other whomsoever.

Verse Psalms 35:1. Plead my cause, O Lord — Literally, Contend, Lord, with then that contend with me. The word is often used in a forensic or law sense.