Bible Strands
Psalms 109:20
May this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers, to those who speak evil against me.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, invoking judgment upon his adversaries at a moment of intense personal persecution. The plea immediately follows a curse wishing that their wickedness become a permanent garment around them.
The words — The Hebrew פְּעֻלַּת (peʿullat) literally means "wage" or "reward," while זֹאת (zot) points to the preceding curse as the specific decree being invoked. Together they frame the requested judgment as a calculated repayment for spoken hostility.
The thread — This pattern of divine repayment appears in 2 Timothy 4:14, where the Lord will repay Alexander according to his deeds, and in Psalms 94:23, where God brings the wicked upon their own iniquity. The text treats judgment as a direct consequence of spoken and acted evil.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to acknowledge that divine justice responds to verbal and moral hostility through measured repayment. It demands acceptance that God’s intervention operates as consequence rather than emotional retaliation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the Lord, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
Cross-references
- 2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
- 1 Kings 2:44 The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head.
- Psalms 94:23 He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them.
- 2 Samuel 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
- 2 Samuel 18:32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you to harm you be like that young man.”
- Psalms 2:5 Then He rebukes them in His anger, and terrifies them in His fury:
- Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
- Psalms 21:8 Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You.
- Psalms 40:14 May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.
- Psalms 71:10 For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,