Bible Strands
Psalms 109:25
I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses God while detailing his physical emaciation from fasting and his public humiliation by adversaries. This statement occurs between descriptions of bodily weakness and a direct plea for divine salvation.
The words — The Hebrew term חֶרְפָּה (cherpah) literally means "a reproach," capturing the speaker’s status as an object of scorn. The phrase יְנִיעוּ רֹאשָׁם (yaniu rosham) translates to "they shake their heads," depicting the accusers' gesture of derision.
The thread — This motif of public reproach and derisive head-shaking appears in Psalms 22:6 and Psalms 69:19, where the afflicted are described as scorned and despised. The New Testament applies this pattern to Christ in Romans 15:3, noting that the insults directed at God fall upon Him.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that suffering and public contempt are brought before God rather than concealed. It requires the reader to accept that divine help is the only response to unmerited scorn and physical depletion.
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
I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.
Cross-references
- Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
- Psalms 69:19 You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You.
- Romans 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”
- Psalms 69:9 because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.
- Job 16:4 I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.
- Psalms 31:11 Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends—they flee when they see me on the street.
- Psalms 35:15 But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
- Isaiah 37:22 this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: ‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you.
- Matthew 27:39 And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
- Mark 15:29 And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,