Bible Strands
Psalms 109:28
Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist speaks to God, contrasting the hostile actions of his accusers with divine intervention. This declaration occurs during a moment of anticipated vindication where the speaker expects God to answer those who rise up against him.
The words — The Hebrew verb תְבָ֫רֵ֥ךְ (teVaRekh) literally means "you will bless," while קָ֤מוּ (KaMu) translates to "they have arisen." These terms establish the verse's direct opposition between human aggression and God's responsive action.
The thread — The principle that God's blessing cannot be reversed appears in Numbers 23:20 and Numbers 22:12, where He prevents Balaam from cursing Israel. The psalmist's transition from accusation to rejoicing parallels the structural shift in John 16:22 from present sorrow to enduring joy.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that God's blessing actively overrides human curses rather than merely ignoring them. It demands that believers accept divine vindication as the sole basis for their rejoicing instead of seeking personal 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 them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
Cross-references
- Numbers 23:20 I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.
- John 16:22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
- Numbers 22:12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
- Psalms 109:17 The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.
- Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Numbers 23:23 For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’
- 2 Samuel 16:10 But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”
- Isaiah 65:13 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.