Bible Strands
Psalms 109:4
In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist speaks while describing a moment of unjust confrontation where hostile figures surround him with malicious speech and baseless attacks.
The words — תַּחַת (taḥaṯ) translates literally as "in place of," and תְפִלָּה (tefillah) means "prayer," marking the shift from the enemy's retaliation to the psalmist's posture.
The thread — This sequence of unprovoked hostility met with steadfast prayer appears in Psalms 38:20, 35:7, and 69:12.
Why it lands — The text records that persecution does not erase the psalmist's identity as one who prays, leaving the outcome to divine justice rather than human defense.
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
For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
Cross-references
- Psalms 38:20 Those who repay my good with evil attack me for pursuing the good.
- Psalms 35:7 For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.
- Psalms 69:12 Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.
- Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
- Psalms 55:16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
- Psalms 35:12 They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.
- Luke 6:11 But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
- John 10:32 But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
- 2 Corinthians 12:15 And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
- Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.