Psalms 35:10

All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses the LORD directly, speaking from a moment of personal deliverance immediately after declaring his soul's rejoicing in divine salvation. The speaker shifts from internal celebration to bodily testimony just as hostile witnesses prepare to bring false charges.

The words — עַצְמוֹתַ֨י (atzmotai) translates to "my bones," and תֹּאמַרְנָה (tomarnah) means "they will say," indicating that the psalmist's entire physical being will vocalize praise. מַצִּיל (matzil) renders as "deliverer," identifying Yahweh as the active agent who rescues the afflicted from their oppressors.

The thread — The rhetorical question "Who is like You, O LORD?" echoes the creation and exodus declarations in Exodus 15:11. The theme of divine rescue for the poor and needy recurs in Psalms 109:31 and 140:12.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that Yahweh's unmatched power operates specifically to protect the vulnerable from violent exploitation. It requires the reader to align their trust with the reality that divine intervention targets the oppressed rather than the powerful.

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

כָּ֥לkalall עַצְמוֹתַ֨י׀atz.mo.Ta/ibones/ my תֹּאמַרְנָה֮to.mar.Nahthey will say יְהוָ֗הYah.wehO Yahweh מִ֥יmiwho?כָ֫מ֥וֹךָkha.Mo./kha[is] like/ you מַצִּ֣ילma.Tzil[one who] delivers עָ֭נִי'A.nia poor [person]מֵחָזָ֣קme./cha.Zakfrom/ a person [too] strong מִמֶּ֑נּוּmi.Me./nufor/ him וְעָנִ֥יve./'a.Niand/ [the] poor וְ֝אֶבְי֗וֹןve./'ev.Yonand/ [the] needy מִגֹּזְלֽוֹ׃mi./go.ze.L/ofrom/ [one who] robs/ him

King James Version

All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

Cross-references

Exodus 15:11 Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
Psalms 109:31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from the condemners of his soul.
Psalms 140:12 I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.
Psalms 51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.
Psalms 71:19 Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?
Psalms 86:8 O Lord, there is none like You among the gods, nor any works like Yours.
Psalms 18:17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from foes too mighty for me.
Psalms 10:14 But You have regarded trouble and grief; You see to repay it by Your hand. The victim entrusts himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
Psalms 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.
Psalms 32:3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.