Bible Strands
Psalms 35:21
They gape at me and say, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist records enemies who are actively mocking him after devising deceitful schemes against peaceful people, immediately before he petitions the Lord to observe the situation and remain near.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיַּרְחִיבוּ (va.yar.Chi.vu) literally means "they opened wide," combined with פִּיהֶם (pi.hem, "their mouth") to depict the enemies gaping in triumph, while אָמְרוּ (a.me.ru, "they said") introduces the taunt.
The thread — This mockery appears in Psalms 22:13 where foes open their jaws like lions, and in Psalms 40:15 where the identical taunt “Aha, aha!” is called down as shame upon those who boast over the righteous.
Why it lands — The text states that opposition often presents itself as public triumph, requiring the reader to reject the enemy’s false victory and direct attention to God’s presence rather than human spectacle.
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
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
Cross-references
- Psalms 22:13 They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul.
- Psalms 40:15 May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” be appalled at their own shame.
- Luke 11:53 As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,
- Psalms 70:3 May those who say, “Aha, aha!” retreat because of their shame.
- Psalms 54:7 For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
- Isaiah 9:12 Aram from the east and Philistia from the west have devoured Israel with open mouths. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.