Psalms 44:16

at the voice of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy, bent on revenge.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God amid sudden communal disgrace, marking the moment when unexplained suffering clashes with maintained covenant loyalty. The words — מְחָרֵף (meḥārēp) denotes a taunter or scorner, and מִתְנַקֵּם (mitnaqqēm) describes one actively bent on revenge. The thread — This dynamic of hostile mockery against God and His people recurs in Psalms 8:2 and 74:10–18, linking personal shame to corporate spiritual attack. Why it lands — The text requires readers to distinguish external persecution from divine rejection, demanding honest confrontation with suffering while holding fast to covenant truth.

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

מִ֭קּוֹלMi./kolfrom/ [the] sound of מְחָרֵ֣ףme.cha.Ref[one who] taunts וּמְגַדֵּ֑ףu./me.ga.Defand/ [one who] reviles מִפְּנֵ֥יmi./pe.Nei<from>/ because of א֝וֹיֵ֗ב'o.Yevan enemy וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃u./mit.na.Kemand/ an avenger

King James Version

For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.

Cross-references

Psalms 8:2 From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.
Psalms 74:10 How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever?
Psalms 74:18 Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name.
Psalms 74:22 Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long.
Psalms 79:12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.
Isaiah 37:3 to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.
Isaiah 37:17 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to all the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.
Isaiah 37:23 Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!