The Meaning of Psalms 109:20 Explained

Psalms 109:20

KJV: Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.

YLT: This is the wage of mine accusers from Jehovah, And of those speaking evil against my soul.

Darby: Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from Jehovah, and of them that speak evil against my soul.

ASV: This is the reward of mine adversaries from Jehovah, And of them that speak evil against my soul.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Let] this [be] the reward  of mine adversaries  from the LORD,  and of them that speak  evil  against my soul. 

What does Psalms 109:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 109:17-31 - The Deliverer Of The Needy
This psalm emphasizes the difference, indicated by our Lord, between His teaching and that addressed to "them of old time," especially on the point of forgiveness. It is in such teaching as this that the psalmist's mood is distinctly inferior to that which has now become the law for devout men. This at least may be said, that these ancient saints did not desire vengeance for private injuries, but that God's name and character might be vindicated. Devout men could not but long for the triumph of good and the defeat and destruction of its opposite.
The closing paragraph voices some of those lowly, sad petitions for help, which occur in so many of the psalms. This combination of devout meekness and trust with the fiery imprecations or predictions at the core of this psalm, substantiates what has been said above as to the spirit in which the psalm was conceived. It is not personal, but the voice of the Church asking God to make known the righteousness of His government. The psalm begins and ends with praise. It starts by picturing an adversary at the right hand of the wicked, Psalms 109:6, and closes with assurance that Jehovah stands at the right hand of His afflicted servant to deliver him. "I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved," Psalms 16:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 109

1  David complains of his slanderous enemies
16  He shows their sin
21  Complaining of his own misery, he prays for help
29  He promises thankfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 109:20 mean?

[let] this [be] the reward to my accusers - of Yahweh and to those who speak evil against my person
זֹ֤את פְּעֻלַּ֣ת שֹׂ֭טְנַי מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וְהַדֹּבְרִ֥ים רָ֝֗ע עַל־ נַפְשִֽׁי

זֹ֤את  [let]  this  [be] 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
פְּעֻלַּ֣ת  the  reward  to 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: פְּעֻלָּה  
Sense: work, recompense, reward.
שֹׂ֭טְנַי  my  accusers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: שָׂטַן  
Sense: (Qal) to be or act as an adversary, resist, oppose.
מֵאֵ֣ת  - 
Parse: Preposition-m, Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְהַדֹּבְרִ֥ים  and  to  those  who  speak 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
רָ֝֗ע  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
עַל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
נַפְשִֽׁי  my  person 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.