The Meaning of Psalms 35:7 Explained

Psalms 35:7

KJV: For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

YLT: For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul.

Darby: For without cause have they hidden for me their net in a pit; without cause they have digged it for my soul.

ASV: For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit; Without cause have they digged a pit for my soul.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For without cause  have they hid  for me their net  [in] a pit,  [which] without cause  they have digged  for my soul. 

What does Psalms 35:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 35:1-17 - Rescuing The Poor And Needy
This psalm dates from the Sauline persecution, or else from the disturbed condition of the kingdom in David's later years. Each of the three divisions into which the psalm naturally falls ends with praise, Psalms 35:9; Psalms 35:18; Psalms 35:28.
Throughout the psalm we meet with strong imprecations on the wicked. The spirit of the New Testament inculcates a higher law of love and forgiveness, Luke 9:55-56. Therefore our Lord rebuked His Apostles when they called for fire from heaven. He said: "You do not understand that you have passed out of the Old Covenant into the New." It has been suggested that the maledictions of these verses should be read as predictions. Thus, "Let them be confounded" would read, "They will be confounded." "Their way will be dark and slippery." "The angel of the Lord will oppose them," etc.
What a thrill passes through the soul when God whispers the assurance, I am thy salvation! "Who is like unto thee!" Exodus 15:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 35

1  David prays for his own safety, and his enemies' confusion
11  He complains of their wrongful dealing
22  Thereby he incites God against them

What do the individual words in Psalms 35:7 mean?

For without cause they have hidden for me [in] a pit their net without cause [Which] they have dug for my life
כִּֽי־ חִנָּ֣ם טָֽמְנוּ־ לִ֭י שַׁ֣חַת רִשְׁתָּ֑ם חִ֝נָּ֗ם חָפְר֥וּ לְנַפְשִֽׁי

חִנָּ֣ם  without  cause 
Parse: Adverb
Root: חִנָּם  
Sense: freely, for nothing, without cause.
טָֽמְנוּ־  they  have  hidden 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: טָמַן  
Sense: to hide, conceal, bury.
לִ֭י  for  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
שַׁ֣חַת  [in]  a  pit 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שַׁחַת  
Sense: pit, destruction, grave.
רִשְׁתָּ֑ם  their  net 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: רֶשֶׁת  
Sense: net.
חִ֝נָּ֗ם  without  cause 
Parse: Adverb
Root: חִנָּם  
Sense: freely, for nothing, without cause.
חָפְר֥וּ  [Which]  they  have  dug 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: חָפַר  
Sense: to dig, search for.
לְנַפְשִֽׁי  for  my  life 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.