The Meaning of Psalms 40:15 Explained

Psalms 40:15

KJV: Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

YLT: They are desolate because of their shame, Who are saying to me, 'Aha, aha.'

Darby: Let them be desolate, because of their shame, that say unto me, Aha! Aha!

ASV: Let them be desolate by reason of their shame That say unto me, Aha, aha.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let them be desolate  for a reward  of their shame  that say  unto me, Aha,  aha. 

What does Psalms 40:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 40:11-17 - A Cry For Deliverance
To the end of life we shall continually need God's lovingkindness, to deal mercifully with our failures and sins, and His truth, that is, His faithfulness. The Covenant, ordered in all things and sure, and that which binds him irrevocably, is the rock of our comfort, whether we are compassed by innumerable evils or overtaken by iniquities, Psalms 40:12.
Our sense of sin grows with our increasing knowledge of the holiness and love of God. They who are nearest to the heart of God are least able to forgive themselves, though they know that they are forgiven. But while we think hard thoughts against ourselves, and confess ourselves to be poor and needy, we may take great comfort in God's thoughts for us, Psalms 40:17. They are tender and loving, Jeremiah 29:11. Poverty and need are never reasons for despair. These things do not alienate God's interest. They rather attract Him; just as a sick child will get more of the mother's care than the healthy members of the home-circle. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 40

1  The benefit of confidence in God
6  Obedience is the best sacrifice
11  The sense of David's evils inflames his prayer

What do the individual words in Psalms 40:15 mean?

Let them be confounded upon because of their shame who say to me Aha aha
יָ֭שֹׁמּוּ עַל־ עֵ֣קֶב בָּשְׁתָּ֑ם הָאֹמְרִ֥ים לִ֝֗י הֶ֘אָ֥ח ׀ הֶאָֽח

יָ֭שֹׁמּוּ  Let  them  be  confounded 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמֵם  
Sense: to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy.
עַל־  upon 
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.
עֵ֣קֶב  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: עֵקֶב  
Sense: consequence.
בָּשְׁתָּ֑ם  of  their  shame 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּשֶׁת  
Sense: shame.
הָאֹמְרִ֥ים  who  say 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לִ֝֗י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
הֶ֘אָ֥ח ׀  Aha 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֶאָח  
Sense: aha!.
הֶאָֽח  aha 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֶאָח  
Sense: aha!.