The Meaning of Psalms 69:22 Explained

Psalms 69:22

KJV: Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

YLT: Their table before them is for a snare, And for a recompence -- for a trap.

Darby: Let their table become a snare before them, and their very welfare a trap;

ASV: Let their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, let it become a trap.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let their table  become a snare  before  them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare,  [let it become] a trap. 

What does Psalms 69:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 69:18-36 - "jehovah Heareth The Needy"
In Psalms 69:19-21 the psalmist again spreads out his griefs before God. He had looked for pity, but his foes only aggravated his sufferings. Both Matthew and John had these verses in mind in describing our Lord's sufferings on the Cross, Matthew 27:48; John 19:29. The next section, Psalms 69:22-28, is full of imprecations. We cannot bring these terrible words within the scope of our Lord's teachings. They show, like a pillar which marks the farthest recession of the tide, how great a difference there is between the standard of the Old Testament ethics and that by which we shall be judged.
Psalms 69:29-36 are full of anticipations of deliverance and vows of thanksgiving. The psalmist is sure that God's salvation will lift him above his enemies, and that his thanks will be sweeter to God than any sacrifice. Notice that sudden address to seekers after God, Psalms 69:32. Let us draw lessons from our own experiences of God that will hearten others. Seekers will certainly be finders where God is concerned! Matthew 7:7. The news of God's restoring power will circle out in ever-widening waves of glory, till heaven and earth and sea catch up the story and respond. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 69

1  David complains of his affliction
13  He prays for deliverance
22  He devotes his enemies to destruction
30  He praises God with thanksgiving

What do the individual words in Psalms 69:22 mean?

Let become their table before them a snare and their well-being a trap
יְהִֽי־ שֻׁלְחָנָ֣ם לִפְנֵיהֶ֣ם לְפָ֑ח וְלִשְׁלוֹמִ֥ים לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ

יְהִֽי־  Let  become 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
שֻׁלְחָנָ֣ם  their  table 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שֻׁלְחָן  
Sense: table.
לִפְנֵיהֶ֣ם  before  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
לְפָ֑ח  a  snare 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּח 
Sense: bird trap, trap, snare.
וְלִשְׁלוֹמִ֥ים  and  their  well-being 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ  a  trap 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹוקֵשׁ  
Sense: bait, lure, snare.