The Meaning of Psalms 35:12 Explained

Psalms 35:12

KJV: They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

YLT: They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,

Darby: They reward me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.

ASV: They reward me evil for good, To the bereaving of my soul.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They rewarded  me evil  for good  [to] the spoiling  of my soul. 

What does Psalms 35:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 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: Psalms 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 35:12 mean?

They reward me evil for good [To] the sorrow of my soul
יְשַׁלְּמ֣וּנִי רָ֭עָה תַּ֥חַת טוֹבָ֗ה שְׁכ֣וֹל לְנַפְשִֽׁי

יְשַׁלְּמ֣וּנִי  They  reward  me 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, first person common singular
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .
רָ֭עָה  evil 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
טוֹבָ֗ה  good 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
שְׁכ֣וֹל  [To]  the  sorrow 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁכֹול  
Sense: bereavement, loss of children.
לְנַפְשִֽׁי  of  my  soul 
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.