The Meaning of Psalms 35:17 Explained

Psalms 35:17

KJV: Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

YLT: Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.

Darby: Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my only one from the young lions.

ASV: Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, My darling from the lions.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Lord,  how long wilt thou look on?  rescue  my soul  from their destructions,  my darling  from the lions. 

What does Psalms 35:17 Mean?

Study Notes

my darling
Heb. "my only one." Psalms 22:20 .

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 35:17 mean?

Lord how long will You look on Rescue me from their destructions from the lions My precious [life]
אֲדֹנָי֮ כַּמָּ֪ה ؟ תִּ֫רְאֶ֥ה הָשִׁ֣יבָה נַ֭פְשִׁי מִשֹּׁאֵיהֶ֑ם מִ֝כְּפִירִ֗ים יְחִידָתִֽי

אֲדֹנָי֮  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
כַּמָּ֪ה  how  long 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
؟ תִּ֫רְאֶ֥ה  will  You  look  on 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הָשִׁ֣יבָה  Rescue 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
נַ֭פְשִׁי  me 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
מִשֹּׁאֵיהֶ֑ם  from  their  destructions 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שֹׁוא 
Sense: ravage.
מִ֝כְּפִירִ֗ים  from  the  lions 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּפִיר 
Sense: young lion.
יְחִידָתִֽי  My  precious  [life] 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָחִיד  
Sense: only, only one, solitary, one.