The Meaning of Psalms 69:9 Explained

Psalms 69:9

KJV: For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

YLT: For zeal for Thy house hath consumed me, And the reproaches of Thy reproachers Have fallen upon me.

Darby: For the zeal of thy house hath devoured me, and the reproaches of them that reproach thee have fallen upon me.

ASV: For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the zeal  of thine house  hath eaten me up;  and the reproaches  of them that reproached  thee are fallen  upon me. 

What does Psalms 69:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Evidently it was David"s preoccupation with building the temple that had turned popular opinion against him. Perhaps the majority of the Israelites considered this an extravagant project. Had he increased taxes to pay for it? We do not know.
The Lord Jesus" zeal for the temple that led Him to drive the moneychangers out of it brought this verse to His disciples" minds ( John 2:17).

Context Summary

Psalms 69:1-17 - A Cry Out Of Deep Waters
This psalm and the Psalms 22:1-31 are quoted most often in the New Testament as referring to our Lord. Psalms 69:1-36 is very sad. Throughout we detect a heart-break. There are many grounds on which the sufferer bases his plea for salvation. First, his imminent danger from inrushing waters and the deep mire like that in which Jeremiah sank. There are also failing strength, the dried throat, and the drooping eyes. Mighty foes, too, who hate wrongfully, are plotting his ruin. The consciousness of sin and the dread that others may be made ashamed through his failure, are also bitter ingredients in his cup. And in addition he bore the reproach of those who hated God. What a combination of misery! In some, though not in all, of these sources of grief, our Savior had a share, and therefore He can be a sympathizing High Priest.
But out of his misery the psalmist builds his altar of prayer. His plea is in God's loving-kindness and tender mercies. Here is the master-argument with God. He can do no other than redeem the soul that clings to Him with such unfaltering faith. It reminds us of the olden resolve, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him," Job 13:15, and also recalls the persistence of the Syrophenician woman, Mark 7:26. Such souls need not fear that they can be cast away. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 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 69:9 mean?

Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me
כִּֽי־ קִנְאַ֣ת בֵּיתְךָ֣ אֲכָלָ֑תְנִי וְחֶרְפּ֥וֹת ח֝וֹרְפֶ֗יךָ נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי

כִּֽי־  Because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
קִנְאַ֣ת  zeal  for 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: קִנְאָה  
Sense: ardour, zeal, jealousy.
בֵּיתְךָ֣  Your  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֲכָלָ֑תְנִי  has  eaten  me  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular, first person common singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וְחֶרְפּ֥וֹת  and  the  reproaches 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.
ח֝וֹרְפֶ֗יךָ  of  those  who  reproach  You 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חָרַף 
Sense: to reproach, taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardise, rail, upbraid.
נָפְל֥וּ  have  fallen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
עָלָֽי  on  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
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.