The Meaning of Psalms 70:2 Explained

Psalms 70:2

KJV: Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

YLT: Let them be ashamed and confounded Who are seeking my soul, Let them be turned backward and blush Who are desiring my evil.

Darby: Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion that seek after my soul; let them be turned backward and confounded that take pleasure in mine adversity;

ASV: Let them be put to shame and confounded That seek after my soul: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let them be ashamed  and confounded  that seek  after my soul:  let them be turned  backward,  and put to confusion,  that desire  my hurt. 

What does Psalms 70:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 70:1-5 - "my Help And My Deliverer"
This psalm repeats the closing verses of Psalms 40:1-17. It is a song of remembrance to remind Jehovah of His suffering ones. See Isaiah 43:26; Isaiah 62:6-7.
Psalms 70:1
God's help is often delayed till the morning-watch, but it is never too late. He is hastening on the wings of the wind and walking across the waves to the tossing boat. Psalms 70:2-3. Wicked spirits, as well as evil men, seek after our soul to destroy it. But our shame would be God's dishonor. We may therefore plead for His Name's sake.
Psalms 70:4
Before we actually find God, we are blessed in the act of seeking Him. If you are only a seeker, you may rejoice. If only we had Mary's heart of love, we could join in her "Magnificat," Luke 1:46-55, and add similar songs of our own. Psalms 70:5. Happy are they who have learned to glory in their infirmities and to use them as arguments with God. Are you poor and needy? Turn to Psalms 72:4, and learn that a Helper and Deliverer is provided. The more helpless you are, the better your suit with God in prayer. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 70

1  David solicits God to the speedy destruction of the wicked,
4  and preservation of the godly

What do the individual words in Psalms 70:2 mean?

Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek my life let them be turned back and confused who desire my hurt
יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ֮ מְבַקְשֵׁ֪י נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י יִסֹּ֣גוּ אָ֭חוֹר וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּ חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י רָעָתִֽי

יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ  Let  them  be  ashamed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּושׁ 
Sense: to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed.
וְיַחְפְּרוּ֮  and  confounded 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָפַר  
Sense: to be ashamed, be confounded, be abashed, feel abashed.
מְבַקְשֵׁ֪י  who  seek 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י  my  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
יִסֹּ֣גוּ  let  them  be  turned 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: סוּג  
Sense: to move, go, turn back, move away, backslide.
אָ֭חוֹר  back 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָחֹור  
Sense: the back side, the rear.
וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּ  and  confused 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּלַם  
Sense: to insult, shame, humiliate, blush, be ashamed, be put to shame, be reproached, be put to confusion, be humiliated.
חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י  who  desire 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: חָפֵץ  
Sense: desiring, delighting in, having pleasure in.
רָעָתִֽי  my  hurt 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.