Psalms 35:5
Psalms 35:5 in Multiple Translations
May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away.
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
Let them be as chaff before the wind, And the angel of Jehovah driving them on.
Let them be like dust from the grain before the wind; let the angel of the Lord send them in flight.
Let them be like chaff blown by the wind; let the angel of the Lord drive them away.
Let them be as chaffe before the winde, and let the Angel of the Lord scatter them.
They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.
Let them be as chaff before the wind, the LORD’s angel driving them on.
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them .
He hath devised iniquity on his bed, he hath set himself on every way that is not good: but evil he hath not hated.
Send your angel to pursue them, and as a result cause them to disappear like chaff/straw blown away by the wind!
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 35:5
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 35:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יִֽהְי֗וּ
כְּ/מֹ֥ץ
לִ/פְנֵי
ר֑וּחַ
וּ/מַלְאַ֖ךְ
יְהוָ֣ה
דּוֹחֶֽה
יִֽהְי֗וּ
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
כְּ/מֹ֥ץ
môts
H4671
chaff
Prep | N-ms
לִ/פְנֵי
pânîym
H6440
face
Prep | N-cp
ר֑וּחַ
rûwach
H7307
spirit
N-cs
וּ/מַלְאַ֖ךְ
mălʼâk
H4397
messenger
Conj | N-ms
יְהוָ֣ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
דּוֹחֶֽה
dâchâh
H1760
to thrust
V-Qal
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 35:5
יִֽהְי֗וּ
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
כְּ/מֹ֥ץ
môts
H4671
"chaff"
Prep | N-ms
Mots refers to chaff, the loose outer covering of grain that is blown away by the wind, as described in the KJV.
Definition: 1) chaff 1a) always as driven by wind
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: chaff. See also: Job 21:18; Isaiah 29:5; Psalms 1:4.
לִ/פְנֵי
pânîym
H6440
"face"
Prep | N-cp
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
ר֑וּחַ
rûwach
H7307
"spirit"
N-cs
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) 1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being 1e) spirit (as seat of emotion) 1e1) desire 1e2) sorrow, trouble 1f) spirit 1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts 1f2) rarely of the will 1f3) as seat especially of moral character 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). See also: Genesis 1:2; Job 6:26; Psalms 1:4.
וּ/מַלְאַ֖ךְ
mălʼâk
H4397
"messenger"
Conj | N-ms
A messenger or representative, often of God, like an angel, prophet, or priest, as seen in Isaiah 42:19 and Haggai 1:13, carrying out God's will.
Definition: : messenger 1) messenger, representative 1a) messenger 1b) angel 1c) the theophanic angel
Usage: Occurs in 196 OT verses. KJV: ambassador, angel, king, messenger. See also: Genesis 16:7; 2 Samuel 24:16; Psalms 34:8.
יְהוָ֣ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
דּוֹחֶֽה
dâchâh
H1760
"to thrust"
V-Qal
To thrust or push down means to force something or someone away, like chasing or driving something out. It can also mean to overthrow or make something unstable, as seen in its various translations.
Definition: 1) to push, thrust, chase, overflow, totter, sore, drive away or out, be outcast, be cast down 1a) (Qal) to push, push violently 1b) (Niphal) to be thrust, be cast down 1c) (Pual) to be thrust down
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: chase, drive away (on), overthrow, outcast, [idiom] sore, thrust, totter. See also: Psalms 35:5; Psalms 147:2; Psalms 36:13.
Study Notes — Psalms 35:5
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 35:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 35:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 35:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 35:5
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 35:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 35:5
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 35:5
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 35:5
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 35:5
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 35:5
- Sermons on Psalms 35:5
Context — Contend with My Opponents, O LORD
3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”
4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
5May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away.
6May their path be dark and slick, as the angel of the LORD pursues. 7For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 21:18 | Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm? |
| 2 | Isaiah 29:5 | But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant, |
| 3 | Isaiah 37:36 | Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! |
| 4 | Psalms 1:4 | Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind. |
| 5 | Isaiah 17:13 | The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale. |
| 6 | Hebrews 11:28 | By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn. |
| 7 | Exodus 14:19 | And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, |
| 8 | Hosea 13:3 | Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window. |
| 9 | Acts 12:23 | Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. |
| 10 | Psalms 83:13–17 | Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes a forest, as a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with Your tempest, and terrify them with Your storm. Cover their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD. May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace. |
Psalms 35:5 Summary
[Psalms 35:5 is a prayer where David asks God to protect him from his enemies, comparing them to chaff in the wind, which is blown away without any control. This means David is trusting God to take care of him and to defend him against those who want to harm him, just like it says in Psalms 23:4, where God is our shepherd and protector. By asking God to act on his behalf, David is showing us an example of how to trust in God's power and justice, rather than our own abilities, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6, where we are told to trust in the LORD with all our heart and not to lean on our own understanding.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for someone to be like chaff in the wind?
Being like chaff in the wind, as described in Psalms 35:5, means to be completely helpless and at the mercy of external forces, much like the wheat chaff that is blown away by the wind after the grain has been separated, as seen in Matthew 3:12 and Luke 3:17, where John the Baptist describes the Messiah's judgment, separating the wheat from the chaff.
Who is the angel of the LORD mentioned in this verse?
The angel of the LORD in Psalms 35:5 is likely a reference to a divine being who acts on God's behalf, possibly even a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, as seen in other passages like Exodus 23:20-23 and Judges 13:1-23, where this angel is closely associated with God's presence and action.
Is it right for David to wish harm on his enemies?
David's prayer in Psalms 35:5 is not about seeking personal revenge but rather asking God to vindicate him and protect him from those who seek his harm without cause, as mentioned in Psalms 35:7, which is consistent with the teachings of the Bible to trust in God's justice, as seen in Romans 12:19 and Deuteronomy 32:35-36.
How does this verse relate to our lives today?
This verse reminds us that our trust should be in God for our protection and vindication, rather than in our own strength or abilities, as encouraged in Psalms 37:3-7, where we are told to trust in the LORD and do good, and to commit our way to Him, and He will act on our behalf.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways am I currently facing opposition or persecution, and how can I apply David's trust in God's deliverance to my situation?
- What are some areas in my life where I am seeking personal revenge or justice, and how can I surrender these to God, trusting in His perfect justice?
- How does the image of chaff in the wind impact my understanding of God's power and my own vulnerability?
- In what ways can I demonstrate trust in God's protection and care for me, like David does in this psalm?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 35:5
Let them be as chaff before the wind,.... As they are; see Psalms 1:4; and let the angel of the Lord chase [them]; either a good angel, who is the Lord's, his creature that ministers unto him, and is
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 35:5
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let them be as chaff - (Psalms 1:4.) Angel ... The same Divine Angel who "encampeth round about them that fear Him" (Psalms 34:7).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 35:5
As chaff before the wind, i.e. dispersed and chased from place to place, finding rest and safety no where. The angel of the Lord; whom God useth to defend his people, and to destroy their enemies.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 35:5
Psalms 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].Ver. 5. Let them be as chaff] Facti sint a corde suo fugitivi, let them fly before their own consciences, restless and uncertain whither to turn themselves. And let the angel of the Lord chase them] It may be understood both of the evil angels and of the good, ready at God’ s command to do execution upon his enemies. Chaff driven before the wind may rest against a wall; but where shall they rest who are chased by an angel? "Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 1 Peter 4:18. Surely nowhere.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 35:5
(5) As chaff.—Comp. Psalms 1:4, and see Note. There can be little doubt that the “angel of Jehovah” in this and the following verse is (comp. Psalms 104:4) a personification of the “hurricane” itself, which drives before it all obstacles, and overwhelms even whole armies in dangerous places.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 35:5
Verse 5. Let the angel of the Lord chase them.] By angel we may either understand one of those spirits, whether good or bad, commonly thus denominated, or any thing used by God himself as the instrument of their confusion.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 35:5
4–6. Prayer for the repulse and rout of his enemies. No doubt the language might be entirely figurative, but it is more naturally explained if a literal fulfilment was at least a possibility.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 35:5
Let them be as chaff before the wind - As chaff is driven away in winnowing grain. See the notes at Psalms 1:4. And let the angel of the Lord chase them - Drive them away, or scatter them.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 35:5
5, 6. Chaff—Emblem of worthlessness. See on Psalms 83:13. Angel of the Lord—The title occurs twice in this verse, and nowhere else in the psalms except Psalms 34:7, where see note.
Sermons on Psalms 35:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
A Letter From the Devil by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher shares a personal story about his father's struggles and how the devil tried to tempt him with thoughts of financial success. The preacher emphasizes t |
|
An Old Testament Revival - Part 2 by David Ravenhill | This sermon focuses on the story of Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles, highlighting the challenges he faced and how he overcame them through faith, prayer, and taking action. Hezekiah's lif |
|
Ninth River -- Lying by Martin Knapp | Martin Knapp delivers a powerful sermon on the sin of lying, emphasizing that all lies, regardless of size or intent, are abominable to God and hinder our relationship with Him. He |
|
Abide in Christ by Bill McLeod | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of spending time with the Word of God. He highlights how many Christians nowadays spend more time in front of the TV than with |
|
The Way of the Righteous and the Way of the Wicked by George Plante | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the topic of entertainment and its impact on Christians. He acknowledges that some people may view entertainment as just a form of enjoyment, |
|
Epistle 111 by George Fox | George Fox warns believers to speak plainly and truthfully, allowing their words to reflect the light of Christ within them. He emphasizes that words should be life-giving and root |
|
Not One Feeble Person by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the speaker tells the story of Joshua, a man who was unable to walk and felt hopeless. The people of Israel were preparing to leave Egypt, and Moses instructed them |