Psalm 35:19

EXPOSITION

Verse 19. He earnestly prays that as they have no cause for their enmity, they may have no cause for triumph either in his folly, sin, or overthrow. Neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. The winking of the eye was the low bred sign of congratulation at the ruin of their victim, and it may also have been one of their scornful gestures as they gazed upon him whom they despised. To cause hatred is the mark of the wicked, to suffer it causelessly is the lot of the righteous. God is the natural Protector of all who are wronged, and he is the enemy of all oppressors.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Verse 19. Wink with the eye. Showing pleasure in their eyes because of my evil. Francis Vatablus, 1545

Verse 19. Wink the eye. This was a sign which malicious persons made to each other when the object of their malice was gained, scornfully twisting their eyes together. The Hebrew word here has no sufficiently expressive substitute in English. Benjamin Weiss.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

None.