Psalms 40:14

Authorized King James Version

Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

Word-by-Word Analysis

יֵ֘בֹ֤שׁוּ

H954

Let them be ashamed

properly, to pale, i.e., by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed

וְיַחְפְּר֨וּ׀

H2659

and confounded

to blush; figuratively, to be ashamed, disappointed; causatively, to shame, reproach

יַחַד֮

H3162

together

properly, a unit, i.e., (adverb) unitedly

מְבַקְשֵׁ֥י

H1245

that seek

to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

נַפְשִׁ֗י

H5315

after my soul

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

לִסְפּ֫וֹתָ֥הּ

H5595

to destroy

properly, to scrape (literally, to shave; but usually figuratively) together (i.e., to accumulate or increase) or away (i.e., to scatter, remove, or r

יִסֹּ֣גוּ

H5472

it let them be driven

properly, to flinch, i.e., (by implication) to go back, literally (to retreat) or figuratively (to apostatize)

אָ֭חוֹר

H268

backward

the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the west

וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּ

H3637

and put to shame

properly, to wound; but only figuratively, to taunt or insult

#10

חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י

H2655

that wish

pleased with

#11

רָעָתִֽי׃

H7451

me evil

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

Analysis

This verse develops the worship and praise theme central to Psalms. The concept of divine revelation reflects the proper human response to God's character and works. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to worship literature expressing the full range of human experience before God, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the Israelite monarchy with its court politics and military conflicts. The author writes to address worshipers in the temple and those seeking God in times of distress, making the emphasis on worship and praise particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

What practical applications emerge from understanding worship and praise as presented in this verse, particularly in light of contemporary challenges facing the church and individual believers?
In what ways does this verse's emphasis on divine revelation address questions about God's character and purposes in the modern world, and how should the church respond?
What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of worship and praise, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of fundamental Christian doctrine?