What Does Psalm 35:1 Mean in the King James?
A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The prayer asks God to enter the dispute itself: the same Hebrew root names both the plea for advocacy and the opposition pressing against the speaker.
THE MEANING
When you are opposed, this prayer brings the dispute itself before the LORD: it asks him to take up your case and to fight those who fight you. The language moves from contention to combat, letting the danger remain direct and the request forceful.
THE ROOT
רִיבָה
rîvāh
GROWS FROM
ריב
r-y-b
Contend; bring a dispute or case forward.
“plead my cause / strive” in this verse is rîvāh. English assigns “plead my cause” to the speaker’s request and “strive” to the adversaries, but Hebrew repeats ריב in both. The LORD is asked to enter the very contention raised against the speaker.
ALSO GROWS
rîv: Dispute or controversy.
רִיב
The plea asks the LORD to take up the dispute itself.
merivah: Quarrel or contention.
מְרִיבָה
It shows that the same root can name the conflict surrounding the speaker.
לְחַם
ləḥam
GROWS FROM
לחם
l-ḥ-m
Fight or wage battle.
The verse shifts from a dispute that can be pleaded to combat, repeating the battle-root for both sides: the LORD is asked to fight those who fight the speaker. The request names conflict directly and does not soften it into a metaphor of inner calm.
ALSO GROWS
milḥāmāh: Battle or war.
מִלְחָמָה
It carries the same root from a single fight into sustained conflict.
lōḥēm: Fighter or warrior.
לֹחֵם
It names the person engaged in the fighting that this verse asks the LORD to oppose.
THE PATTERN
When opposition threatens a person, the contested cause and the response are placed before God as judge and defender.
But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.THE THREAD
But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.Isaiah uses the same Hebrew root, ריב (rîv, contend), for God’s action and the adversary’s opposition. The conflict is taken up by God in the very terms used to name it.
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