Psalm 35:10

Psalm 35:10, in plain English

In his joy, David will proclaim what he's learned: that God is incomparable in his power to rescue the defenseless from those who would exploit them.

Why it's here

David's bones—his whole physical being—will be in on this celebration. He's marveling at God's character, his unique ability to see the weak and vulnerable and step in to help them.

Who's speaking

David, making a public declaration

Where it sits in the story

God's concern for the poor, the afflicted, the vulnerable runs throughout Scripture. Jesus makes it clear that God's heart especially goes out to those who have no one else. This is who God is.

The scholarly reading

The psalmist envisions his entire being—symbolized by his bones—exclaiming in wonder at God's unique capacity to rescue the vulnerable from exploitative power.

Language and setting

The phrase עַצְמוֹתַי (atzamotai, 'my bones') represents the innermost self, the seat of vitality and consciousness in Hebrew anthropology. The rhetorical question 'Who is like You?' (מִי כָמוֹךָ, mi kamokha) is a doxological formula emphasizing God's incomparability. The specific enumeration of those whom God rescues—the עָנִי (ani, 'afflicted'), the דָּל (dal, 'poor'), the עָנִיּ (aniyim, 'needy')—establishes God's particular concern for social vulnerability. The גָּזֵל (gazal, 'robber') represents not merely personal theft but systemic exploitation.

Voice

The psalmist, articulating his prophetic vision of how God's salvific action will be recognized and celebrated.

Significance

This enumerates a consistent biblical theme: God's preferential concern for the socially vulnerable. This appears in the Exodus narrative, the prophetic critique of injustice (Amos, Isaiah), and reaches its culmination in Jesus' identification with the poor and marginalized. The incomparability of God is demonstrated precisely through his concern for those whom society discards.

8May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.

9Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.

10All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?”

11Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.

12They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.

Read all of Psalm 35 — David asks God to pick up shield and spear against his enemies. When you can't fight for yourself, you ask the Warrior to fight for you.