Introduction

The meaning of the MT's בְּחַנְפֵי לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג in Ps 35:16a is notoriously difficult. The term מָעוֹג can have the sense of "circle" (DCH), but its usage in 1 Kgs 17:12 suggests it means "something baked" (SDBH). Thus, a strictly word-for-word gloss of בְּחַנְפֵי לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג would be "as godless ones of scoffers of something baked." A number of explanations and alternatives have been proposed for this difficult phrase.

The following interpretive options will be explored here:

Reading לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג as idiomatic for those who mock for the sake of earning food.
- Like godless jesters at a feast (NASB)
- Like profane mockers at a feast (ESV)
Reading מָעוֹג as "circle," in the sense of enemies "surrounding" David.
- Avec les railleurs les plus impurs qui m'entourent (TOB)^[1]
- If I fall they surround me (NJB)
Adopting the LXX variant reading of לָעֲגוּ לַעַג "they mocked with mocking" instead of לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג.
- ἐξεμυκτήρισάν με μυκτηρισμόν (LXX)^[2]
- Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked (NIV)
Vocalizing בחנפי as בְּחַנְפִי "when I limped," emending לעגי to לָעֲגוּ "they mocked," and vocalizing מעוג as מְעֻוָּג "crooked, deformed."
- Als ich hinkte, verhöhnten sie mich als Krüppel (ËU)^[3]
Translating לַעֲגֵי as "those who stammer."
- As the ungodliest of those who gobble on a loaf (CBC)

Argument Maps

Mockers at a Feast

Most modern translations reflect the analysis of Gesenius, who takes לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג as idiomatic for those who mock, like buffoons, for the sake of earning food from the wealthy.^[4]


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["Mockers at a feast"]: The phrase לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג is idiomatic for those who mock for the sake of earning a living (Gesenius 2003, 440 :D:; Delitzsch 1968, 426 :C:). #dispreferred
 + <Historical background>: If the background of Ps 35 involves Saul's pursuit of David, the enemies would flatter Saul in order to obtain provisions from him (Rashi :C:). #dispreferred
  + [Possible example]: Doeg reveals David's movements in response to Saul's implied promise of fields and vineyards (1 Sam 22:7–10). #dispreferred
   <_ <No explicit mockery>: There is no description of mockery associated with Saul's pursuit of David.
  - <No clear reference>: There is no clear reference to Saul in Ps 35.
 + <Greek parallels>: The concept of jesters or satirists is paralleled in the Gr. ψωμοκόλακες "flatterers for a piece of bread" (BrillDAG :D:) and κνισσοκόλακες "dinner-parasites" (LSJ :D:) (so Gesenius 2003, 440 :D:; Delitzsch 1968, 426 :C:). #dispreferred
  - <No Greek version support>: None of the Greek versions of Ps 35:16 reflect the concept of flattery for food.
   + [Greek versions]: ἐξεμυκτήρισάν με μυκτηρισμόν (LXX); φθέγμασι πεπλασμένοις (Symmachus).
  - <No biblical support>: The Greek concept of comedians or satirists is not reflected in biblical literature (Driver 1953, 468 :A:).

Mockers Who Surround Me

Based on the possible meaning of מָעוֹג as "circle," some have suggested the sense of enemies "surrounding" David.^[5]


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["Mockers who surround me"]: The term מָעוֹג "circle" is a reference to enemies "surrounding" David (Milik 1957, 255 :A:; Dahood 1966, 214 :C:). #dispreferred
 + <Contextual fit>: The image of being surrounded by predatory enemies fits the pit-trap imagery of v. 7, as well as the lion imagery of v. 17. #dispreferred
 - <Usage>: Elsewhere, the term מָעוֹג is used to refer to a food item in 1 Kgs 17:12.
  + [1 Kings 17:12a]: וַתֹּ֗אמֶר חַי־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ אִם־יֶשׁ־לִ֣ימָע֔וֹג כִּ֣י אִם־מְלֹ֤א כַף־קֶ֨מַח֙ בַּכַּ֔ד וּמְעַט־שֶׁ֖מֶן בַּצַּפָּ֑חַת, "And she said, 'As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing **baked**, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug'" (ESV).
  + <Cognate term>: The related term עֻגָה refers to a round flat loaf (HALOT), and is used in parallel with מָעוֹג (1 Kgs 17:12) in 1 Kgs 17:13.
   + [1 Kings 17:13b]: אַ֣ךְ עֲשִׂי־לִ֣י מִ֠שָּׁם עֻגָ֨ה קְטַנָּ֤ה בָרִאשֹׁנָה֙ וְהוֹצֵ֣אתְ לִ֔י, "But first make me a little **cake** of it and bring it to me" (ESV).
  <_ <Round "silo">: It is possible to understand מָעוֹג in 1 Kgs 17:12 as a reference to a round silo, which by extension refers to provisions (Milik 1957, 255n2 :A:). #dispreferred

Mocked Me with Mocking (LXX)

Instead of MT's לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג, LXX reads ἐξεμυκτήρισάν με μυκτηρισμόν "they mocked me with mocking" (NETS), which suggests an underlying Hebrew text of לָעֲגוּ לַעַג.^[6] The sense of mockery is also reflected in the Targum and Syriac Peshitta.


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["Mocked me with mocking"]: The phrase לָעֲגוּ לַעַג should be read in place of MT's לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג (LXX). #dispreferred
 + <Ancient versions>: The sense of mockery is reflected in LXX, Targum, and Syriac Peshitta. #dispreferred
  + [Ancient versions]: LXX - ἐξεμυκτήρισάν με μυκτηρισμόν "they mocked me with mocking" (NETS); Targum - במילי שעיעותא ומרהביא וממקניא "with smooth words and derision and scorn" (Stec); Peshitta - ܒܫܘܒܗܪܗܘܢ ܘܒܒܘܙܚܗܘܢ "in their pride and in their derision" (Taylor et al). #dispreferred
 - <Possible assimilation>: It is possible that the versions could have assimilated the initial ל from לַעֲגֵי into the more difficult מָעוֹג, resulting in the reading of לַעַג (CTAT 207 :M:).

Mockers of a Cripple

Proposed reconstructions of the Hebrew text include vocalizing בחנפי as בְּחַנְפִי "when I limped," ^[7] emending לעגי to לָעֲגוּ "they mocked,"^[8] and vocalizing מעוג as מְעֻוָּג "crooked, deformed."^[9] All three proposals are reflected by ËU, while מְעֻוָּג is adopted by NEB, GNT.


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["Mockers of a cripple"]: The MT should be emended and vocalized as בְּחַנְפִי לָעֲגוּ מְעֻוָּג "When I limped, they mocked \[me\] as a cripple" (cf. BHS; Driver 1953, 469 :A:). #dispreferred
 + <Contextual fit>: The imagery of mocking a crippled person would parallel the "stricken" (נֵכִים) who gather against David in v. 15 (Driver 1953, 469 :A:). #dispreferred
 - <Lack of textual support>: The proposed emendations are not reflected in extant Hebrew manuscripts or ancient versions.

Those Who Stammer on a Loaf

It is possible that לַעֲגֵי should be read in light of the root's original sense of "to stutter, stammer."^[10] Thus, the construction בְּחַנְפֵי לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג would mean, "as the ungodliest of those who stammer on a loaf."


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["Those who stammer on a loaf"]: The phrase לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג refers to those who stammer on a loaf of bread.
 + <Plural construct form>: The only other occurrence of the plural construct לַעֲגֵי is found in Isa 28:11, where בְּלַעֲגֵי שָׂפָה "with stammering lips" is an image of foreign speech.
  + [Isa 28:11]: כִּ֚י בְּלַעֲגֵ֣י שָׂפָ֔ה וּבְלָשׁ֖וֹן אַחֶ֑רֶת יְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃, "For with **stammering** lips and another tongue He will speak to this people" (NKJV).
  - <"Mocking lips">: It is possible that בְּלַעֲגֵי שָׂפָה should be translated "mocking lips" (so NET). #dispreferred
   - <Parallel with "another tongue">: The phrase בְּלַעֲגֵי שָׂפָה is in parallel with בְלָשׁוֹן אַחֶרֶת "with another tongue," which suggests a similar meaning.
 + <Associations with the mouth>: When the root לעג occurs in close association with mouth imagery, the sense appears to be "to stammer" (Isa 28:11; 33:19; Hos 7:16). This is the case in Ps 35:16, where לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג is connected with שִׁנֵּימוֹ "their teeth" that follows.
  + [Isa 33:19]: אֶת־עַ֥ם נוֹעָ֖ז לֹ֣א תִרְאֶ֑ה עַ֣ם עִמְקֵ֤י שָׂפָה֙ מִשְּׁמ֔וֹעַ נִלְעַ֥ג לָשׁ֖וֹן אֵ֥ין בִּינָֽה׃, "You will see no more the insolent people, the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, **stammering** in a tongue that you cannot understand" (ESV).
  <_ <Hos 7:16 uncertainty>: The text and meaning of Hos 7:16 is debated. Most modern translations render לַעְגָּם along the lines of "their derision."
 + <Contextual fit>: The image of enemies gobbling up food fits the larger motif of predatory behavior attributed to David's enemies.
  + [Predatory imagery]: David's enemies set a trap for him (v. 7), tear at him (v. 15), gnash their teeth (v. 16), threaten like lions (v. 18), open their mouths (v. 21), and desire to swallow him up (v. 25).

Conclusion (B)

While the LXX and other ancient versions provide a plausible sense of mockery for בְּחַנְפֵי לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג, it seems more likely that this reading is the result of assimilation of the ל from לַעֲגֵי into the מ of מָעוֹג. Other proposed readings, while resolving the grammatical issue nicely, lack external evidence. Thus, the MT reading is preferred.

It seems most likely that לַעֲגֵי should be read in the sense of "to stutter, stammer." The resultant sense of the phrase בְּחַנְפֵי לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג would be "as the ungodliest of those who gobble on a loaf"—a vivid description of people ravenously devouring their food. This would fit the broader use of food imagery used throughout the psalm. The enemies are described as tearing David in v. 15,^[11] gnashing their teeth against him in v. 16b,^[12] and hunting for him as lions would in v. 17.^[13]

Furthermore, if we are correct in identifying the prepositional phrase בְּחַנְפֵי לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג as modifying the infinitival construction חָרֹק עָלַי שִׁנֵּימוֹ,^[14] then the entirety of v. 16 forms a unit that explicates the sense of קָרְעוּ "they tore" in v. 15. In other words, the way in which the enemies tear constantly at David (v. 15) is in gnashing their teeth at him, like those who would voraciously gobble up a loaf of bread (v. 16).

Research

Translations

Ancient

LXX: ἐξεμυκτήρισάν με μυκτηρισμόν
- "they mocked me with mocking"^[15]
Symmachus: ἐν ὑποκρίσει φθέγμασι πεπλασμένοις
- "in hypocrisy by fabricated speech"
Targum: במילי שעיעותא ומרהביא וממקניא^[16]
- "with smooth words and derision and scorn"^[17]
Peshitta: ܒܫܘܒܗܪܗܘܢ ܘܒܒܘܙܚܗܘܢ^[18]
- "in their pride and in their derision"^[19]
Jerome (Hebr.): in simulatione verborum fictorum
- "in the simulation of fictitious words"

Modern

Mockers at a Feast

Like profane mockers at a feast (ESV)
With ungodly mockers at feasts (NKJV)
Like godless jesters at a feast (NASB)
Amongst the godless jesters at a feast (LSB)

Mockers Who Surround Me

Avec les railleurs les plus impurs qui m'entourent (TOB)^[20]
If I fall they surround me (NJB)

Mocked Me with Mocking (LXX)

Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked (NIV)
With godless mockery (CSB)
When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly (NET)

Mockers of a Cripple

Als ich hinkte, verhöhnten sie mich als Krüppel (ËU)^[21]
Like those who would mock a cripple (GNT)

Those Who Stammer on a Loaf

As the ungodliest of those who gobble on a loaf (CBC)

Secondary Literature

Dahood, Mitchell. 1966. Psalms vol 1. Anchor Bible Commentary. New York: Doubleday.

Delitzsch, Franz. 1968. Biblical Commentary on the Psalms. Translated by Francis Bolton. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Driver, G.R. 1953. "On Psalm 35, 16." Theologische Zeitschrift, Basel. 9:468-469. https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=thz-001%3A1953%3A9%3A%3A496

Goldingay, John. 2006. Psalms: Psalms 1–41. Vol. 1. BCOT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Milik, J. T. 1957. “Deux Documents Inédits Du Désert De Juda.” Biblica 38 (3): 245–68.

Thomas, D. Winton. 1961. “Psalm xxxv. 15f.” JTS 12: 50–51.

References

35:16

↑ Eng., "with the most impure mockers who surround me."
↑ Eng., "They mocked me with mocking" (NETS). The LXX also reads ἐπείρασάν με "they tried me" (NETS), implying a reading of בְּחָנֻנִי in place of MT's בְּחַנְפֵי "as godless ones" (so BHS).
↑ Eng., "When I limped, they mocked me as a cripple."
↑ Gesenius 2003, 440.
↑ Milik 1957, 255.
↑ BHS.
↑ BHS.
↑ Ibid.
↑ Driver 1953, 469. In the same vein, Goldingay (2006, 488) reads מְעֻוָּג here, but takes the genitive as descriptive ("twisted mockers") as opposed to objective ("mockers of twisted [people]").
↑ See TDOT 8:10.
↑ Heb קָרְעוּ "they tore." Interestingly, the verb is used in Hos 13:8 to describe a lion (לָבִיא) attacking prey, whereas here in Ps 35 the verb stands in close proximity with כְּפִירִים "young lions" in v. 17.
↑ Heb. חָרֹק עָלַי שִׁנֵּימוֹ.
↑ Heb. כְּפִירִים
↑ See Grammatical Diagram.
↑ NETS
↑ CAL.
↑ Stec 2004, 77.
↑ CAL.
↑ Taylor et al. 2020, 129.
↑ Eng., "with the most impure mockers who surround me."
↑ Eng., "When I limped, they mocked me as a cripple."

[1] Eng., "with the most impure mockers who surround me."

[2] Eng., "They mocked me with mocking" (NETS). The LXX also reads ἐπείρασάν με "they tried me" (NETS), implying a reading of בְּחָנֻנִי in place of MT's בְּחַנְפֵי "as godless ones" (so BHS).

[3] Eng., "When I limped, they mocked me as a cripple."

[4] Gesenius 2003, 440.

[5] Milik 1957, 255.

[6] BHS.

[7] BHS.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Driver 1953, 469. In the same vein, Goldingay (2006, 488) reads מְעֻוָּג here, but takes the genitive as descriptive ("twisted mockers") as opposed to objective ("mockers of twisted [people]").

[10] See TDOT 8:10.

[11] Heb קָרְעוּ "they tore." Interestingly, the verb is used in Hos 13:8 to describe a lion (לָבִיא) attacking prey, whereas here in Ps 35 the verb stands in close proximity with כְּפִירִים "young lions" in v. 17.

[12] Heb. חָרֹק עָלַי שִׁנֵּימוֹ.

[13] Heb. כְּפִירִים

[14] See Grammatical Diagram.

[15] NETS

[16] CAL.

[17] Stec 2004, 77.

[18] CAL.

[19] Taylor et al. 2020, 129.

[20] Eng., "with the most impure mockers who surround me."

[21] Eng., "When I limped, they mocked me as a cripple."

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The Text and Meaning of Psalm 35:16

Contents

Introduction

Argument Maps

Mockers at a Feast

Mockers Who Surround Me

Mocked Me with Mocking (LXX)

Mockers of a Cripple

Those Who Stammer on a Loaf

Conclusion (B)

Research

Translations

Ancient

Modern

Mockers at a Feast

Mockers Who Surround Me

Mocked Me with Mocking (LXX)

Mockers of a Cripple

Those Who Stammer on a Loaf

Secondary Literature

References