What is the meaning of Psalm 109:5?

They repay me evil for good

David, under the Spirit’s inspiration, states a heartbreaking reality: those he has helped turn around and harm him.

• In Psalm 35:12 we hear the identical cry, showing this was not an isolated experience but a pattern of betrayal.

• Proverbs 17:13 warns, “He who repays evil for good, evil will never leave his house,” confirming God’s unchanging moral order: ingratitude brings consequences.

• When Jesus healed, fed, and taught, the crowd still shouted, “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21). John 10:32 records Him asking, “For which of these good works do you stone Me?”—a direct fulfillment of David’s lament.

Application points:

– Expect that acts of kindness will not always be appreciated—yet keep doing good (Galatians 6:9).

– Remember that God sees every injustice and will vindicate the righteous (Romans 12:19).

– Let betrayal push you toward Christ, who understands it perfectly (Hebrews 4:15).

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and hatred for my love

The second phrase intensifies the wrong: the response is not mere indifference but open hostility.

• Jesus quoted Psalm 69:4, “Those who hate me without reason are more than the hairs of my head,” and John 15:25 applies it directly to Him, echoing the same theme found here.

• 1 Samuel 24:17 shows Saul admitting to David, “You have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil,” a historical backdrop that illustrates the depth of David’s hurt.

• Romans 5:8 reveals the divine counterpart: while we were still sinners—effectively hating God—Christ loved us unto death.

Practical takeaways:

– Love can be met with hostility; keep loving because our standard is God’s steadfast love (Ephesians 5:1-2).

– Hatred exposes the hearts of the wicked, but it also highlights the purity of genuine love (1 John 3:12-13).

– Pray for those who hate you, mirroring Jesus’ words, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34), and thus overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

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summary

Psalm 109:5 captures the sting of betrayal: evil returned for good, hatred for love. David’s lament ultimately foreshadows Christ, who experienced the fullest measure of this injustice and triumphed through sacrificial love. For believers, the verse is both a sober warning about the world’s response to righteousness and a call to persevere in doing good, trusting the God who judges justly and repays according to truth.