Psalms 35:13 Meaning: When Our Prayers Come Back to Us
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
And I--in their sickness my clothing is sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth.
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I chastened my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom:
Meaning in one sentence
Does the prayer that 'returned into his own bosom' mean it failed? Discover David's sackcloth, fasting, and the blessing that came back to him.
Context
David is in deep trouble. Enemies who once were close friends now reward his kindness with cruelty. They spread lies about him and rejoice when he stumbles. In this psalm, he brings his case before God, pleading for justice and protection.
But verse 13 stops the momentum. David looks back to a time when these same people were sick. Instead of celebrating their weakness, he put on sackcloth, the rough garment of mourning. He fasted and prayed for them. He did what you would do for a brother or a mother, as the next verse says. Now they have turned on him, and the contrast stings. He is not just angry; he is wounded. The verse lays the foundation for his cry: Lord, You saw what I did for them, see what they are doing to me.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words hold the weight of this verse, and each one tells part of the story.
First, ‘anah (to humble or afflict). David says he afflicted his nephesh, his own soul, his very self. This was not a casual skip-a-meal. It was a deliberate bending of his whole being before God, the kind of fasting the Law called for on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29). He was not performing; he was pouring himself out.
Second, tefillah (prayer). This is the same word used throughout the Psalms for earnest, personal pleading. David’s prayer was not a vague wish; it was a specific cry for his enemies’ healing.
Third, shuv (to return) and cheq (bosom). The image is beautiful: the prayer came back into his own chest, like a gift placed in the fold of a robe where people carried their valuables. The same word for bosom appears in Ruth 4:16, where Naomi holds Ruth’s baby close. David’s prayer was not wasted. It returned to him as a blessing, held tight against his heart.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this line differently, and both readings carry comfort.
Many Protestant commentators, like Matthew Henry and Adam Clarke, see the prayer as fully answered, it brought good to David even if it did not change his enemies. Clarke pictures God returning the prayer “tenfold into his bosom,” like alms given for God’s sake.
Others, such as the Cambridge Bible, point out that the same verb “return” is used elsewhere for curses coming back on the one who utters them (Psalm 79:12). David’s prayer, instead of harming him, circled back with blessing. Wesley’s note is more sober: “Although my fastings and prayers did them no good”, but the note does not say the prayer was wasted.
Across traditions, readers agree on one thing: David’s prayer was not empty. It may not have changed his enemies, but it changed him, and God honored it.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that “my prayer returned into my own bosom” means God ignored it, that David’s plea bounced back unheard, like a letter returned to sender.
In fact, the Hebrew word shuv (return) almost never carries that sense. When a blessing or a prayer “returns” in Scripture, it means the benefit comes back to the one who gave it. David’s prayer did not fail. It landed in his own lap, as a gift from God. Even if his enemies never thanked him or changed, the prayer itself became a treasure stored in his own heart.
Living This Out
Someone has hurt you this week. Maybe a friend dismissed your help, or a family member repaid kindness with cold silence. Your instinct might be to close off, to stop praying for them, to let the relationship go cold.
David shows another way. He prayed hardest for the people who would later hurt him most. He did not wait to see if they deserved it. He simply did the hard work of love, sackcloth, fasting, tears.
You are not called to wear sackcloth tomorrow. But you are invited to bring that person before God one more time. Not because they will change, but because your prayer will not be wasted. It will return to you, tucked into your own bosom, as a gift from a Father who sees every quiet act of love.
Main takeaway: When we pray for our enemies, God receives our prayer and returns its blessing to our own heart.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
David was sad when his friends were sick. He wore scratchy clothes and did not eat much, and he prayed for them. Even though later they were mean to him, God kept his prayer safe.
For ages 9, 12
David’s enemies were once his friends. When they got sick, he really cared. He wore sackcloth (rough, itchy cloth) and fasted (didn’t eat) to show he was serious. He prayed for them with all his heart. Later, when those same people turned against him, he remembered those prayers. They didn’t come back empty, they came back like a gift that God put right into his own arms. Praying for people who hurt you is never wasted. God sees it, and He takes care of the prayer.
Questions People Ask
What does 'my prayer returned into my own bosom' mean?
It does not mean the prayer failed. In the Bible, when something 'returns' to someone's bosom, it means the benefit comes back to them. David's prayer for his enemies was like a gift God placed back in his arms. He may not have changed them, but the prayer itself became a blessing for David.
Was David's prayer unanswered?
Not exactly. The Hebrew word for 'return' (shuv) usually describes something coming back to its source. David's prayer came back to him as a reward, even if his enemies did not respond. Many commentators think God answered by giving David peace and favor, while others believe the prayer simply did not affect the enemies but still blessed David.
What is sackcloth, and why did David wear it?
Sackcloth was a rough, dark cloth made from goat or camel hair, worn in times of mourning, repentance, or deep distress. David put it on to show how seriously he grieved for his enemies' sickness. It was a visible sign of his humility and his heartfelt prayer for them.
Who were David's enemies in Psalm 35?
The psalm does not name specific people. Many scholars think David wrote it during the years Saul pursued him. The enemies likely included courtiers and former friends who turned against David to gain favor with King Saul. They were people David had once helped and prayed for.
What does it mean to 'afflict' or 'humble' one's soul with fasting?
In Hebrew, the word is 'anah, which means to bend down or bring low. Fasting was a way of setting aside physical needs to focus completely on God. David did this to show he was serious about his prayer, he wanted God's attention and mercy for his sick enemies.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study