Psalms 70:3 Meaning: When mockers say 'Aha! Aha!'
Let them be turned because of their shame who say, “Aha! Aha!”
Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
Let them be turned back by reason of their shame That say, Aha, aha.
Let them turn back because of their shame, Who are saying, `Aha, aha.'
Let them turn back because of their shame that say, Aha! Aha!
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 70:3 is David's cry for deliverance from mockers who say 'Aha! Aha!'. Learn how to read this imprecatory prayer honestly and faithfully.
Context
Psalm 70 is a short, urgent prayer of David, repeated from parts of Psalm 40. David is in deep trouble: enemies are seeking his life, and mockers taunt him with cries of 'Aha! Aha!', the sound of cruel delight in someone else's pain. This psalm doesn't explain the situation; it simply cries out for help. David asks God to hurry. In verse 3, he prays that those who mock him will be turned back, not simply defeated but shamed by their own cruelty. It is a raw, honest plea for vindication. The psalm ends with David acknowledging his own poverty and need, trusting God alone as deliverer.
Key Words
In this verse, 'turned back' carries the image of retreat in disgrace. The Cambridge Bible notes that David prays for his enemies to 'retreat after their ignominious repulse', a picture of their plans collapsing and themselves exposed. The word 'shame' points not just to embarrassment but to the public exposure of their injustice. And 'Aha! Aha!' is described by Adam Clarke as 'a note of supreme contempt.' It is the sound of someone gloating over your downfall. In other psalms (like 35:21, 25), the same mocking cry appears. David is not here asking for personal revenge; he is bringing the mockery to God and asking God to respond to it. The difference between this verse and Psalm 40:15 (where the cry is 'let them be desolate') shows that David felt freedom to pour out his heart in different words. Both express the same trust: that God sees the scorn and will act in justice. For us today, these words give permission to bring our rawest hurts, even the sting of mockery, before the Lord who hears.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have wrestled with imprecatory psalms like this one. Some see them as the authentic voice of the suffering believer within the old covenant, crying out to God as the righteous Judge while leaving vengeance to Him. Others read them through Christ: David prefigures Jesus, who was mocked with 'Aha!' at the cross, and who entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. Still others emphasize that the New Testament expands the command to love enemies, so while we may honestly feel anger and pain, we are called to pray for our persecutors rather than for their downfall. All traditions agree that these psalms teach us to bring our real emotions to God rather than pretending, and to trust that He will ultimately set all things right.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse as David praying out of personal spite, contradicting Jesus' command to love enemies. In fact, David is not taking revenge into his own hands; he is placing the mockers before God, the righteous Judge. The psalm ends with David saying, 'I am poor and needy', a posture of humility, not pride. He trusts God to act, not his own wrath. This is a cry for justice, not personal vengeance.
Main takeaway: God sees the mockery of your enemies and hears your cry; you can trust Him to act in justice and mercy.
Questions People Ask
What does 'Aha! Aha!' mean in Psalm 70:3?
It is an exclamation of supreme contempt and malicious pleasure at someone's misfortune. Commentator Adam Clarke calls it 'a note of supreme contempt.' It expresses the gloating of enemies who think they have won and that God has abandoned David.
How does Psalm 70:3 differ from Psalm 40:15?
In Psalm 40:15, the prayer is 'Let them be desolate by reason of their shame.' In Psalm 70:3, it says 'Let them be turned back because of their shame.' The wording is slightly softer, focusing on their retreat rather than desolation. This shows David felt free to express his plea in different words, while still trusting God to deal with the mockers.
Is it wrong for Christians to pray imprecatory psalms like Psalm 70:3?
Christians have different views. Some see these psalms as honest prayers that we can still pray, asking God to bring justice and vindicate His name. Others believe the New Testament calls us to pray for our enemies' blessing. Both sides agree that we should bring our real feelings to God, and that ultimately only He knows the right outcome.
What does 'turned back for a reward of their shame' mean?
This phrase pictures the mockers retreating in disgrace. The 'reward of their shame' (KJV) means that the shame they tried to bring on David comes back on them. The BSB translates it 'retreat because of their shame', their own malice becomes the cause of their humiliation.
Can this verse be applied to spiritual warfare against evil?
Some Christians interpret the mockers as representing spiritual forces that scorn God's people. In that sense, praying for their defeat is a prayer for God's kingdom to advance. However, the original context is about real human enemies. The psalms teach us to trust God to handle all opposition, whether human or spiritual.
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