The interpretation timeline

Ps 34:19

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

1 Patristic · 1 Jewish · 1 Catholic

Ps 34:19 · Douay-Rheims
“Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: who have hated me without cause, and wink with the eyes.”
Patristic before A.D. 750
430
A.D.
Augustine of Hippo Patristic
A.D. 354–430
“"Let not them that are Mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over Me:" for they rejoice over Me because of My chaff. "Who hate Me without a cause;" that is, whom I never hurt; "winking with their eyes" [Psalm 35:19]: that is, pretending hypocrites, "For they spake indeed peace to Me" [Psalm 35:20]. What is, "winking with their eyes"? Declaring by their looks, what they carry not in their heart. And who are these "winking with their eyes"? "For they spake indeed peace to Me; and with wrath devised craftily." ...What peace spake they? "Master, we know that Thou acceptest not man's person, and teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" They spake indeed peace unto Me. What then? Didst not Thou know them, and deceived they Thee, winking with their eyes? Truly He knew them; therefore said He, "Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites?" ...”
Source
675 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
Scholastic c. 1100 – 1500
1105
A.D.
Rashi Jewish
1040–1105
“those who are my enemies for an unjust cause who hate me because of a false matter, that they testify against me what never entered my mind. Let them not rejoice at my downfall. who hate me Let those who hate me not wink their eyes at me, to mock my downfall with their eyes. יקרצו means seynt in Old French, signal.”
169 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
1274
A.D.
Thomas Aquinas Catholic
1225–1274
“"Let them not rejoice over me, my enemies." Here the fruit on the part of the enemies is set forth, where he asks that their exultation be repressed. And first, he sets forth this fruit. Second, he sets forth the root of insult, at "they are hostile." Third, he sets forth the stirring up of the root, at "You have seen, O Lord." He says therefore, "Let them not rejoice," as if to say: I ask to be restored, so that they may not rejoice over me as though conquering me. And this, because when Christ was raised, their joy was turned into confusion. Or, "let them not rejoice over me" in my members, who are not weighty, because they are sustained by Christ. Mic. 7: "Do not rejoice, my enemy." "They are hostile." Here he sets forth the cause of insult. The cause and root of insult is threefold: on the part of the heart, of deed, and of mouth. On the part of deed, "let them rejoice who are hostile unjustly." If they were hostile for the sake of justice and rejoiced, it would be good and just; but because they rejoice unjustly, it is unbecoming. Ps. 35: "He has meditated iniquity on his bed." On the part of the heart, it is undeserved hatred; hence he says, "and those who hate me without cause," that is, without reason. Ps. 119: "When I spoke to them, they attacked me without cause." Jn. 15: "That the word may be fulfilled which is written in their law: They hated me without cause." Ps. 37: "They repaid evil for good." Also the hatred of dissemblers, because with hatred in their heart, "they wink with their eyes." This in two ways. In one way, to show the concealment of their hatred, as if winking to indicate that they loved him. Or they winked at each other with their eyes, inciting one another to evil. Prov. 6: "An apostate man, a useless man."”
Source
Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.