“Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 35:5 Mean?
"Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them." David prays that his enemies become chaff — weightless, substanceless, unable to stand against even a breeze — and that the angel of the LORD actively pursue them. The prayer combines passive helplessness (chaff before wind) with active divine pursuit (the angel chasing).
The chaff imagery is agricultural: after threshing, the grain falls heavy to the ground while the chaff — the light, worthless husks — is blown away by the wind. The enemies who seem substantial are revealed as chaff: all surface, no weight, no value, scattered by the slightest force. The wind does what armies couldn't — it removes them effortlessly.
The "angel of the LORD" (malak YHWH) as pursuer intensifies the prayer: this isn't passive judgment. It's active divine chase. The angel of the LORD — often associated with dramatic divine intervention (Exodus 14:19, 2 Kings 19:35) — is asked to pursue the enemies like a hunter chases prey. The enemies don't just fall. They're chased.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What in your life appears substantial but might be revealed as chaff when the wind comes?
- 2.How does the angel of the LORD 'chasing' differ from passive judgment?
- 3.What does delegating vengeance to God's angel teach about handling enemies?
- 4.Where are you trying to chase your own enemies when the angel of the LORD could handle it?
Devotional
Let them be chaff — weightless, worthless, blown away by the wind. And let the angel of the LORD chase them. David's prayer combines two devastating images: the enemies become substanceless, and then they're actively hunted by God's angel.
The chaff imagery is about revealed worthlessness: chaff looks like grain before the threshing. It's mixed in. It appears substantial. But when the wind comes, the truth is exposed — the chaff has no weight. It was never grain. It just looked like it. David prays that his enemies' apparent substance be revealed for what it is: nothing. All husk, no kernel.
The angel of the LORD chasing adds the pursuit: the chaff doesn't just drift away peacefully. It's chased. The divine pursuer doesn't wait for the wind to do all the work. The angel actively drives the enemies — not just scattered but hunted, not just blown but chased. The passive and active judgments work together: the wind removes their substance, and the angel ensures they can't return.
This is an imprecatory prayer — a psalm asking God to act against enemies. These prayers are honest about the desire for vindication and the trust that God is the appropriate avenger. David doesn't pursue his enemies personally. He asks God to send His angel. The vengeance is delegated to the divine, not executed by the human.
What enemies or obstacles need to be revealed as chaff in your life — and are you willing to let God's angel handle the chasing?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Let them be as chaff before the wind,.... As they are; see Psa 1:4;
and let the angel of the Lord chase them; either a…
Let them be as chaff before the wind - As chaff is driven away in winnowing grain. See the notes at Psa 1:4. And let the…
In these verses we have,
I. David's representation of his case to God, setting forth the restless rage and malice of his…
Let them be as chaff before the wind,
The angel of Jehovah thrusting them down.
Let their way be all dark and…
Cross References
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