Hated Without a Cause
Christ applied Psalm 35:19 and 69:4 directly to the world's hatred against Him.
David lamented, 'They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head.' Jesus quoted the prophecy in the upper room and said, 'They hated me without a cause' — fulfilled in the religious leaders' rejection.
The Prophecy
"They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty..."
"Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause."
The Fulfillment
"If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin...But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause."
Causeless hatred
Christ's miracles, mercy, and sinless life gave the world no cause to hate Him. The hatred against Him was groundless — and fulfilled prophecy exactly.
A warning for disciples
In the same passage Jesus tells His disciples to expect the same hatred — believers share their Master's lot of being hated without a cause.
People in This Prophecy
Verse Commentary
Read verse-by-verse commentary on the key passages of this prophecy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Jesus quote Psalm 69 and 35?
Yes — in John 15:25 He explicitly cited 'They hated me without a cause' as fulfilled in Himself.
Why was Jesus hated if He did only good?
Because His holiness exposed sin (John 7:7) and His claim to be the Son of God offended the rulers — fulfilling the prophecy of unjust hatred.
Will Christ's followers also be hated?
Jesus said so plainly (John 15:18-20) — the world's hatred of believers is an extension of its hatred of Him.
Related Bible Prophecies
The Messiah Rejected by His Own
Isaiah foretold a despised Messiah; John records that His own received Him not.
Silent Before His Accusers
Isaiah 53:7 foretold the Lamb-like silence of the Servant at His trial.
Psalm 22 and the Crucifixion
David's psalm reads like an eyewitness account of Calvary.
The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53
Christ wounded for our transgressions — fulfilled at Calvary.
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