What does Psalm 35:16 mean?

David describes his foes like drunken, out-of-control fools completely lost in idiocy during some wild party. The Hebrew words used here imply godlessness and senseless babbling. These men made David the object of their cruel jokes. Symbolically, like wild animals, they snapped at him with their teeth.

Jesus, too, underwent cruel jesting. Mark 15:16–20 reports the profane treatment He received from the soldiers after His arrest. They clothed Him in a purple cloak, put a makeshift crown of thorns on His head, and laughingly called Him King of the Jews. They struck Him on the head with a reed, spat on Him, knelt in sarcastic homage, mocked Him, then crucified Him (Matthew 27:27–31). Stephen also experienced the kind of animal-like treatment David received. When Stephen testified about Jesus, those who were eager to murder him "ground their teeth at him" (Acts 7:54). Christians should not be surprised when antichristian people ridicule or even attack.