Focused Passage

Psalms 18:30-36

The LORD My Rock, Deliverer, and King

The psalm moves from David’s love and praise for the LORD as refuge, through the memory of deathly distress and divine rescue, into cosmic theophany, righteous vindication, renewed strength for battle, victory over enemies and nations, and final praise to the LORD who gives great victories to his king and shows unfailing love to David and his descendants forever.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

30 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

31 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?

32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear.

33 He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me upon the heights.

34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have given me Your shield of salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your gentleness exalts me.

36 You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 30

Cross-references

Proverbs 30:5 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 32:4 Classic cross-references Psalms 12:6 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 22:31 Classic cross-references Psalms 19:7 Classic cross-references

Original words

[As for] God הָאֵל֮ H410 Article | Noun - masculine singular His way דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ H1870 Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular is perfect תָּמִ֪ים H8549 Adjective - masculine singular the word אִמְרַֽת־ H565 Noun - feminine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular is flawless צְרוּפָ֑ה H6884 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular He ה֝֗וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is a shield מָגֵ֥ן H4043 Noun - common singular to all לְכֹ֤ל׀ H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct who take refuge הַחֹסִ֬ים H2620 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural in Him בּֽוֹ׃ Preposition | third person masculine singular

Verse 31

Cross-references

Psalms 144:1 Classic cross-references Isaiah 44:8 Classic cross-references Psalms 62:6 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 32:31 Classic cross-references Psalms 86:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

For כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction who מִ֣י H4310 Interrogative is God אֱ֭לוֹהַּ H433 Noun - masculine singular besides מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י H1107 Preposition-m the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular And who וּמִ֥י H4310 Conjunctive waw | Interrogative [is] the Rock צ֝֗וּר H6697 Noun - masculine singular except זוּלָתִ֥י H2108 Preposition | first person common singular our God אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural

Verse 32

Cross-references

Isaiah 45:5 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 3:5 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 22:33 Classic cross-references Psalms 28:7 Classic cross-references Psalms 91:2 Classic cross-references

Original words

[It is] God הָ֭אֵל H410 Article | Noun - masculine singular who arms me הַמְאַזְּרֵ֣נִי H247 Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular with strength חָ֑יִל H2428 Noun - masculine singular and makes וַיִּתֵּ֖ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular my way דַּרְכִּֽי׃ H1870 Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular clear תָּמִ֣ים H8549 Adjective - masculine singular

Verse 33

Cross-references

Habakkuk 3:19 Classic cross-references Psalms 27:5 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 32:13 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 33:29 Classic cross-references Isaiah 33:16 Classic cross-references

Original words

He makes מְשַׁוֶּ֣ה H7737 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular my feet רַ֭גְלַי H7272 Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular like those of a deer כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת H355 Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine plural and stations me יַעֲמִידֵֽנִי׃ H5975 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular upon וְעַ֥ל H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the heights בָּ֝מֹתַ֗י H1116 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular

Verse 34

Cross-references

Psalms 144:1 Classic cross-references Psalms 46:9 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 22:36 Classic cross-references Isaiah 28:6 Classic cross-references Isaiah 45:1 Classic cross-references

Original words

He trains מְלַמֵּ֣ד H3925 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular my hands יָ֭דַי H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular for battle לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה H4421 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular my arms זְרוֹעֹתָֽי׃ H2220 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular can bend וְֽנִחֲתָ֥ה H5181 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular a bow קֶֽשֶׁת־ H7198 Noun - feminine singular construct of bronze נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗ה H5154 Noun - feminine singular

Verse 35

Cross-references

Psalms 63:8 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 22:36 Classic cross-references James 3:17 Classic cross-references Psalms 138:7 Classic cross-references Joshua 3:7 Classic cross-references

Original words

You have given וַתִּתֶּן־ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular me לִי֮ Preposition | first person common singular Your shield מָגֵ֪ן H4043 Noun - common singular construct of salvation יִ֫שְׁעֶ֥ךָ H3468 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Your right hand וִֽימִינְךָ֥ H3225 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular upholds me תִסְעָדֵ֑נִי H5582 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | first person common singular and Your gentleness וְֽעַנְוַתְךָ֥ H6037 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular exalts me תַרְבֵּֽנִי׃ H7235 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular

BSB notes

Or and Your help exalts me or and You stoop down to make me great

Verse 36

Cross-references

Psalms 18:19 Classic cross-references Psalms 40:2 Classic cross-references Proverbs 4:12 Classic cross-references Psalms 119:32 Classic cross-references Psalms 17:5 Classic cross-references

Original words

You broaden תַּרְחִ֣יב H7337 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the path צַעֲדִ֣י H6806 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular beneath me תַחְתָּ֑י H8478 Preposition | first person common singular so that my ankles קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃ H7166 Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular do not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle give way מָ֝עֲד֗וּ H4571 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural

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