Focused Passage

Psalms 18:37-42

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

37I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.

38I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet.

39You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me.

40You have made my enemies retreat before me; I destroyed those who hated me.

41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.

42I ground them as dust in the face of the wind; I trampled them like mud in the streets.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 37

Cross-references

2 Samuel 7:9Classic cross-references Psalms 71:24Classic cross-references Isaiah 53:10Classic cross-references Joshua 10:19Classic cross-references Psalms 44:5Classic cross-references

Original words

I pursuedאֶרְדּ֣וֹףH7291Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularmy enemiesא֭וֹיְבַיH341Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularand overtook themוְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑םH5381Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluralI did notוְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleturn backאָ֝שׁוּבH7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularuntilעַד־H5704Prepositionthey were consumedכַּלּוֹתָֽם׃H3615Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural

Verse 38

Cross-references

Psalms 56:9Classic cross-references Psalms 27:2Classic cross-references

Original words

I crushed themאֶ֭מְחָצֵםH4272Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluralso they could notוְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle. . .יֻ֣כְלוּH3201Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralriseק֑וּםH6965Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthey have fallenיִ֝פְּל֗וּH5307Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralunderתַּ֣חַתH8478Prepositionmy feetרַגְלָֽי׃H7272Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular

Verse 39

Cross-references

2 Samuel 22:40Classic cross-references Psalms 18:32Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 15:25Classic cross-references Ephesians 1:22Classic cross-references Isaiah 45:14Classic cross-references

Original words

You have armed meוַתְּאַזְּרֵ֣נִיH247Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularwith strengthחַ֭יִלH2428Noun - masculine singularfor battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֑הH4421Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singularYou have subduedתַּכְרִ֖יעַH3766Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularmy foesקָמַ֣יH6965Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularbeneath meתַּחְתָּֽי׃H8478Preposition | first person common singular

Verse 40

Cross-references

Exodus 23:27Classic cross-references Psalms 21:12Classic cross-references 1 Chronicles 17:10Classic cross-references Acts 2:35Classic cross-references Genesis 49:8Classic cross-references

Original words

You have madeנָתַ֣תָּהH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularmy enemiesוְֽאֹיְבַ֗יH341Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularretreatעֹ֑רֶףH6203Noun - masculine singularbefore meלִּ֣יPreposition | first person common singularI destroyedאַצְמִיתֵֽם׃H6789Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluralthose who hated meוּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗יH8130Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular

Verse 41

Cross-references

John 9:31Classic cross-references Micah 3:4Classic cross-references Job 27:9Classic cross-references Proverbs 1:28Classic cross-references Jeremiah 11:11Classic cross-references

Original words

They cried for helpיְשַׁוְּע֥וּH7768Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralbut [there was] no oneוְאֵין־H369Conjunctive waw | Adverbto save themמוֹשִׁ֑יעַH3467Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singulartoעַל־H5921Prepositionthe LORDיְ֝הוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularbut He did notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleanswerעָנָֽם׃H6030Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural

Verse 42

Cross-references

Micah 7:10Classic cross-references Psalms 2:1Classic cross-references Isaiah 10:6Classic cross-references Isaiah 41:15Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 30:17Classic cross-references

Original words

I ground themוְֽאֶשְׁחָקֵ֗םH7833Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluralas dustכְּעָפָ֥רH6083Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singularinעַל־H5921Prepositionthe face ofפְּנֵי־H6440Noun - masculine plural constructthe windר֑וּחַH7307Noun - common singularI trampled themאֲרִיקֵֽם׃H7324Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plurallike mudכְּטִ֖יטH2916Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructin the streetsחוּצ֣וֹתH2351Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 22:43); MT I poured them out

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