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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Original words

I pursued אֶרְדּ֣וֹף H7291 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular my enemies א֭וֹיְבַי H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular and overtook them וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם H5381 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural I did not וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle turn back אָ֝שׁוּב H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition they were consumed כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃ H3615 Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural

Verse 38

Cross-references

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

Original words

I crushed them אֶ֭מְחָצֵם H4272 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural so they could not וְלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle . . . יֻ֣כְלוּ H3201 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural rise ק֑וּם H6965 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct they have fallen יִ֝פְּל֗וּ H5307 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural under תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition my feet רַגְלָֽי׃ H7272 Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular

Verse 39

Cross-references

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

Original words

You have armed me וַתְּאַזְּרֵ֣נִי H247 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular with strength חַ֭יִל H2428 Noun - masculine singular for battle לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה H4421 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular You have subdued תַּכְרִ֖יעַ H3766 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular my foes קָמַ֣י H6965 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular beneath me תַּחְתָּֽי׃ H8478 Preposition | first person common singular

Verse 40

Cross-references

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

Original words

You have made נָתַ֣תָּה H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular my enemies וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י H341 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular retreat עֹ֑רֶף H6203 Noun - masculine singular before me לִּ֣י Preposition | first person common singular I destroyed אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃ H6789 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural those who hated me וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י H8130 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular

Verse 41

Cross-references

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

Original words

They cried for help יְשַׁוְּע֥וּ H7768 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural but [there was] no one וְאֵין־ H369 Conjunctive waw | Adverb to save them מוֹשִׁ֑יעַ H3467 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular to עַל־ H5921 Preposition the LORD יְ֝הוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular but He did not וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle answer עָנָֽם׃ H6030 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural

Verse 42

Cross-references

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

Original words

I ground them וְֽאֶשְׁחָקֵ֗ם H7833 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural as dust כְּעָפָ֥ר H6083 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular in עַל־ H5921 Preposition the face of פְּנֵי־ H6440 Noun - masculine plural construct the wind ר֑וּחַ H7307 Noun - common singular I trampled them אֲרִיקֵֽם׃ H7324 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural like mud כְּטִ֖יט H2916 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct in the streets חוּצ֣וֹת H2351 Noun - 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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