Focused Passage

Psalms 18:4-6

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

4 The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.

5 The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 4

Cross-references

Jonah 2:2 Classic cross-references Psalms 116:3 Classic cross-references Psalms 142:2 Classic cross-references Psalms 93:3 Classic cross-references Isaiah 17:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

The cords חֶבְלֵי־ H2256 Noun - masculine plural construct of death מָ֑וֶת H4194 Noun - masculine singular encompassed me אֲפָפ֥וּנִי H661 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular the torrents וְֽנַחֲלֵ֖י H5158 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct of chaos בְלִיַּ֣עַל H1100 Noun - masculine singular overwhelmed me יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃ H1204 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

Psalms 32:7 Classic cross-references Mark 14:32 Classic cross-references Proverbs 13:14 Classic cross-references Psalms 86:13 Classic cross-references Acts 2:24 Classic cross-references

Original words

The cords חֶבְלֵ֣י H2256 Noun - masculine plural construct of Sheol שְׁא֣וֹל H7585 Noun - common singular entangled me סְבָב֑וּנִי H5437 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular the snares מ֣וֹקְשֵׁי H4170 Noun - masculine plural construct of death מָֽוֶת׃ H4194 Noun - masculine singular confronted me קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי H6923 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

Psalms 34:4 Classic cross-references Psalms 50:15 Classic cross-references Psalms 120:1 Classic cross-references Psalms 118:5 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 22:7 Classic cross-references

Original words

In my distress בַּצַּר־ H6862 Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - masculine singular I called אֶֽקְרָ֣א H7121 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular upon לִ֤י׀ Preposition | first person common singular the LORD יְהוָה֮ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular I cried to וְאֶל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition my God אֱלֹהַ֪י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular for help אֲשַׁ֫וֵּ֥עַ H7768 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular From His temple מֵהֵיכָל֣וֹ H1964 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular He heard יִשְׁמַ֣ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular my voice קוֹלִ֑י H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular and my cry for His help וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗י H7775 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular . . . לְפָנָ֤יו׀ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular reached תָּב֬וֹא H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular His ears בְאָזְנָֽיו׃ H241 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singular

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