Psalms 18:17
in Psalms 18He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from foes too mighty for me.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
KJV
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
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This verse in Psalms 18
Commentary
11 notes on this verseWhen we have been rescued, we must take care to ascribe all the glory to God by confessing our own weakness, and remembering the power of the conquered enemy. God's power derives honour from all the incidents of the conflict. Our great spiritual adversary is a "strong enemy" indeed, much too strong for poor, weak creatures like ourselves, but we have been delivered hitherto and shall be even to the end. Our weakness is a reason for divine help; mark the force of the "for" in the text.
This site's exposition
He reached down from on high
on Psalms 18:16-19
The storm turns into the rescue of one man. God reached down from on high and drew him out of deep waters, away from an enemy too mighty for him. He rescued him because He delighted in him.
This site's exposition
from foes too mighty for me
Two readings name the enemy. Albert Barnes thought the psalmist had Saul chiefly in mind, while Adam Clarke asked whether the giant Ishbi-benob of 2 Samuel 21 was meant. Barnes added that David, mighty as he was in battle, credited God with his rescue from foes too strong for him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"He has delivered Me from My strongest enemies" [Psalm 18:17]. He has delivered Me from Mine enemies, who prevailed to the afflicting and overturning of this temporal life of Mine. "And from them which hate Me; for they are too strong for Me:" as long as I am under them knowing not God.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"He rescued me." Here he proves how the tribulations are many. And first from the condition of the enemies. Second, from their persecution, at "because they were strengthened." The condition of the enemies is very harmful, because they are powerful and hating; hence, "he rescued …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He delivered me from my strong enemy,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
from above--As seated on a throne, directing these terrible scenes, God-- sent--His hand (Ps 144:7), reached down to His humble worshipper, and delivered him. many waters--calamities (Job 30:14;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
In most poetical language the Psalmist now describes his experience of Jehovah's delivering power. Poesy has in all her treasures no gem more lustrous than the sonnet of the following verses; the sorrow, the cry, the descent of the Divine One, and the rescue of the afflicted, are here set to a music worthy of the golden harps. The Messiah our Saviour is evidently, over and beyond David or any other believer, the main and chief subject of this song; and while studying it we have grown more and more sure that every line here has its deepest and profoundest fulfilment in Him; but as we are desirous not to extend our comment beyond moderate bounds, we must leave it with the devout reader to make the very easy application of the passage to our once distressed but now triumphant Lord.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
In most poetical language the Psalmist now describes his experience of Jehovah's delivering power. Poesy has in all her treasures no gem more lustrous than the sonnet of the following verses; the sorrow, the cry, the descent of the Divine One, and the rescue of the afflicted, are here set to a music worthy of the golden harps.
He delivered me from my strong enemy - Does not this refer to his conflict with Ishbi-benob? “And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant - thought to have slain David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel;” 2Sa 21:16, 2Sa 21:17. It appears that at this time he was in the most imminent danger of his life, and that he must have fallen by the hands of the giant, if God had not sent Abishai to his assistance. They were too strong for me. He was nearly overpowered by the Philistines; and his escape was such as evidently to show it to be supernatural.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
He delivered me from my strong enemy - The enemy that had more power than I had, and that was likely to overcome me. It is probable that the allusion here in the mind of the psalmist would be particularly to Saul. And from them which hated me - From all who hated and persecuted me, in the time of Saul, and ever onward during my life. For they were too strong for me - I had no power to resist them, and when I was about to sink under their opposition and malice, God interposed and rescued me. David, valiant and bold as he was as a warrior, was not ashamed, in the review of his life, to admit that he owed his preservation not to his own courage and skill in war, but to God; that his enemies were superior to himself in power; and that if God had not interposed he would have been crushed and destroyed. No man dishonors himself by acknowledging that he owes his success in the world to the divine interposition.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יַצִּילֵ֗נִי | yatzileni | he rescued me | H5337 → | 212 times |
| מֵאֹיְבִ֥י | meoyevi | from enemy my | H341 → | 282 times |
| עָ֑ז | ʾaz | strong | H5794 → | |
| וּ֝מִשֹּׂנְאַ֗י | umisoneai | and from [those who] hate me | H8130 → | 146 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אָמְצ֥וּ | ʾametzu | they were [too] strong | H553 → | 41 times |
| מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ | mimeni | for me | H4480 → | 1188 times |
יַצִּילֵ֗נִיhe rescued me
yatzileniH5337 →212 times
מֵאֹיְבִ֥יfrom enemy my
meoyeviH341 →282 times
עָ֑זstrong
ʾazH5794 →
וּ֝מִשֹּׂנְאַ֗יand from [those who] hate me
umisoneaiH8130 →146 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
אָמְצ֥וּthey were [too] strong
ʾametzuH553 →41 times
מִמֶּֽנִּי׃for me
mimeniH4480 →1188 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Job 16:9His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.
it leads to
- Psalms 35:16
Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.
- Lamentations 2:16
All your enemies open their mouths against you. They hiss and gnash their teeth, saying, “We have swallowed her up. This is the day for which we have waited. We have lived to see…
- Job 13:24
Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
- Psalms 35:16
Through
Psalms 142:6Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.
it leads to
- Psalms 79:8
Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.
- Psalms 79:8
Through
Psalms 35:10All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?”
it leads to
- Psalms 109:31
For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from the condemners of his soul.
- Exodus 15:11
Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
- Psalms 140:12
I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.
- Psalms 86:8
O Lord, there is none like You among the gods, nor any works like Yours.
- Psalms 109:31
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 18; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.