Psalms 18:36
in Psalms 18You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped.
KJV
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
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This verse in Psalms 18
Commentary
12 notes on this verse"You have made room for my steps under me," the steps, namely, by which I cross from iniquity to moral excellence, from things perceived by my senses to those perceived by my mind, from the present to the future age, the steps that from the beginning seemed arduous and narrow to me because I was walking in a crooked way; but having progressed beyond them, I took notice of the widened places.
This site's exposition
Your shield of salvation
on Psalms 18:35-36
Every piece of the equipment here is given. The shield of salvation, the right hand that upholds him, and the gentleness that exalts him all come from God. He broadens the path so the ankles do not give way.
This site's exposition
You broaden the path beneath me
Wide ground replaces the narrow places of distress. Charles Spurgeon traced the change from narrow mountain paths and caves to the open plains. Albert Barnes took the ankles as the small joint most given to sprain, and these feet held firm.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"You have enlarged my steps under me" [Psalm 18:36]. Nor shall the straits of the flesh hinder me; for You have enlarged my love, working in gladness even with these mortal things and members which are under me. "And my footsteps have not been weakened." And either my goings, or the marks which I have imprinted for the imitation of those that follow, have not been weakened.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"And you have given." Here he shows how the aforesaid things given to him are preserved by God outwardly; hence he says, "you girded me with strength," and yet "he protects me; and you have given me the shield of your salvation," that is, you …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
. " Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; but" (whereas those that take large steps are apt to tread awry) "my feet did not slip." He was so swift that he pursued his enemies and overtook them,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
"Thou hast enlarged my steps." A smooth pathway leading to spacious possessions and camping-grounds had been opened up for him. Instead of threading the narrow mountain paths, and hiding in the cracks and corners of caverns, he was able to traverse the plains and dwell under his own vine and fig tree. It is no small mercy to be brought into full Christian liberty and enlargement, but it is a greater favour still to be enabled to walk worthily in such liberty, not being permitted to slip with our feet.
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
"Thou hast enlarged my steps." A smooth pathway leading to spacious possessions and camping-grounds had been opened up for him. Instead of threading the narrow mountain paths, and hiding in the cracks and corners of caverns, he was able to traverse the plains and dwell under his own vine and fig tree. It is no small mercy to be brought into full Christian liberty and enlargement, but it is a greater favour still to be enabled to walk worthily in such liberty, not being permitted to slip with our feet. To stand upon the rocks of affliction is the result of gracious upholding, but that aid is quite as much needed in the luxurious plains of prosperity.
Some repetitions are not vain repetitions. Second thoughts upon God's mercy should be and often are the best. Like wines on the lees our gratitude grows stronger and sweeter as we meditate upon divine goodness. The verses which we have now to consider are the ripe fruit of a thankful spirit; they are apples of gold as to matter, and they are placed in baskets of silver as to their language. They describe the believer's victorious career and his enemies' confusion.
Enlarged my steps - See on Psa 18:19 (note). From the hand of God he had continual prosperity; and while he walked with God no enemy was able to prevail against him. He details his successes in the following verses.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me - The idea here is, “Thou hast made room for my feet, so that I have been enabled to walk without hindrance or obstruction. So in Psa 31:8, “Thou hast set my feet in a large room.” The idea is, that he was before straitened, compressed, hindered in his goings, but that now all obstacles had been taken out of the way, and he could walk freely. That my feet did not slip - Margin, mine ancles. The Hebrew word here rendered in the text feet, and in the margin ancles, means properly a joint; small joint; especially the ancle. The reference here is to the ancle, the joint that is so useful in walking, and that is so liable to be sprained or dislocated. The meaning is that he had been enabled to walk firmly; that he did not limp. Before, he had been like one whose ancles are weak or sprained; now he was able to tread firmly. The divine favor given to him was as if God had given strength to a lame man to walk firmly.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| תַּרְחִ֣יב | tarchiv | you have enlarged | H7337 → | 25 times |
| צַעֲדִ֣י | tzaadi | step[s] my | H6806 → | |
| תַחְתָּ֑י | tachtai | under me | H8478 → | 505 times |
| וְלֹ֥א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| מָ֝עֲד֗וּ | maadu | they have slipped | H4571 → | 7 times |
| קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃ | karsulai | ankles my | H7166 → |
תַּרְחִ֣יבyou have enlarged
tarchivH7337 →25 times
צַעֲדִ֣יstep[s] my
tzaadiH6806 →
תַחְתָּ֑יunder me
tachtaiH8478 →505 times
וְלֹ֥אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
מָ֝עֲד֗וּthey have slipped
maaduH4571 →7 times
קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃ankles my
karsulaiH7166 →
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
Psalms 4:1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 1:10
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,
- Exodus 34:6–7
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,
- Psalms 40:1–3
I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.
- Psalms 18:18–19
They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD was my support.
- Psalms 119:132
Turn to me and show me mercy, as You do to those who love Your name.
- 2 Corinthians 1:10
Through
Proverbs 4:12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:23
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
- Proverbs 3:23
Through
Job 36:16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
it leads to
- Psalms 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
- Psalms 23:5
Through
Job 18:7His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up.
it leads to
- Proverbs 4:12
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 4:12
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; 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; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Eusebius of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 18:37; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.