Psalms 3:1
in Psalms 3O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jehovah, how are mine adversaries increased! Many are they that rise up against me.
KJV
Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
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This verse in Psalms 3
Commentary
14 notes on this verseLord, how are they increased that trouble me?.... David's enemies increased in the conspiracy against him, 2Sa 15:12; the hearts of the men of Israel were after Absalom, and against him. Christ's enemies increased when Judas with a multitude came to take him; when the body of the common people cried out, Crucify him; when the assembly of the wicked enclosed him, and pierced his hands and his feet.
This site's exposition
how my foes have increased
on Psalms 3:1-2
The foes have increased, and the many say of the man who prays that God will not deliver him. Spurgeon read that taunt as the bitterest drop of David's distress, aimed at his hope in God. Selah closes the taunt.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"O Lord, how are they multiplied that trouble me!" [Psalm 3:1]. So multiplied indeed were they, that one even from the number of His disciples was not wanting, who was added to the number of His persecutors.
It is shown in various statements and examples of holy Scripture that God has used domestic disputes, rebellion and multiple disasters in the punishment of sin. The purpose of David was to chastise and to edify life through the psalm, so that no one would …
A commentator
Gregory of NyssaON THE INSCRIPTIONS OF THE PSALMS 2:10.115-16, 121-22 · Written before 395.
proposed
When the great David served as interpreter for the Spirit, he related in his song the things that he had previously learned, and if he was taught something additional while he was speaking, he submitted to the Spirit who was making the hearing of his soul resound and stopped the music, and when he was filled with these thoughts he related these matters, again entwining the words with the melody. One who has comprehended the term in a definition might say, then, that diapsalma is a pause that occurs suddenly in the midst of the singing of a psalm in order to receive an additional thought that is being introduced from God. Or, one might rather define it as follows. diapsalma is a teaching from the Spirit that occurs in a mysterious manner in the soul, when the attention given to this new thought impedes the continuity of the song.… In the third psalm he spoke first about the distress and hardship that occurred when his enemies "rose up against" him. Then he separated that part with the diapsalma and put his trust in the one who was causing that sound of salvation to resound mysteriously in him and said, "But you, Lord, are my protector, my glory, and the lifter up of my head." Again, when he has stopped the music, saying, in accordance with that gracious voice that he has made his own, "I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me from his holy mountain," he is taught what the solution is for the hardship that is common to human ills. And after he has been taught the mystery related to the passion of the Lord in the sudden illumination of the Spirit, he assumes the character of the Lord and says, "I lay down and slept, and I was raised, because the Lord will help me."
This psalm can pertain to David or to Christ, and through him to all the saints.
He who offers no grounds for hate and enmity may have enemies for no reason. Such are all who endure persecution because they live righteously for Jesus Christ. To these the Savior says, "Blessed are you when people revile you and when liars speak evil …
7 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
It is also necessary to indicate the difference between the term diapsalma and the song of the diapsalma, or in short what their meaning is. While diapsalma means a change of tune and alteration of rhythm, then, and not a shift in thought, as some …
The Medieval Church1 voice
The preceding Psalm showed the assault of adversaries; here, against their assault, he implores divine help. And this Psalm is composed in the manner of a prayer. In this Psalm we can lay down the historical foundation, then set forth the allegorical sense, and further …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
David comes to God, and tells him what his enemies said of him, as Hezekiah spread Rabshakeh's blasphemous letter before the Lord. "They say, There is no help for me in thee; but, Lord, if it be so, I am undone. They say to my soul, There is no salvation " (for so the word is) " for him in God; but, Lord, do thou say unto my soul, I am thy salvation ( Ps. xxxv.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
The poor broken-hearted father complains of the multitude of his enemies: and if you turn to 2 Samuel 15:12, you will find it written that "the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom, " while the troops of David constantly diminished! "Lord how are they increased that trouble me!" Here is a note of exclamation to express the wonder of woe which amazed and perplexed the fugitive father. Alas! I see no limit to my misery, for my troubles are enlarged! There was enough at first to sink me very low; but lo! my enemies multiply.
The poor broken-hearted father complains of the multitude of his enemies: and if you turn to 2 Samuel 15:12, you will find it written that "the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom, " while the troops of David constantly diminished! "Lord how are they increased that trouble me!" Here is a note of exclamation to express the wonder of woe which amazed and perplexed the fugitive father. Alas! I see no limit to my misery, for my troubles are enlarged! There was enough at first to sink me very low; but lo! my enemies multiply. When Absalom, my darling, is in rebellion against me, it is enough to break my heart; but lo! Ahithophel hath forsaken me, my faithful counsellors have turned their backs on me; lo! my generals and soldiers have deserted my standard. "How are they increased that trouble me!" Troubles always come in flocks. Sorrow hath a numerous family. "Many are they that rise up against me." Their hosts are far superior to mine! Their numbers are too great for my reckoning! Let us here recall to our memory the innumerable host which beset our Divine Redeemer. The legions of our sins, the armies of fiends, the crowd of bodily pains, the host of spiritual sorrows, and all the allies of death and hell, set themselves in battle against the Son of Man. O how precious to know and believe that he has routed their hosts, and trodden them down in his anger! They who would have troubled us he has removed into captivity, and those who would have risen up against us he has laid low. The dragon lost his sting when he dashed it into the soul of Jesus.
Lord, how are they increased that trouble me? - We are told that the hearts of all Israel went after Absalom, 2Sa 15:13; and David is astonished to find such a sudden and general revolt. Not only the common people, but his counsellors also, and many of his chief captains. How publicly does God take vengeance for the sins which David committed so privately! In the horrible rebellion of Absalom we see the adultery of Bath-sheba, and the murder of Uriah. Now the words of Nathan begin to be fulfilled: “The sword shall not depart from thy house.”
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
:Title A Psalm of David - literally, belonging to David; that is, belonging to him as the author. This is marked in the Hebrew as the first verse, and so in the Syriac version, the Latin Vulgate, and the Septuagint, making in the Hebrew, and in each of these versions, nine verses in the psalm instead of eight, as in our translation. This may have been prefixed to the psalm by the author himself, for it was not uncommon in ancient times for an author to prefix his name to his own composition, as is commonly done by the apostle Paul in his epistles. It is not absolutely certain, however, that this was done in the Psalms by the authors themselves, but it may have been done by him who collected and arranged the Psalms, indicating the prevalent belief in regard to the authorship, and under the Spirit of inspiration. When he fled - On the occasion of his fleeing. That is, it was composed at that time, or was subsequently composed in remembrance of it. See Introduction, Section 2. From Absalom his son - See the introduction, Section 2. 3:1Lord, how are they increased - How are they multiplied; or, how numerous they are. Perhaps the idea is, that at first they seemed to be comparatively few in number, but had now so multiplied as to endanger his crown and life. This is an appropriate expression on the supposition that it refers to Absalom. At first the number of those who adhered to Absalom was not so great as to excite much alarm; but by the arts of a demagogue, by complaining of the government, by saying that if he were made a judge in tim land, every man would have justice done him 2Sa 15:4-5, he won the hearts of the people, and gathered so many under his standard as to make it necessary that the king should flee from Jerusalem to a place of safety. That trouble me - literally, my enemies. […]
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
A song of David, when he fled The Aggadists expounded many homilies on this matter. Our Sages said (Ber.
3 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
A psalm of David, when he fled from the presence of Absalom his son.
Great men rise up against me Men great in Torah, great in wisdom, great in wealth, tall in stature, such as Saul; the children of Raphah; Doeg, and Ahitophel.
Lord, how many are my oppressors, many who arise against me!
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 1 further source is cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יְ֭הוָה | yahweh | O Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| מָֽה־ | mah- | how! | H4100 → | 752 times |
| רַבּ֣וּ | rabu | they are many | H7231 → | 21 times |
| צָרָ֑י | tzarai | opponents my | H6862 → | 109 times |
| רַ֝בִּ֗ים | rabim | many [people] | H7227 → | 454 times |
| קָמִ֥ים | kamim | [are] rising up | H6965 → | 628 times |
| עָלָֽי׃ | ʾalai | on me | H5921 → | 5755 times |
יְ֭הוָהO Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
מָֽה־how!
mah-H4100 →752 times
רַבּ֣וּthey are many
rabuH7231 →21 times
צָרָ֑יopponents my
tzaraiH6862 →109 times
רַ֝בִּ֗יםmany [people]
rabimH7227 →454 times
קָמִ֥ים[are] rising up
kamimH6965 →628 times
עָלָֽי׃on me
ʾalaiH5921 →5755 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
Psalms 17:7Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.
it leads to
- Psalms 60:5
Respond and save us with Your right hand, that Your beloved may be delivered.
- Psalms 5:11–12
But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever shout for joy. May You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.
- Psalms 31:21
Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His loving devotion in a city under siege.
- Psalms 20:6
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand.
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Psalms 60:5
Through
Matthew 27:25All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
it leads to
- Joshua 2:19
If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone with…
- Acts 5:28
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”
- Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
- Joshua 2:19
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms

This page draws on 14 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 (1832-1869); Asterius of Cappadocia, HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 3:2; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 3; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Didymus the Blind, FRAGMENTS ON THE PSALMS 3:8; Diodorus of Tarsus, COMMENTARY ON PSALM 3; Gregory of Nyssa, ON THE INSCRIPTIONS OF THE PSALMS 2:10.115-16, 121-22; Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, BRIEF COMMENTARY ON PSALM 3; 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.
