Psalm 108 13

Psalm 108:13 kjv

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

Psalm 108:13 nkjv

Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.

Psalm 108:13 niv

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

Psalm 108:13 esv

With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

Psalm 108:13 nlt

With God's help we will do mighty things,
for he will trample down our foes.

Psalm 108 verses

Psalm 108 13 Meaning

Psalm 108:13 is a declaration of unwavering confidence in God's power to grant victory and overcome adversaries. It affirms that any strength or valor displayed by His people is directly enabled by Him, and it is God Himself who will decisively defeat their enemies, symbolizing complete triumph and subjugation. It shifts focus from human effort to divine agency as the ultimate source of success in battle.

Psalm 108 13 Context

Psalm 108 is a liturgical psalm, combining verses from two earlier psalms: Psalm 57:7-11 (for Ps 108:1-5) and Psalm 60:5-12 (for Ps 108:6-13). This verse, Psalm 108:13, is a direct quote of Psalm 60:12. Psalm 60, identified in its superscription as a "Miktam of David," laments a military defeat against Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, when Joab returned and struck Edom in the Valley of Salt. It expresses a national plea to God during a time of crisis and apparent divine rejection, concluding with a resolute declaration of trust and confidence in God's eventual restoration and victory, despite the present struggles. Psalm 108 brings these themes of unwavering praise and confident expectation of divine victory together, presenting a unified prayer for success against all adversaries, relying solely on God. It stands as a powerful statement of faith, looking beyond current difficulties to God's assured intervention.

Psalm 108 13 Word analysis

• Through God (בֵּאלֹהִים - be'Elohim):

  • Word: "Through" indicates instrumentality or agency. "God" (Elohim) refers to the mighty Creator and sovereign Ruler.
  • Significance: Emphasizes that human action is empowered and enabled by God. It's not human strength alone, but human strength divinely augmented. This is a direct polemic against reliance on human might, military equipment, or pagan deities.
  • Origin: Preposition be- (in, with, by means of) combined with Elohim.

• we shall do (נַעֲשֶׂה - na'aseh):

  • Word: First person plural, future tense of "to do" or "to make."
  • Significance: Implies collective action and human responsibility. The "doing" is an active response of God's people, but it is rendered effective "through God." This suggests that while God grants victory, His people are not passive; they participate under His empowerment.

• valiantly (חָיִל - chayil):

  • Word: "Valiantly" translates the Hebrew chayil which broadly means "strength," "power," "might," "efficiency," "ability," "wealth," or even "valor." In a military context, it signifies powerful action, effective might, or valor in battle. It can also describe a "mighty army."
  • Significance: It's not just "doing," but doing effectively and courageously—achieving mighty deeds or expressing prowess. This isn't just about winning, but winning decisively and powerfully, a reflection of God's own character of strength.
  • Cross-Ref Implication: The "valiance" is a God-given capacity, echoing the idea of God training hands for war (Psa 144:1).

• for he it is that (כִּי הוּא - ki hu'):

  • Word: "For" (ki) introduces the reason or explanation. "He it is" (hu') is an emphatic pronoun, stressing divine identity.
  • Significance: This directly attributes the subsequent action—treading down enemies—exclusively and emphatically to God. It leaves no room for human boasting in ultimate victory. This structure shifts from human agency empowered by God to God's direct and sovereign action.

• shall tread down (יָבוּס - yavus):

  • Word: Future tense of "to tread" or "to trample."
  • Significance: This is a powerful, visual metaphor for complete subjugation, overwhelming defeat, and utter destruction of an enemy. It evokes images of crushing grapes in a winepress, or an overwhelming army literally trampling over its defeated foes. It speaks of a decisive and irreversible victory where the enemy is utterly crushed and powerless.
  • Contextual Image: In ancient warfare, to "tread down" was to utterly defeat and degrade an enemy, often walking over their fallen bodies or territory.

• our enemies (צָרֵינוּ - tsareinu):

  • Word: Plural of tsar meaning "adversary," "foe," "oppressor." It also has a root meaning of "narrowness" or "distress," implying that these enemies cause affliction and constriction.
  • Significance: These are not just any opponents but specific adversaries causing distress and hardship to God's people. The victory promised is against those who actively oppress them, bringing an end to the "narrowness" they impose.

Words-group analysis

• "Through God we shall do valiantly": This phrase highlights divine enablement and human action. It indicates a partnership where God provides the ultimate power and effectiveness, allowing His people to achieve significant victories and demonstrate strength. It counters the notion of self-reliance, pointing to God as the foundational source of success and courageous action.

• "for he it is that shall tread down our enemies": This clause provides the reason for the first part and asserts God's ultimate sovereignty. It specifies that the actual subjugation and crushing defeat of adversaries are God's direct, exclusive, and emphatic work. While His people "do valiantly," the final, decisive blow that incapacitates the enemies comes directly from God, assuring a complete and comprehensive victory.

Psalm 108 13 Bonus section

Psalm 108 as a composite psalm highlights a significant theological purpose: to combine previous expressions of unwavering praise and specific prayers for military deliverance into a single, comprehensive declaration of faith. By reusing material, the composer of Psalm 108 emphasizes that God's people consistently ground their hope in Him, regardless of circumstance—whether lamenting (Ps 60) or praising (Ps 57). The final confident assertion in verse 13 encapsulates this theology, transforming a plea born of national distress into an anthem of certain victory. This is a theological statement that God is dependable and consistent in granting strength and defeating foes, despite changing situations. The confident declarative nature of the verse ("we shall do," "He shall tread down") speaks to an assured expectation based on God's character and past deeds, not just wishful thinking.

Psalm 108 13 Commentary

Psalm 108:13 is a declaration of ultimate faith, echoing and reaffirming the resolute confidence first voiced in Psalm 60:12. It articulates a fundamental biblical principle: human capability is utterly dependent on divine enablement for true effectiveness, especially in overcoming formidable opposition. The psalmist asserts that while God's people will engage in active, courageous endeavor ("we shall do valiantly"), this valor is not self-generated but flows directly "through God." This acknowledges human agency while simultaneously denying any ultimate self-sufficiency.

The shift in the verse—from "we shall do" to "He it is that shall tread down"—is crucial. It distinguishes between the immediate participation of God's people in the struggle and God's sovereign and decisive action in securing the definitive victory. "Treading down" (yavus) is a potent image of complete and utter subjugation, leaving no doubt about the totality of the enemies' defeat. It portrays a divine triumph so thorough that adversaries are rendered powerless, trampled beneath God's feet.

This verse applies not only to physical warfare but to spiritual and personal battles as well. In the face of spiritual enemies (like sin, temptation, or forces of darkness) or overwhelming life circumstances, believers are called to act with "valor" – which in this context means courageously living out their faith and resisting evil – but to remember that the decisive victory is always God's to achieve. Our part is faithful participation; His part is the conclusive defeat of our adversaries. This confidence is a cornerstone for all who trust in God's power and faithfulness to see them through every conflict.

Example: A believer facing a deep-seated addiction does valiantly by seeking help, setting boundaries, and resisting temptation daily. Yet, the true power to "tread down" and finally break the grip of the addiction ultimately comes from God's transforming grace.