Psalm 143 3

Psalm 143:3 kjv

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Psalm 143:3 nkjv

For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead.

Psalm 143:3 niv

The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.

Psalm 143:3 esv

For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.

Psalm 143:3 nlt

My enemy has chased me.
He has knocked me to the ground
and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.

Psalm 143 verses

Psalm 143 3 Meaning

Psalm 143:3 vividly portrays the psalmist's profound suffering and desolation caused by an oppressive enemy. It describes a relentless assault that has crushed his very existence, forcing him into a state of profound darkness, despair, and isolation, likened to the condition of those long departed from life. This verse serves as the dire complaint justifying the urgent plea for God's swift intervention.

Psalm 143 3 Context

Psalm 143 is one of David's laments, believed to be composed during a period of intense persecution and despair. It is a heartfelt prayer to God, crying out for deliverance from oppressive enemies and expressing deep spiritual and emotional distress. The psalm opens with an urgent plea for God to hear his prayer and respond swiftly. The preceding verses (143:1-2) establish the psalmist's humility and reliance on God's righteousness alone, recognizing his own sinfulness before a just God. Verse 3 then immediately explains why this plea is so urgent and profound, laying bare the extent of the suffering caused by the enemy, thus setting the stage for the desperate requests that follow in the rest of the psalm for God's guidance, quickening, and deliverance.

Psalm 143 3 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This conjunction indicates the reason or explanation for the urgent plea previously stated. It introduces the justification for the psalmist's lament.

• the enemy (אוֹיֵב, ʾoyev): This term denotes an adversary or foe, highlighting hostility and opposition. In the biblical context, an "enemy" can refer to human oppressors (like King Saul or Absalom in David's life) or spiritual adversaries (forces of evil). The definite article "the" emphasizes a specific, active source of suffering.

• has pursued (רָדַף, radaf): To chase, to follow, to persecute relentlessly. This verb implies an aggressive, continuous, and determined harassment, suggesting that the psalmist finds no respite or escape from this relentless assault.

• my soul (נַפְשִׁי, nafshi): Refers to the whole being, including life, spirit, breath, and personhood. The enemy's pursuit is not superficial; it targets the very core of the psalmist's existence, encompassing his vitality and innermost self. This suggests an existential threat rather than merely physical harm.

• he has crushed (דִּכָּא, dikka): This powerful verb means to pulverize, to oppress, to break into pieces, or to tread down. It conveys utter defeat, severe degradation, and extreme violence. The act implies a deliberate, devastating impact.

• my life (חַיָּתִי, chayyāti): Similar to nafshi, but often emphasizes the living existence or physical vitality. The crushing impacts the psalmist’s ability to live normally or maintain his strength.

• to the ground (לָאָרֶץ, laʾarets): This signifies extreme humiliation, prostration, and complete subjugation. It depicts being utterly defeated, stripped of dignity and power, lying helpless and disgraced on the ground. It can also evoke a sense of death, returning to the dust from which humanity came.

• he has made me dwell (הוֹשִׁיבַנִי, hoshivani): This implies causing one to settle, reside, or be established in a place. It suggests a forced, inescapable state, as if the enemy has permanently placed the psalmist in a desolate condition.

• in dark places (בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּים, bəmaḥashaḵîm): Literally "in darknesses" or "in gloomy places." This is a potent symbol of despair, hopelessness, isolation, and absence of life. It points to conditions associated with the grave, prison, or severe spiritual and emotional anguish. It signifies a profound lack of light, truth, or joy.

• like those who have long been dead (כְּמֵתֵי עוֹלָם, kəmetei ʿolam): Literally "like the dead of eternity" or "the dead of old/ages." This expresses the deepest possible state of spiritual, emotional, and possibly physical prostration. It implies being cut off from life, remembrance, and the world of the living, feeling as if already in the realm of the long-forgotten dead. It is a metaphor for a living death, devoid of hope or future.

Psalm 143 3 Bonus section

• The tri-fold expression of suffering in this verse – pursuit of the soul, crushing to the ground, and dwelling in darkness like the long dead – builds in intensity, showing a progressively worsening state of desperation and despair.
• While David's enemies could be human kings or rebellious sons, the language also allows for a broader spiritual interpretation of the "enemy," encompassing forces of evil that seek to destroy a believer's faith, hope, and connection with God. This makes the lament highly relatable for believers facing various forms of adversity.
• The phrase "dark places" or "places of darkness" (בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּים) is also found in contexts related to the netherworld or the grave (e.g., Ps 88:6), underscoring the death-like experience of the psalmist. His cry from such a state anticipates God as the only one who can bring him out of that spiritual abyss.

Psalm 143 3 Commentary

Psalm 143:3 encapsulates the profound despair and utter devastation experienced by the psalmist. It serves as a comprehensive account of his affliction, highlighting three dimensions of the enemy's oppressive work. First, the "enemy has pursued my soul" speaks to a relentless, personal attack on the psalmist's innermost being, his very life force. This pursuit is not fleeting but a persistent harassment that leaves no room for escape. Second, "he has crushed my life to the ground" graphically illustrates the severe humiliation and physical or existential degradation. It's an image of being utterly vanquished and prostrate, stripped of dignity and strength. This portrays not merely an attack but an act of total subjugation and debasement. Finally, "he has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead" conveys the psychological and spiritual outcome: profound isolation, hopelessness, and a living death. The "dark places" symbolize not just physical gloom but despair, the absence of divine light, and the spiritual void akin to the grave. Being "like those who have long been dead" speaks to a state of being forgotten, cut off from life's vitality and purpose, existing in a realm of deep stillness and decay. The verse articulates a total overwhelming, establishing the dire necessity for immediate divine intervention, reflecting a universal human cry in the face of absolute spiritual and emotional ruin.