Psalm 17 11

Psalm 17:11 kjv

They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

Psalm 17:11 nkjv

They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,

Psalm 17:11 niv

They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.

Psalm 17:11 esv

They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.

Psalm 17:11 nlt

They track me down and surround me,
watching for the chance to throw me to the ground.

Psalm 17 verses

Psalm 17 11 Meaning

Psalm 17:11 vividly portrays the dire situation of the Psalmist, who is a righteous individual being relentlessly pursued by his enemies. The verse highlights their immediate and focused intent to destroy him. It describes adversaries who have meticulously tracked his every movement, have him completely surrounded, and fix their eyes with intense concentration and malicious purpose, ready to strike him down to the ground. This paints a picture of extreme vulnerability and the precision of the enemy's attack, aimed at utter defeat and humiliation.

Psalm 17 11 Context

Psalm 17 is a prayer of David, a "Michtam" or a golden psalm, characterized by its fervent petition for divine intervention against slanderous and murderous enemies. In this psalm, David appeals to God's justice, asserting his own integrity and blameless conduct before God (not sinless perfection, but genuine faithfulness). He contrasts his uprightness with the malevolent intent of his adversaries, whom he describes in predatory terms. Verse 11, specifically, is part of a section (verses 9-12) where David details the extreme danger he faces from his enemies. They are likened to lions lying in wait, indicating their ferocity, patience, and lethal aim. Historically, this psalm could relate to David's periods of intense persecution by Saul, who relentlessly hunted him, or perhaps later by Absalom during his rebellion, situations where David’s life was constantly in peril and he faced cunning and determined adversaries. The verse underscores the psalmist’s desperate plea for divine protection against foes who are not merely hostile but precisely and actively seek his ruin.

Psalm 17 11 Word analysis

• כָּעַת (ka'at): "Now" or "At this time." This term emphasizes the immediate and present nature of the threat. The danger is not a past memory or a future possibility, but a pressing, current reality that demands urgent divine attention and intervention. It highlights the Psalmist's acute awareness of the precariousness of his situation.
• צְעָדֵינוּ (tse'adeinu): "Our steps" or "my footsteps." Derived from צָעַד (tsa'ad), "to step, march." While grammatically plural ("our steps"), in the context of David's personal prayer, it likely refers to the precise movements and path of the Psalmist himself (often a majestic plural or representing his company). This word underscores that the enemies are meticulously tracking and observing every action and movement David makes, leaving no part of his life unobserved by them.
• סָבָבוּ (savavu): "They have surrounded" or "encompassed." From the verb סָבַב (savav), "to turn around, go about, surround." The perfect tense indicates a completed action, meaning the Psalmist is already in a state of being completely encircled. This denotes a feeling of being trapped with no escape route, highlighting the profound vulnerability and pervasive threat from his adversaries.
• עֵינֵיהֶם (eineyhem): "Their eyes." From עַיִן (ayin), "eye," with the possessive suffix for "their." The focus on the enemies' eyes signifies their intense watchfulness and deliberate observation. Their gaze is not casual but fixed, suggesting malicious scrutiny and calculating intent as they meticulously assess the Psalmist for any weakness or opportunity to strike.
• יָּשִׁיתוּ (yashitu): "They set" or "they fix." From the verb שִׁית (shit), "to put, place, set." This word emphasizes the deliberate and intentional nature of their focus. They are not merely glancing but purposely fixing their gaze, indicating a planned and determined act rather than a random hostile encounter.
• לִנְטוֹת (linṭōt): "To turn aside," "to incline," "to bend low," or significantly, "to throw down." This is the infinitive construct of the verb נָטָה (natah). This verb carries a range of meanings from a literal bending/inclining (suggesting they are bending their eyes low to watch his feet for a trip, or bending low to ambush him) to a more aggressive intent to make someone fall or throw them down. In the context of the enemies' stated intent to destroy and devour (Psa 17:9, 12), the interpretation of "to throw down" or "to cause to fall" aligns most strongly with the predatory and violent nature of the adversaries. It points to a direct intention to bring about his complete collapse or death.
• בָּאָרֶץ (ba'aretz): "To the ground" or "on the earth." From אֶרֶץ (eretz), "land, earth, ground," with the preposition בְּ (be-) "in, on, to." This phrase denotes the ultimate goal of the enemies' malicious intent: to bring the Psalmist down to the lowest state, symbolizing utter defeat, humiliation, and even death. It speaks to the desire for complete annihilation or incapacitation of the psalmist.

Psalm 17 11 Bonus section

The imagery in Psalm 17:11 aligns with the broader biblical theme of a righteous person being a hunted target, reminiscent of Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden where their "steps" away from God led to vulnerability, and foreshadowing Christ's earthly journey where he was constantly "tracked" and "surrounded" by those seeking to destroy Him (Luke 20:20; John 8:59). The "setting of eyes" implies an almost ritualistic dedication to destruction, akin to the Devil described in 1 Pet 5:8, always watching for an opportunity to devour. This intense focus signifies a deep-seated enmity against what is good and righteous, seeing the very existence or progress of God's servant as a challenge to be overcome, even to the point of complete suppression "to the ground." The Hebrew wording conveys a sense of hostile vigilance, suggesting the enemies leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of the Psalmist's downfall, an experience common to believers walking in faith who face opposition from the world and spiritual wickedness.

Psalm 17 11 Commentary

Psalm 17:11 lays bare the desperate plight of the righteous one facing relentless and malicious opposition. It is a powerful depiction of spiritual warfare, even if primarily literal in context, resonating with anyone who feels targeted by forces set on their ruin. The enemies described here are portrayed as shrewd, patient, and utterly focused, having every movement of the Psalmist under their watchful, destructive gaze. Their objective is not just to inconvenience but to bring complete downfall and ruin. This verse highlights the profound vulnerability of humanity before malevolent forces, yet implicitly points to the need for divine protection, which the Psalmist fervently seeks throughout Psalm 17. It underscores that spiritual battles often involve precise, strategic, and often unseen attempts to trip up or utterly dismantle the follower of God.