Psalm 17 13

Psalm 17:13 kjv

Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

Psalm 17:13 nkjv

Arise, O LORD, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,

Psalm 17:13 niv

Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.

Psalm 17:13 esv

Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

Psalm 17:13 nlt

Arise, O LORD!
Stand against them, and bring them to their knees!
Rescue me from the wicked with your sword!

Psalm 17 verses

Psalm 17 13 Meaning

Psalm 17:13 is an urgent and impassioned prayer from David, pleading for God to intervene decisively against his adversaries. He asks the Lord to rise up, actively confront, and completely defeat his enemies. Furthermore, he seeks personal rescue, specifically requesting that God's powerful judgment—symbolized by "Your sword"—be the means by which his very life is delivered from the malicious and unrighteous.

Psalm 17 13 Context

Psalm 17 is a heartfelt prayer of David seeking deliverance from his wicked enemies. Throughout the psalm, David affirms his own integrity and righteousness before God (Ps 17:1-5), emphasizing that his heart has been tested and found steadfast. He contrasts his blameless conduct with the deceitful, violent, and arrogant nature of his adversaries, who are described as cruel and motivated by worldly desires (Ps 17:9-12, 14). This verse (Ps 17:13) intensifies David's appeal, transitioning from a general plea for protection to an explicit request for God to actively and powerfully defeat those who seek his life. It reflects a time of extreme persecution where David saw himself entirely reliant on divine intervention, possibly during his flight from King Saul or during Absalom's rebellion, periods characterized by grave threats to his existence and throne.

Psalm 17 13 Word analysis

• Arise (קוּמָה - qumah): This is an imperative verb, functioning as an urgent plea for God to take a standing, active, and decisive stance. It implies a rousing from inaction, a call for immediate and visible intervention, signifying God's readiness to execute His purpose.

• O LORD (יהוה - YHWH): The personal covenant name of God, indicating David's appeal to God's relational commitment, sovereignty, and unique power as the one true God who keeps His promises and acts righteously.

• Confront him (קַדְּמֵהוּ - qadd'mehu): From the root qadam, meaning to go before, meet face to face, attack, or preempt. Here, it denotes an aggressive engagement, challenging the enemy directly, stepping forward to actively oppose and halt their advance or evil designs. It suggests a pre-emptive strike against the enemy's plans.

• cast him down (הַכְרִיעֵהוּ - hakhri'ehu): From the root kara, meaning to bend the knee, bow, subdue, or bring low. This word vividly portrays the complete defeat and humiliation of the enemy, making them powerless and subservient. It is a plea for God to utterly vanquish and lay low the adversary.

• Deliver my soul (פַּלְּטָה נַפְשִׁי - pal'tah nafshi):

  • Pal'tah: To escape, rescue, save from danger, cause to flee to safety. It's a prayer for personal salvation from peril.
  • Nafshi: My soul, my life, my very being. David is pleading for the preservation of his existence, his vital breath, and his entire person from the destructive intentions of his foes.

• from the wicked (מֵרָשָׁע - me-rasha): Refers to those who are unrighteous, malicious, morally corrupt, and hostile to God and His chosen ones. David identifies his adversaries not merely as personal enemies, but as fundamentally wicked individuals whose actions stem from a rejection of divine standards.

• by Your sword (חַרְבְּךָ - charb'cha):

  • Charb: Sword.
  • Cha: Your (suffix).The "sword" here is a powerful metaphor for God's divine power, irresistible judgment, and decisive means of justice. It signifies a definitive, piercing, and authoritative intervention that subdues and destroys evil. This is God's instrument, distinct from human weapons, highlighting that deliverance comes solely from His omnipotent power and not David's own strength or ingenuity.

• "Arise, O LORD, confront him, cast him down!": This urgent tri-partite appeal emphasizes David's desperate plea for active, powerful, and definitive divine intervention. It signifies a call for God to move from a state of perceived quiescence to dynamic, overwhelming action against the oppressor. It represents God as a warrior King who defends His own.

• "Deliver my soul from the wicked by Your sword.": This phrase focuses the purpose of God's action: personal rescue from specific evil. The emphasis on "Your sword" highlights that this is a divine, rather than human, retribution and deliverance. It distinguishes between David taking up arms for revenge and trusting God to wield His supreme power in righteous judgment.

Psalm 17 13 Bonus section

• The singular "him" (confront him, cast him down) often refers collectively to the "wicked" as a single entity or as the representative of all adversaries described earlier in the psalm (Ps 17:9-12), symbolizing the unified force of opposition against the righteous.
• This verse embodies a deep theological understanding: God's justice is not passive but active, a characteristic that permeates both Old and New Testaments. While we are called to love our enemies, we are also permitted to pray for God's justice upon those who stubbornly persist in wickedness and inflict harm, recognizing that vengeance ultimately belongs to Him.
• The contrast between the human pursuit of fleeting earthly pleasures by the wicked (alluded to in Ps 17:14) and David's confidence in ultimate deliverance by God's spiritual "sword" underscores the fundamental spiritual battle at play.

Psalm 17 13 Commentary

Psalm 17:13 distills David's reliance on God for justice and deliverance into a fervent cry for action. He knows that his enemies are beyond his personal power to overcome fully and righteously. By imploring God to "Arise, confront him, cast him down," David demonstrates profound faith that the Lord is not merely a distant observer but an active, just, and omnipotent Protector who will ultimately engage with and overcome evil on behalf of His people. The "sword" of the Lord is not a literal weapon but a potent symbol of His sovereign authority, His irresistible power in executing judgment, and His definitive means of deliverance. This imagery reassures the righteous that God is fully capable of avenging their wrongs and rescuing them from harm. It shifts the burden of conflict from human hands, prone to weakness or unrighteousness, to the perfect justice and power of the Creator.

• When overwhelmed by seemingly insurmountable injustices or opposition, call upon God to intervene powerfully and decisively.
• Instead of seeking personal vengeance, entrust the situation to God's ultimate authority and righteous judgment.
• Remember that God possesses the ultimate "sword" – His truth, justice, and power – which will eventually cut through and defeat all evil.