Psalm 18 14

Psalm 18:14 kjv

Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

Psalm 18:14 nkjv

He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.

Psalm 18:14 niv

He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them.

Psalm 18:14 esv

And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.

Psalm 18:14 nlt

He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;
great bolts of lightning flashed, and they were confused.

Psalm 18 verses

Psalm 18 14 Meaning

Psalm 18:14 powerfully describes God's direct, overwhelming, and destructive intervention on behalf of His servant, David. It illustrates the LORD as a divine warrior who deploys celestial "weapons"—His arrows and lightning—to utterly disorient, disperse, and bring about the catastrophic defeat of His enemies, causing widespread panic and rout. This verse showcases God's absolute sovereignty over creation, wielding natural phenomena as instruments of His righteous judgment and deliverance.

Psalm 18 14 Context

Psalm 18 is a triumphant psalm of thanksgiving by King David, sung after the LORD delivered him from all his enemies, especially from Saul (2 Samuel 22 records a nearly identical account). Verse 14 is part of a vivid poetic description (a 'theophany') where God dramatically descends from heaven to intervene on David's behalf. This depiction emphasizes God's majesty, power, and active commitment to His covenant with His chosen servant, showing that victory came not from David's might, but from divine rescue amidst an overwhelming battle. The previous verses paint a picture of thick darkness, thunder, and consuming fire as God manifests.

Psalm 18 14 Word analysis

• He shot out (וַיִּשְׁלַח - vayyishlakh): From the Hebrew verb shalach (שָׁלַח), meaning "to send," "to stretch forth," or "to send away." This conveys a deliberate, purposeful action. God is not reacting, but intentionally deploying His power. It implies a swift, targeted release of force.
• His arrows (חִצָּיו - chitssāyw): Plural of chets (חֵץ), meaning "arrow" or "dart." In biblical literature, arrows frequently symbolize divine judgment, swift punishment, or a means of direct combat from God. Here, they are instruments of destruction unleashed from God's heavenly arsenal.
• and scattered them (וַיָּפֶץ - vayyāféts): From the Hebrew verb puts (פוּץ), meaning "to scatter," "to disperse," "to rout," or "to break into pieces." This describes the immediate and chaotic effect of God's arrows: the enemy ranks are broken, disorganized, and fleeing in disarray, signifying a total collapse.
• He sent forth lightning bolts (וּבְרָקִים רָב - uv'rāqiym rav): Uv'rāqiym is the plural of baraq (בָּרָק), meaning "lightning." Rav (רָב) means "many," "abundant," or "much." The imagery of abundant lightning is a potent symbol of divine power, speed, dazzling light, and sudden, overwhelming destruction. Lightning often accompanies theophanies and acts of divine judgment, signifying the terrifying majesty of God. The omission of a specific verb "sent forth" here relies on parallelism; the preceding "He shot out" is implied for lightning as well.
• and routed them (וַיְהֻמֵּם - vayhummem): From the Hebrew verb hamam (הָמַם), meaning "to put in commotion," "to disturb," "to throw into confusion," or "to rout." This term describes the mental and physical chaos inflicted upon the enemies, leading to their complete defeat. It speaks of a terror and disorientation so profound that all organized resistance collapses, much like a military rout.

Words-group Analysis:

• "He shot out His arrows... He sent forth lightning bolts": These two phrases form a perfect poetic parallelism. They emphasize God as the active agent and the source of power, directly wielding cosmic elements as weapons. The military imagery is striking, depicting God as the ultimate divine warrior engaged in battle.
• "and scattered them... and routed them": This second set of parallel phrases highlights the devastating consequence for the enemies. "Scattered" indicates physical dispersion and disarray, while "routed" deepens the sense of utter confusion and panic leading to a complete and disorderly defeat. The combined effect signifies total annihilation of their unified force and will to fight.
• Overall Clause Structure: The verse uses clear action-result clauses (Verb-Noun-Conjunction-Verb-Object). God's action (shooting arrows/sending lightning) immediately leads to the enemies' undoing (scattering/routing), emphasizing the direct and irresistible nature of His power.

Psalm 18 14 Bonus Section

The theophanic language employed throughout Psalm 18 (and specifically in verse 14) connects the experience of God's presence and action with awe-inspiring natural phenomena. This emphasizes His transcendence, His holy and consuming nature, and the fact that His power is utterly distinct and superior to any earthly or pagan deity. The swiftness of lightning and arrows points to the immediate and irresistible execution of God's judgment and deliverance. The fear and confusion ('hamam') inflicted on the enemies are often a signature of divine intervention, leading to self-destruction or utter paralysis in battle, reinforcing that it is a spiritual battle ultimately fought by God. This complete rout suggests that when God intervenes, there is no escape or reorganization for His adversaries.

Psalm 18 14 Commentary

Psalm 18:14 unveils a profound truth about God's active involvement in the struggles of His people. It is not David's skill or strength that brought victory, but the raw, unhindered power of Yahweh. The imagery of "arrows" and "lightning bolts" drawn from a celestial armory portrays God as the supreme Warrior, controlling the very fabric of creation to execute His will. This passage resonates with ancient Near Eastern storm deity motifs but subverts them by affirming Yahweh's sole and absolute authority over these forces. He is not merely a storm god; He commands the storm as an extension of His sovereign purpose. The result for His enemies is absolute chaos and disarray, a psychological and physical rout stemming directly from divine intervention. For believers, this verse offers immense comfort, assuring that God fights for His own with incomparable might, transforming seemingly impossible situations into victorious triumphs by His powerful hand.

• Example 1: When facing spiritual attacks that feel overwhelming, recall God's power to "scatter" and "rout" the forces of darkness.
• Example 2: In personal struggles that feel like battle, trust that God can unleash unforeseen circumstances or create sudden shifts to bring about deliverance.