Psalm 18 33

Psalm 18:33 kjv

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

Psalm 18:33 nkjv

He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places.

Psalm 18:33 niv

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.

Psalm 18:33 esv

He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.

Psalm 18:33 nlt

He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.

Psalm 18 verses

Psalm 18 33 Meaning

Psalm 18:33 is a powerful declaration of God's divine enablement and protection. It conveys that God supernaturally equips David, and by extension, believers, with extraordinary agility, stability, and resilience to navigate life's most challenging and treacherous terrains, likened to a deer's ability to ascend rugged mountains with surefooted grace. Furthermore, it affirms God's commitment to placing His people in positions of security, victory, and advantage, symbolized by "high places," which represent safe strongholds or places of triumph over adversaries and circumstances. This verse underscores that strength, ability, and ultimate victory come not from human effort alone but directly from God's empowering hand.

Psalm 18 33 Context

Psalm 18 is a monumental psalm of thanksgiving by David, paralleled in 2 Samuel 22. It is described as a song "to the Lord on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul." This psalm is thus deeply rooted in David's historical experiences of warfare, persecution by King Saul, and the numerous battles he fought as Israel's king.

The specific context of verse 33 falls within a section (verses 29-36) where David attributes his military prowess, swiftness, and success in overcoming obstacles and enemies entirely to God's enablement. He recounts God's active involvement in arming him, making his way perfect, granting him sure footing, training him for battle, and widening his steps. Verse 33, therefore, speaks to the specific ways God equipped David for physically demanding warfare and dangerous pursuits across challenging terrains, making him capable beyond natural ability to achieve victory and establish his dominion from strategic elevated positions. This is not just physical ability, but a divine empowerment that leads to spiritual triumph and security.

Psalm 18 33 Word analysis

• He makes (יעשה - ya'aseh): The Hebrew verb emphasizes God's direct, active, and intentional work. It's not a passive blessing or a natural outcome; it is a powerful act of creation or transformation by the divine. It highlights God's sovereignty and His immediate involvement in David's capabilities.
• my feet (רגלי - raglay): "Feet" signify one's path, movement, stability, progress, and life's journey. For a warrior, swift and sure feet were crucial for pursuing enemies or escaping danger in varied terrain. Metaphorically, it refers to one's entire being and the ability to navigate the circumstances of life with firmness and confidence.
• like hinds' feet (כאילות - ka'ayyālōt): "Hinds" (איילות - ayyālōt, plural of female deer or gazelle) are renowned in the ancient Near East for their exceptional agility, swiftness, and ability to traverse treacherous, rocky, and high mountain terrains with remarkable surefootedness without stumbling. The simile conveys not merely speed, but especially stability and ease on difficult ground. This contrasts with clumsy, slow movement and highlights supernatural grace and steadiness provided by God.
• and sets (ויעמידני - vayya'amiydeiniy): The verb means "to make stand," "to establish," "to appoint." It signifies a deliberate and firm placement by God, guaranteeing stability and security in the position achieved.
• me upon (על - ʿal): Implies being lifted up onto or placed securely on top of something.
• my high places (במותי - bamotai): The plural noun "high places" (bamoth), in this context, refers to secure fortresses, elevated strongholds (like mountain peaks), places of strategic advantage, or symbolic positions of triumph, security, and victory over enemies. These are places that are naturally difficult to reach, signifying the extraordinary achievement enabled by God. This contrasts sharply with the "high places" often associated with pagan worship (condemned throughout the Old Testament), which are false sources of security. David's "high places" are Yahweh-given positions of power and protection.

Psalm 18 33 Bonus section

• The direct parallelism of this verse in Habakkuk 3:19 underscores its enduring theological significance, showing it as a foundational truth not just for David but for any individual walking by faith. Habakkuk applies it personally in a time of national distress, illustrating that this divine enablement and secure footing is available in any challenging era.
• The "high places" as secured vantage points have strong ancient military significance, as control of elevated positions provided a significant advantage in warfare. This detail highlights God as the supreme strategist for His people.
• The contrast between human limitations and divine empowerment is key here. David could not achieve such surefootedness or attain such high places on his own. It emphasizes reliance on God for capabilities beyond natural human limits. This encourages believers to trust God for grace in areas of perceived weakness or inability.
• The certainty of the verbs ("He makes," "He sets") denotes God's unfailing action and promise. This is a confident declaration of God's character and consistent method of working with His people, establishing them firmly and victoriously.

Psalm 18 33 Commentary

Psalm 18:33 profoundly illustrates the multifaceted ways God empowers and protects His chosen ones. David, facing numerous formidable adversaries and perilous landscapes in his journey from shepherd to king and warrior, knew well the need for extraordinary capabilities. This verse attests that his success was not due to his inherent physical prowess, but to God supernaturally transforming his ordinary abilities into exceptional ones. The metaphor of "hinds' feet" signifies divine impartation of agility and surefootedness that allows one to overcome obstacles and traverse difficult, perilous terrains with confidence, never stumbling or slipping. It speaks to navigating the "rocky roads" of life's trials with a supernatural stability and grace.

Moreover, God does not merely equip David for the journey; He also guides him to and firmly establishes him "upon his high places." These are places of strategic advantage, security, and triumph, elevated above his enemies and troubles. It is God who provides safe refuge and elevates David to positions of power and honor that could not be achieved by human strength alone. This serves as a powerful spiritual principle: God's enablement leads to ultimate security and victory in our lives. For believers, this translates into being able to stand firm in faith amidst spiritual warfare, maintain stability during trials, and ultimately share in Christ's victorious position (Eph 2:6), empowered by Him for His purposes. This divine transformation empowers us to confidently step forward, knowing God has already secured our triumph in Him.