Psalm 18 5

Psalm 18:5 kjv

The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

Psalm 18:5 nkjv

The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.

Psalm 18:5 niv

The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.

Psalm 18:5 esv

the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

Psalm 18:5 nlt

The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.

Psalm 18 verses

Psalm 18 5 Meaning

Psalm 18:5 portrays the psalmist, David, in an ultimate state of existential peril. It describes him as being caught in the inescapable grip of death and the underworld, using vivid imagery of "cords" and "snares." This verse conveys the absolute desperation and feeling of being on the brink of demise, from which only divine intervention could provide rescue. It emphasizes the profound threat to his very life, elevating the stakes of his distress beyond mere physical enemies to the very forces of mortality.

Psalm 18 5 Context

Psalm 18 is a monumental psalm of thanksgiving by David, recorded also in 2 Samuel chapter 22, commemorating God's powerful deliverance from all his enemies, particularly from King Saul. The psalm begins by declaring David's profound love for God as his strength and fortress (Ps 18:1-3). Following this declaration, David vividly recounts the extreme distress and mortal danger he faced (Ps 18:4-5), using metaphorical language to describe death's seemingly inescapable grip. This portrayal of dire straits serves to heighten the magnificence of God's subsequent intervention. The immediate verses describe David's fervent cry to the Lord (Ps 18:6), which then introduces a dramatic depiction of God's theophany, appearing in majestic power to rescue him (Ps 18:7-15). Historically, this refers to the many life-threatening situations David faced throughout his reign and particularly during Saul's relentless pursuit, making his feeling of being on the precipice of death very real and intense.

Psalm 18 5 Word analysis

• The cords: (Hebrew: חֶבְלֵי ḥevlê). This word can mean "cords," "ropes," or "birth pangs/travails." In the context of "Sheol" and "death," "cords" suggests being bound, entangled, or constricted, like a captured animal or someone prepared for burial. The alternative meaning, "pains" or "travails" (often used for birth pangs), would convey intense suffering leading to a critical transition. Both interpretations powerfully communicate extreme distress and inescapable confinement. It highlights an imminent, physical end.
• of Sheol: (Hebrew: שְׁאוֹל šě’ôl). This refers to the grave, the underworld, the realm of the dead in ancient Hebrew thought. It is not necessarily a place of torment, but the inevitable destination for all humanity, where life ceases. Its cords represent the finality and power of death, the ultimate endpoint. David's use of "Sheol" underscores the seriousness of his situation; he felt as though he was already in the clutches of the realm of the departed. This term emphasizes a reality beyond mere human adversaries, a direct confrontation with mortality itself. There is no polemic here, rather a stark declaration of the domain from which Yahweh alone can deliver.
• entangled me; (Hebrew: סְבָבוּנִי sěḇāḇūnî). Means "surrounded me," "encompassed me," or "coiled around me." It depicts a suffocating encirclement, where escape is impossible. The imagery suggests a trap that has sprung shut, leaving no way out.
• the snares: (Hebrew: מוֹקְשֵׁי môqšê). This term refers to "traps," "nets," or "lures" laid for catching birds or animals. It conveys the cunning and suddenness of the threat. David felt ambushed, caught unaware in a deadly trap designed for his demise.
• of death: (Hebrew: מָוֶת māwet). Represents literal physical death. Paired with "snares," it intensifies the idea of an inescapable, lethal trap.
• confronted me: (Hebrew: קִדְּמוּנִי qidměmûnî). Literally means "met me," "came before me," or "assailed me." This indicates an active, aggressive advance. Death and Sheol were not just passive possibilities but active forces that advanced upon him, confronting him directly and overwhelming him.

Words-group analysis:

• "The cords of Sheol entangled me": This phrase paints a picture of being bound and drawn into the abyss of death. It evokes the feeling of a heavy, unavoidable pull into the grave, suggesting suffocation and absolute incapacitation. The psalmist felt overwhelmed by forces that belong to the realm of the dead, beyond human resistance.
• "the snares of death confronted me": This parallel phrase emphasizes the sudden, unavoidable, and active nature of the threat. It suggests a meticulously laid trap, ensuring no escape, not just passively awaiting him, but actively engaging and seizing him. This double imagery reinforces the utter hopelessness of his human predicament, making the subsequent divine deliverance profoundly powerful.

Psalm 18 5 Bonus section

The strong parallel between Psalm 18:5 and 2 Samuel 22:5 reinforces the authenticity and profundity of David's experience and thanksgiving. The imagery of "cords" and "snares" might also be rooted in ancient Near Eastern perceptions of the underworld, where deities or demons might ensnare the dying. However, David’s lament is always directed to Yahweh, seeking His singular intervention, thus refuting any pagan reliance on other spiritual forces for deliverance from death. The choice of terms like "Sheol" is significant because it speaks to the ultimate boundary of human existence, highlighting that Yahweh's power extends even beyond this final frontier, encompassing both life and the afterlife. This theme recurs throughout the Psalms, solidifying God as the one who "redeems my life from the pit" (Pss 103:4).

Psalm 18 5 Commentary

Psalm 18:5 lays the foundation for understanding the magnitude of God's rescue by vividly illustrating David's perceived proximity to death. The metaphorical language of "cords of Sheol" and "snares of death" is not mere poetic flourish; it reflects the deep spiritual and physical anguish David experienced, feeling not merely threatened, but already captured by the forces of mortality. He wasn't just near death, he was within its grip, its dominion. This verse establishes a theological point: God's salvation is not from trivial troubles, but from ultimate dangers. It underscores that only a transcendent power can deliver one from the inescapable confines of death itself. For a believer, it reminds us that while facing severe trials that feel life-ending, God possesses the power to intervene even when the grip of death seems unyielding, transforming despair into a testimony of His magnificent deliverance. This verse foreshadows Christ's victory over death and Hades, demonstrating God's ultimate power over mortality itself.