Psalm 31 13

Psalm 31:13 kjv

For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

Psalm 31:13 nkjv

For I hear the slander of many; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me, They scheme to take away my life.

Psalm 31:13 niv

For I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side!" They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

Psalm 31:13 esv

For I hear the whispering of many ? terror on every side! ? as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.

Psalm 31:13 nlt

I have heard the many rumors about me,
and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
plotting to take my life.

Psalm 31 verses

Psalm 31 13 Meaning

Psalm 31:13 expresses the psalmist's profound anguish and peril, describing how he is overwhelmed by pervasive slander from a multitude, experiencing an inescapable terror as adversaries conspire against him, devising with malicious intent to end his life. It conveys a deep sense of being surrounded, threatened, and hunted by a determined and widespread opposition.

Psalm 31 13 Context

Psalm 31 is a lament where David pours out his heart to God in a time of extreme distress and danger. Following verses (9-12) where he describes his physical affliction, emotional weariness, social ostracization, and shame, verse 13 deepens the sense of his peril by explicitly detailing the malicious intent of his enemies. He is not merely suffering, but is the specific target of widespread slander and organized conspiracy, a constant threat to his very existence. Historically, this aligns with periods in David's life when he was relentlessly pursued by King Saul or when facing the rebellion of his son Absalom, where plots and public defamation were instruments of warfare. In such times, trust in God was the psalmist's sole refuge, standing in stark contrast to the terror and malice described in this verse.

Psalm 31 13 Word analysis

• For I have heard:
  • Hebrew: ki shamati (כִּי שָׁמַעְתִּי)
  • ki (for, because): Introduces the reason for the psalmist's complaint and plea.
  • shamati (I have heard): Indicates the psalmist's direct and definite awareness, not mere suspicion. It signifies the tangible impact of these verbal attacks.
• the slander:
  • Hebrew: dibbat (דִּבַּת)
  • dibbat (slander, evil report, malicious gossip, defamation): Refers to deliberately harmful and untruthful speech aimed at destroying one's reputation and inciting animosity. It's more than casual talk; it's a campaign.
• of many:
  • Hebrew: rabbim (רַבִּים)
  • rabbim (of many, a multitude): Emphasizes the widespread and pervasive nature of the slander. It's not isolated but coming from numerous sources, amplifying the psalmist's isolation and fear.
• fear was on every side:
  • Hebrew: magor missaviv (מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב)
  • magor (terror, dread, fear): This potent word conveys intense, overwhelming fear or even the "object" of terror itself, often used for a place of dreadful gathering. It speaks to a deep psychological and existential dread.
  • missaviv (from around, on every side, all around): Literally signifies being encompassed, suggesting no escape or respite from the impending threats. This phrase is a prominent motif in Jeremiah (e.g., Jer 20:10), indicating total envelopment by danger.
• while they took counsel together against me:
  • Hebrew: b'hivvasdam yachad 'alai (בְּהִוָּסְדָם יַחַד עָלַי)
  • b'hivvasdam (when they gathered, conspired, consulted, assembled): Denotes a deliberate, planned, and organized action, not an impulsive act. It implies premeditated malice.
  • yachad (together, as one): Highlights the unified and concerted effort of the adversaries, making their threat even more formidable.
  • 'alai (against me): Clearly specifies the direct and singular target of their joint malicious planning.
• they devised:
  • Hebrew: zamu (זָמוּ)
  • zamu (they planned, purposed, contemplated, conspired evil): This verb strongly implies wicked or malicious intent and deliberate contriving of harm. It indicates a mind bent on evil.
• to take away my life:
  • Hebrew: lakachath nafshi (לָקַחַת נַפְשִׁי)
  • lakachath (to take, to seize, to lay hold of): The explicit purpose of their counsel, direct and forceful.
  • nafshi (my soul, my life, my very being): The ultimate object of their malevolence; they aim not merely to hurt, but to extinguish the psalmist's existence.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For I have heard the slander of many": This phrase reveals the psalmist's painful awareness of a widespread public campaign against his character. It indicates that his reputation is under assault, a critical component of social standing in the ancient world, often preceding physical harm.
• "fear was on every side": This expresses the psychological and situational reality of feeling trapped. The danger isn't localized; it permeates his environment, leaving him with no perceived refuge or safety. This is a complete state of siege for the soul.
• "while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life": This moves beyond general fear and slander to reveal a specific, coordinated, and deadly plot. The "counsel" signifies a deliberate assembly and unified malicious purpose, not just casual talk. Their ultimate goal is clear: the psalmist's demise, making the threat supremely existential.

Psalm 31 13 Bonus section

• Anticipation of Deliverance: The severity of the danger depicted in Ps 31:13 intensifies the anticipation of God's deliverance throughout the Psalm. The dark portrayal of human malice sets the stage for God's glory to be revealed as the ultimate rescuer and refuge, emphasizing that only divine intervention can overcome such determined, deadly plots.
• The Slanderer: The emphasis on "slander of many" highlights a recurring motif in the Psalms, where the tongue of the wicked is a primary weapon used against the righteous (e.g., Ps 109). This underscores the destructive power of false witness and malicious speech, which is just as potent as physical assault in the biblical worldview.
• Literary Foreshadowing: This verse, particularly the theme of conspiracy to take away life following slander and fear, stands as a profound foreshadowing of Christ's passion. His ministry was consistently met with widespread slander, a pervasive atmosphere of fear, and explicit counsel taken by religious leaders aiming to plot and execute His death. David's experience thus mirrors the ultimate suffering of the Messiah.

Psalm 31 13 Commentary

Psalm 31:13 vividly paints the dire predicament of the psalmist, who is beleaguered by multiple layers of animosity. The initial blow is "slander of many," a public degradation designed to isolate and delegitimize him. This pervasive calumny breeds an omnipresent "fear on every side," a sense of inescapable dread that paralyzes and surrounds. The Hebrew "Magor-missabib" here encapsulates an acute form of psychological terror compounded by real, tangible danger. What distinguishes this threat as exceptionally grievous is the shift from mere verbal assault and generalized fear to a structured, premeditated conspiracy. "They took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life" exposes the deep, unified malice of his enemies. Their "counsel" implies an organized deliberation, where their combined "devised" plot aims at nothing less than his destruction. This intense portrayal of opposition underscores the psalmist's profound vulnerability and despair, highlighting the ultimate need for divine intervention, as no human defense can withstand such a comprehensive and deadly assault. This passage resonates profoundly with the trials faced by righteous individuals, especially Jesus Christ, who experienced slander, surrounding fear, and coordinated plots leading to the ultimate taking of His life, yet found ultimate vindication through God's power.