Psalm 38:12 kjv
They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
Psalm 38:12 nkjv
Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.
Psalm 38:12 niv
Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie.
Psalm 38:12 esv
Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.
Psalm 38:12 nlt
Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me.
Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me.
All day long they plan their treachery.
Psalm 38 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 9:15 | The nations have sunk... their own foot has been caught in the net that they hid. | Wicked caught in their own hidden snares. |
| Psa 35:4 | Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! | Foes seeking the psalmist's very existence. |
| Psa 35:7-8 | For without cause they hid their net for me... Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it. | Malicious, unjustified traps leading to self-destruction for the wicked. |
| Psa 64:5 | They encourage themselves in an evil plot; they talk of laying snares secretly. | Secret, intentional plotting of harm. |
| Psa 70:2 | Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! | A prayer for the enemies pursuing life to be disgraced. |
| Psa 140:5 | The arrogant have hidden a trap for me; they have spread cords as a net. | Concealed and carefully prepared traps of the wicked. |
| Psa 141:9 | Keep me from the snares that they have laid for me, from the traps of evildoers! | A plea for divine protection from ensnaring traps. |
| Prov 1:17-19 | Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. | Wickedness designed to entrap others ultimately entraps the wicked. |
| Jer 11:21 | Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life... | Seeking a prophet's life for delivering God's words. |
| Jer 18:22 | Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring plunder upon them suddenly; for they have dug a pit to catch me. | Conspiracies and digging pitfalls against a prophet. |
| Jer 38:4 | Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to be put to death, because he is weakening the hands...” | False accusations leading to seeking another's death. |
| 1 Sam 18:21 | Saul thought, “I will give him her that she may be a snare to him.” | Deliberate use of a person or situation as a deceptive trap. |
| 1 Sam 23:15 | David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. | Relentless, physical pursuit of another's life. |
| Mic 2:1 | Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! | Meditating on and planning evil deeds. |
| Psa 35:20 | For they do not speak peace, but devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land. | Speaking deceitful words and scheming against the innocent. |
| Psa 52:2 | Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharpened razor, you worker of deceit. | A tongue that plots and utters destructive, deceitful words. |
| Psa 62:3 | How long will all of you attack a man to destroy him, as a leaning wall, a tottering fence? | Continuous and concentrated attack aimed at complete destruction. |
| Psa 10:7 | His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression. | A mouth filled with negative, deceptive, and burdensome words. |
| Isa 32:7 | As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil; he plans wicked schemes. | Intentional and calculated plotting of evil plans. |
| Prov 4:16 | For they cannot sleep unless they have done evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. | The pervasive, constant nature of evil intent and action. |
| Psa 55:10 | Day and night they go around it on its walls; mischief and trouble are within it. | Continuous, encircling presence of mischief and trouble. |
| Mk 14:1 | The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by cunning... | Cunning and secretive plotting against an individual. |
| Lk 11:53-54 | When he went out from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him... seeking to catch him. | Lawyers plotting to verbally ensnare or catch one in speech. |
| Jn 8:6 | This they said to test him, that they might have a charge to bring against him. | Laying a verbal trap to find a fault or accusation. |
Psalm 38 verses
Psalm 38 12 Meaning
Psalm 38:12 describes the intense and continuous malicious intent of the Psalmist's adversaries. They are actively seeking his physical destruction through cunning traps and plotting his downfall with destructive words and constant deceit. This verse emphasizes the deep, unwavering nature of their hostility, demonstrating their commitment to his ruin.
Psalm 38 12 Context
Psalm 38 is a penitential psalm, one of seven, in which David profoundly laments his suffering, which he acknowledges as a consequence of his sin (Psa 38:3, 18). This verse appears amidst his deep physical affliction and sense of abandonment (Psa 38:3-11). The enemies described here seize upon David's vulnerable state, possibly interpreting his distress as a sign of divine abandonment, which emboldens their malice. The "snares," "ruin," and "treachery" are not accidental but represent deliberate and persistent efforts by adversaries to completely bring about his downfall while he is at his weakest. The surrounding verses confirm his isolated state (Psa 38:11) and emphasize his ultimate patient trust in the Lord despite the overwhelming hostility (Psa 38:15).
Psalm 38 12 Word analysis
- Those who seek my life: Hebrew dorshei nafshi (דֹּרְשֵׁי נַפְשִׁי). Dorshei, derived from darash, conveys an earnest, persistent, and often hostile pursuit. Nafshi refers to the Psalmist's very soul or life, indicating a desire for his utter destruction or demise, not just minor inconvenience.
- lay snares for me: Hebrew y'nak'shu mokeshim li (יְנַקְּשׁוּ מוֹקְשִׁים לִי). Y'nak'shu (from yaqash) means "to lay a snare" or "to ensnare," depicting cunning and hidden traps. Mokeshim refers to physical hunting snares, highlighting the treacherous, covert nature of their attempts to entrap and bring down the Psalmist, signifying deceitful schemes rather than open conflict.
- those who seek my hurt: Hebrew v'dorshei ra'ati (וְדֹרְשֵׁי רָעָתִי). Dorshei again signifies earnest pursuit. Ra'ati refers to his harm, injury, or misfortune. This phrase indicates another aspect of their malice, focusing on their desire to inflict great calamity and suffering upon him, extending beyond simply ending his life.
- speak of ruin: Hebrew dib'ru havvot (דִּבְּרוּ הַוּוֹת). Dib'ru (from dabar) means "they spoke." Havvot signifies "destruction," "ruin," or "calamity," often carrying connotations of vanity or wickedness. This describes not mere slander, but utterances and plots intended to cause the Psalmist's absolute undoing; their words are actively destructive.
- and meditate treachery: Hebrew v'haggu mirmah (וְהַזּוּ מִרְמָה). V'haggu (from hagah) means "to meditate" or "to mutter," implying deep, sustained, and internal pondering or scheming. It represents an intellectual and intentional crafting of malicious plans. Mirmah signifies "deceit," "fraud," or "treachery," underscoring the dishonest and manipulative nature of their intentions.
- all day long: Hebrew kol-hayyom (כָּל־הַיּוֹם). This temporal phrase emphasizes the relentless, continuous, and persistent nature of the enemies' hostility. Their malicious thoughts and actions are not sporadic but consuming and enduring, marking an unceasing harassment and profound spiritual wear on the Psalmist.
Psalm 38 12 Bonus section
This verse holds significance beyond its historical context, providing a powerful image of spiritual warfare. The methods of the human adversaries—laying snares, speaking ruin, and meditating treachery "all day long"—mirror the consistent and cunning strategies of spiritual adversaries mentioned in the New Testament. Just as the wicked relentlessly pursued David, so too does the spiritual foe ceaselessly seek to trap, mislead, and accuse believers. The "snares" and "treachery" find echoes in the "schemes" of the devil (Eph 6:11), which are designed to ensnare and bring about spiritual ruin. David's experience serves as a type, providing a universal illustration of the constant battle against evil forces. His ultimate reliance on God in such a state of severe oppression thus becomes a timeless example of trust and perseverance for those who face similar relentless and insidious attacks.
Psalm 38 12 Commentary
Psalm 38:12 offers a powerful portrayal of the unyielding, deceptive, and multifaceted assault by adversaries upon a suffering individual. The enemies are driven by an intense desire for the Psalmist's total destruction ("seek my life") and his profound injury ("seek my hurt"). Their malevolent methods involve both covert actions—laying "snares" that represent hidden, cunning traps, indicative of manipulative political or social plots designed to entrap and dismantle—and overt verbal assaults, where they "speak of ruin," likely through spreading false accusations, curses, or prophesies of his demise. Crucially, their malice is not spontaneous but meticulously orchestrated; they "meditate treachery," denoting deep, continuous, and premeditated planning of deceit. The concluding phrase "all day long" underscores the relentless, pervasive nature of their hostility, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the Psalmist's ruin. This persistent malevolence contrasts starkly with David's patient reliance on God amidst his suffering and highlights the immense psychological and spiritual burden faced by the righteous when confronted with constant and deceitful opposition.