Psalm 57 3

Psalm 57:3 kjv

He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

Psalm 57:3 nkjv

He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

Psalm 57:3 niv

He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me? God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

Psalm 57:3 esv

He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

Psalm 57:3 nlt

He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me. Interlude
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.

Psalm 57 verses

Psalm 57 3 Meaning

Psalm 57:3 declares God's sure and active intervention from heaven to deliver the psalmist from immediate mortal danger and public disgrace. It asserts that God, through His steadfast mercy (loyal love) and faithfulness (truth), will definitively bring about this salvation, thereby vindicating His servant.

Psalm 57 3 Context

Psalm 57 is a "Miktam" (a golden poem or inscription) of David, explicitly stated in its superscription to be penned "when he fled from Saul in the cave." This likely refers to a specific perilous period, either the cave of Adullam (1 Sam 22) or En Gedi (1 Sam 24), where David found himself utterly exposed and hunted by King Saul's forces. In this context, David is not just seeking physical refuge in a cave, but divine refuge under the "shadow of Your wings" (v. 1). The psalm opens with a desperate plea for mercy (v.1), acknowledges the immediate danger ("lions... the children of men... their teeth are spears," v.4), yet transitions remarkably quickly to unwavering confidence in God's impending salvation. Verse 3 is a pivotal declaration within this narrative, voicing David's absolute certainty that God will act on his behalf, directly from heaven, demonstrating His covenant character. It is a confident assertion amidst extreme vulnerability and imminent peril, showing faith in God's active involvement rather than a mere passive hope.

Psalm 57 3 Word analysis

• He shall send: Hebrew: yishlach (יִשְׁלַח). An imperfect verb, denoting continuous or future action, stressing God's decisive and intentional agency. This isn't a mere possibility but a certain, divine action, reflecting God's sovereign power to intervene directly.

• from heaven: Hebrew: mi'shamayim (מִשָּׁמַיִם). Points to the origin of God's help. It underscores that the salvation comes from a supernatural, transcendent source, independent of any earthly means or limitations. It affirms God's supremacy and ability to act from His exalted throne.

• and save me: Hebrew: v'yoshieni (וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנִי). Derived from the root yasha (ישׁע), meaning to deliver, liberate, or bring salvation. This is a personal plea for active, powerful deliverance, not just protection. It echoes the great saving acts of God in Israel's history, such as the Exodus.

• from the reproach: Hebrew: mi'cherpat (מֵחֶרְפַּת). From cherpah (חֶרְפָּה), signifying scorn, disgrace, insult, or shame. For David, this encompasses not only physical danger but also the public humiliation and challenge to his integrity and to God's faithfulness posed by his enemies. It's a desire for vindication, restoring honor.

• of him that would swallow me up: Hebrew: sho'efi (שׁוֹאֲפִי). A participle from sha'af (שָׁאַף), meaning to pant after, eager for, or to gulp down. It vividly portrays the enemy's ravenous, consuming intent—not just to defeat but to utterly annihilate and engulf David, emphasizing the relentless and destructive nature of the threat.

• Selah: (סֶלָה). A liturgical or musical notation. It calls for a pause for reflection, contemplation, or perhaps a musical interlude. Here, it invites deeper consideration of the preceding statement—God's promise of powerful, comprehensive deliverance from a destructive enemy and disgrace—allowing its truth to profoundly settle.

• God: Hebrew: Elohim (אֱלֹהִים). The generic but powerful name for God, emphasizing His role as Creator, Judge, and Sovereign over all creation, highlighting His power and authority in acting.

• shall send forth: Hebrew: yishlach (יִשְׁלַח). The repetition of this verb emphasizes the certainty, intentionality, and deliberateness of God's action. God does not merely possess these attributes but actively dispatches them to bring about His purposes.

• His mercy: Hebrew: chasdo (חַסְדּוֹ). From chesed (חֶסֶד), which denotes steadfast love, loyal love, covenant faithfulness, lovingkindness, and kindness. It signifies God's deep, active commitment to His covenant people, not mere sentiment but enduring faithfulness even in the face of human frailty.

• and His truth: Hebrew: v'amitto (וֶאֱמִתּוֹ). From emet (אֱמֶת), meaning faithfulness, reliability, firmness, trustworthiness. It speaks of God's unchanging character and the absolute certainty of His promises. It guarantees that His chesed is not arbitrary but sure and unwavering.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "He shall send from heaven, and save me": This phrase underlines the transcendent source and imminent action of David's salvation. It confirms that the rescue is divinely initiated, supernatural, and effective against overwhelming earthly foes. God's act is direct and personal.
  • "from the reproach of him that would swallow me up": This powerfully delineates the two-fold nature of the threat: both an attempt to annihilate David physically (to "swallow him up") and to humiliate him publicly and morally ("reproach"). God's deliverance is thus holistic, encompassing both life and honor.
  • "God shall send forth His mercy and His truth": This specifies the instruments or manifestations of God's saving power. Mercy (chesed) and Truth (emet) are presented almost as divine emanations, active forces flowing from God's character. They are the twin pillars of God's covenant relationship, assuring David that His saving act stems from His foundational nature as a loving and faithful God.

Psalm 57 3 Bonus section

The pairing of chesed and emet (mercy/truth, loyal love/faithfulness) is a recurring and highly significant theological motif throughout the Hebrew Bible, appearing together many times (e.g., Ps 36:5; Ps 85:10; Ps 89:14). They represent the two fundamental aspects of God's covenant relationship with His people: His benevolent disposition and His unwavering reliability in upholding His word. In this verse, their active "sending forth" implies they are not passive qualities but dynamic forces dispatched by God, almost personified as agents of His will. This active agency foreshadows how God would later manifest His truth and mercy most fully in the person of Jesus Christ (Jn 1:14), who embodied both God's chesed through His atoning sacrifice and His emet as the fulfillment of all divine promises. The imagery of being "swallowed up" finds parallels in various biblical passages that depict overwhelming despair or the power of death and the grave, amplifying the magnitude of God's deliverance as a true act of life out of the jaws of destruction.

Psalm 57 3 Commentary

Psalm 57:3 presents a robust affirmation of divine intervention born from David’s intense confidence in God’s character, even when surrounded by deadly peril. The initial declaration, "He shall send from heaven, and save me," sets the tone: salvation is not reliant on David’s own strength or ingenuity, but originates directly from God's sovereign power in His heavenly abode. This highlights the omnipotence of a God who actively engages with human suffering. The threat to David is two-pronged: physical destruction from an enemy portrayed as a ravenous beast seeking to "swallow him up," and social disgrace from "reproach." God's comprehensive deliverance addresses both, demonstrating that His care extends to His servant's very being and his reputation.

The insertion of "Selah" prompts the worshiper to meditate deeply on this profound truth of God's active, certain rescue. Following this pause, the verse is reinforced by emphasizing how God will deliver: "God shall send forth His mercy and His truth." These are not abstract concepts but active attributes that God dispatches as agents of His salvation. His "mercy" (Hebrew: chesed) denotes His covenant loyalty and unfailing love—a steadfast commitment to His people, going beyond mere pity. His "truth" (Hebrew: emet) speaks to His faithfulness and reliability—that His promises are unwavering and His character is dependable. Together, chesed and emet encapsulate God's covenant trustworthiness. The divine response is rooted in His very essence, making His help utterly reliable. This verse is a powerful declaration that God’s salvation is an embodiment of His perfect love and unchangeable integrity.

• Practical examples: When facing betrayal and public slandering from a former friend, a believer can trust that God, in His mercy and truth, will ultimately vindicate their name, just as He did for David. When a difficult situation seems insurmountable, this verse can inspire confidence that God's unwavering faithfulness and lovingkindness are active forces that He "sends forth" to bring about unexpected deliverance or provide supernatural peace.