Psalm 57 6

Psalm 57:6 kjv

They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

Psalm 57:6 nkjv

They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

Psalm 57:6 niv

They spread a net for my feet? I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path? but they have fallen into it themselves.

Psalm 57:6 esv

They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah

Psalm 57:6 nlt

My enemies have set a trap for me.
I am weary from distress.
They have dug a deep pit in my path,
but they themselves have fallen into it. Interlude

Psalm 57 verses

Psalm 57 6 Meaning

Psalm 57:6 vividly describes the elaborate and insidious plots devised by King David's adversaries to ensnare and destroy him. The imagery of preparing a "net" for his steps and digging a "pit" signifies calculated traps aimed at bringing about his downfall or demise. However, the verse abruptly pivots, revealing divine justice: those who prepared the trap ultimately become ensnared in their own devices. This portrays a powerful declaration of faith that even in deep distress, God’s sovereignty ensures the wicked fall into their own schemes, thereby reversing the intended harm back upon the schemers. The "Selah" indicates a pause, urging contemplation on this profound truth of reversal.

Psalm 57 6 Context

Psalm 57 is designated as "A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave." This superscription grounds the psalm in a specific and perilous moment in David's life, likely referring to the events recorded in 1 Samuel 22:1-2 or 1 Samuel 24. David, a righteous man anointed by God, was relentlessly pursued by King Saul, who was consumed by envy and a murderous desire. David was hiding in a desolate cave, surrounded by Saul's forces who were actively seeking to capture or kill him. The language of nets and pits perfectly reflects this intense situation of being hunted. David's profound trust in God, despite imminent danger, permeates the entire psalm. He begins with a desperate plea for mercy (Psa 57:1) but transitions into confident praise, declaring God’s unfailing love and faithfulness even amidst the roaring lions (Psa 57:4). Verse 6 directly articulates the danger he faced from his persecutors while simultaneously proclaiming his faith in God's protective and retributive justice, a theme frequently echoed throughout the book of Psalms where the righteous suffer due to the wicked, but ultimately, God vindicates His own.

Psalm 57 6 Word analysis

• They have prepared: (כּוּננוּ - kūn⋅nū from כּוּן - kun, meaning to set up, establish, make firm, prepare.) This is an active and intentional verb. It highlights the deliberate, pre-meditated malice of David's enemies. It’s not accidental; their plans are meticulously laid.
• a net: (רֶשֶׁת - reshet) A hunting device, typically for fowling. It implies stealth, entrapment, and a snare that quietly but surely restricts movement, leading to capture or death. In biblical context, nets are metaphors for hidden dangers or traps set by adversaries (e.g., Ps 140:5, Jer 18:22).
• for my steps: (לְפַעֲמַי - lə·faʿă·may from פַּעַם - pa'am, meaning foot, step, stride.) This is concrete. The enemies' goal is to hinder David's movement, freedom, or progress, potentially leading to a fatal stumble. It signifies an attack on his very walk of life, his path, or his journey.
• my soul: (נַפְשִׁי - nafsī from נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh.) This term refers to the whole person, the life, being, or inner self.
• is bowed down: (כָּפַף - kāfaf) Meaning to bend, to be stooped, or to be crushed. It signifies physical exhaustion, deep emotional distress, despair, or the profound spiritual weight David felt under the pressure of his persecutors. His spirit was weary, perhaps feeling a sense of defeat, but crucially, not defeated.
• They have dug: (כָּרוּ - kā·rū from כָּרָה - karah, meaning to dig, bore, excavate.) This verb again denotes active, laborious effort in planning evil, contrasting with passive accidental harm.
• a pit: (שַׁחַת - shachat) A pitfall, a deep hole used as a trap for animals or people, often for capture or a deadly fall. The term can also carry a nuance of destruction or ruin.
• before me: (לְפָנַי - lə·fa·nāy) Emphasizes that the pit was intentionally placed in his path, designed to be encountered.
• into the midst of it they themselves have fallen: (בְּתוֹכָהּ נָפְלוּ בְכֵן - bə·ṯō·ḵāh nāf·lū bə·ḵên.) This is the crucial twist, emphasizing divine poetic justice.
  • into the midst of it: Reinforces the specific, direct nature of the reversal. They fall into the very same trap.
  • they themselves: (בְכֵן - bə·ḵên) An emphatic addition. It's not a general consequence, but their own persons, their very selves, caught in their own device. This often highlights the ironic and just nature of the retribution.
  • have fallen: (נָפְלוּ - naflu from נָפַל - nafal, meaning to fall.) Denotes sudden, involuntary downfall, collapse, or failure. This contrasts with David's deliberate 'steps.'
• Selah: (סֶלָה - selah) A musical or liturgical notation whose exact meaning is debated. It likely indicates a pause, an elevation of music, or a time for meditative reflection on the preceding verse's profound truth. Here, it invites contemplation on the powerful irony and certainty of God's justice.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They have prepared a net for my steps": This phrase illustrates a calculated, insidious plot targeting David's progression or literal movement. It's a hunting metaphor for his life being targeted for capture or entrapment.
• "my soul is bowed down": Despite the divine protection promised, this reveals David's immediate human condition under intense pressure. It's an expression of extreme emotional distress, sorrow, or physical weariness, reflecting the oppressive weight of being persecuted.
• "They have dug a pit before me": This reiterates the malicious intent and effort. Digging a pit is a laborious, purposeful act designed to bring about an unforeseen downfall. The repetition of destructive methods underscores the severity of the threat.
• "into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah": This powerful climax is the essence of the verse. It declares a profound, often ironic, divine reversal. The very implements and schemes crafted to harm David become the undoing of his adversaries. The "Selah" demands a moment of contemplation, highlighting the certainty and wonder of this just retribution.

Psalm 57 6 Bonus section

• The concept of the wicked falling into their own traps is known as lex talionis in a spiritual sense, or ironic justice. It underscores that evil ultimately self-consumes because it operates outside of God's order.
• In ancient warfare and hunting, pits and nets were common, dangerous tools. A pitfall would be camouflaged and often impaled at the bottom, a lethal trap. Nets could capture live prey or impede escape. The Psalmist's choice of these specific images conveys not just danger, but betrayal, stealth, and a design for certain capture or death.
• The repetition of the theme (net for steps, pit dug) signifies the pervasive and multi-faceted nature of the threats against David, and correspondingly, the certainty of the comprehensive judgment against his foes. It wasn't one trap but a network of evil plots.
• While David expresses profound personal distress ("my soul is bowed down"), his focus quickly shifts from his subjective experience of affliction to the objective certainty of God's righteous judgment against his adversaries. This shift is characteristic of Psalms that move from lament to praise and confident expectation.

Psalm 57 6 Commentary

Psalm 57:6 encapsulates a foundational biblical truth: God's justice ensures that evil deeds recoil upon their perpetrators. David, though persecuted to the point of despair ("my soul is bowed down"), maintains a robust faith in God's active intervention. The imagery of nets and pits represents not merely physical traps but the elaborate and cunning plans that spring from wicked hearts. This verse testifies to God's ultimate sovereignty over human malevolence. Even when His faithful servants are weak or weary, the Lord demonstrates His power by turning the enemy's strength into their weakness. It is a powerful affirmation that relying on human cunning or physical might is futile against God's decree, as His judgment brings about the downfall of the wicked, often through their very own devices. This is not a call for personal vengeance but a confident declaration of the natural, God-ordained consequences of unrighteous actions. The example of Haman and his gallows in the book of Esther or Daniel's accusers falling prey to the lion's den perfectly illustrate this principle in action. It serves as an encouragement to the afflicted righteous, reminding them that their deliverance will often come through the self-destruction of their enemies.