Psalm 59 1

Psalm 59:1 kjv

Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.

Psalm 59:1 nkjv

To the Chief Musician. Set to "Do Not Destroy." A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me.

Psalm 59:1 niv

For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David's house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me.

Psalm 59:1 esv

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me;

Psalm 59:1 nlt

Rescue me from my enemies, O God.
Protect me from those who have come to destroy me.

Psalm 59 verses

Psalm 59 1 Meaning

Psalm 59:1 is a fervent plea from King David to God for urgent deliverance and secure protection from his relentless adversaries. It expresses deep reliance on God as his personal Defender, seeking not only rescue from imminent danger but also to be placed in an elevated, unassailable position of safety, beyond the reach of those who maliciously plot against him. The verse underscores David's desperate need and profound trust in the Almighty amidst hostile threats.

Psalm 59 1 Context

Psalm 59 is explicitly introduced by its superscription, "To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men, and they watched his house in order to kill him." This places the psalm in a specific and perilous moment of David's life. At this point, Saul, consumed by jealousy, actively sought to kill David. David was literally trapped in his own home, with guards outside ordered to execute him in the morning (1 Sam 19:11). The immediate historical context is one of extreme vulnerability, treachery from those who should have protected him, and an imminent, deadly threat. David's prayer in verse 1 reflects this profound sense of being targeted and surrounded by malicious adversaries. He is crying out from a place of helplessness, with no human means of escape or defense, turning entirely to his God for intervention.

Psalm 59 1 Word analysis

• Deliver me (הַצִּילֵנִי - hatzîlēnî): This is from the Hebrew verb נָצַל (natsal), which means to snatch away, pluck out, deliver, or rescue. It denotes a swift, active, and decisive intervention to remove someone from a dangerous situation or the grasp of another. It emphasizes God's power to intervene decisively on David's behalf, pulling him out of the enemy's reach, much like snatching a brand from the fire.

• from my enemies (מֵאֹיְבָ֑י - mēʾōyḇāy): From אֹיֵב (ʾōyēḇ), meaning hostile, adversary. This refers to those who are in a state of opposition, harbor ill will, and actively seek to harm. In this context, it refers to Saul's men who surrounded David's house with the intent to kill him. It points to real, specific, and active hostility.

• O my God (אֱלֹהָ֑י - ʾělōhāy): The direct address to Elohim, intensified by the first-person possessive suffix "my" (-ay). This highlights David's personal and intimate relationship with God, underscoring his deep faith and absolute trust. It's not a generic cry, but a personal appeal to his God, who has proven faithful to him in the past. This emphasizes God's covenant loyalty and personal accessibility.

• defend me (שַׂגְּבֵֽנִי - śaggĕḇēnî): From the verb שָׂגַב (śagav), meaning to be high, inaccessible, exalted, or set on high. This implies not just protection, but elevation to a place of complete security and invulnerability. It's more than a defensive action; it's an act of placing one in an elevated, unreachable sanctuary, making them secure against any attack. God doesn't just block the blows but lifts David above the fray.

• from those who rise up against me (מִמִּתְקוֹמְמָֽי - mimmitqōwmĕmāy): This term comes from the verb קוּם (qum), meaning to rise, stand up, often used in a hostile sense, indicating an active, rebellious, or aggressive posture. It highlights the enemies' deliberate and malicious opposition, their standing up to actively resist or assault David. They are not merely passive opponents but active aggressors.

• "Deliver me from my enemies; defend me from those who rise up against me.": The two clauses function as a parallelism, reiterating the desperate plea but adding depth. "Deliver me" focuses on snatching him from the immediate grasp, while "defend me" emphasizes securing him in an ultimately safe and unassailable place. The enemies are described first by their state of being ("enemies") and then by their active intent ("those who rise up"), intensifying the threat and the scope of God's needed intervention. This pairing indicates a comprehensive plea for immediate rescue and ongoing, absolute protection.

Psalm 59 1 Bonus section

• The superscription places Psalm 59 in a very dark episode for David. It underscores that sometimes the most severe threats come not from foreign adversaries, but from those within one's own nation or even household.
• The emphasis on "O my God" is critical; David appeals to a God with whom he has an established relationship, highlighting the covenant faithfulness of God and the personal nature of prayer. This isn't a call to a distant deity, but to a personal Protector.
• The military imagery of being surrounded and rising up reflects not just physical combat but a spiritual warfare aspect, where David’s faith in God becomes his ultimate defense against treachery and evil intent.

Psalm 59 1 Commentary

Psalm 59:1 encapsulates the urgent, personal cry of a believer facing mortal danger, who places their entire hope in God. David, confronted by overwhelming forces orchestrated by Saul, understands that human ingenuity or strength is insufficient. His immediate appeal, "Deliver me," points to a desperate need for instant rescue from the grip of his adversaries, emphasizing God's powerful capacity to "snatch away" from danger. This is swiftly followed by "defend me," a deeper plea for God to set him on high, to make him utterly secure and inaccessible to his enemies, implying divine invulnerability. The address "O my God" solidifies David's personal relationship and profound trust in the one true God, not merely a deity, but his own God, who has a covenant obligation and personal concern for him. The dual description of his foes, first as general "enemies" and then specifically as "those who rise up against me," underscores the direct, malicious, and actively hostile nature of the threat. This verse serves as a timeless example of how believers should turn to God as their ultimate refuge and strong tower when besieged by troubles, acknowledging His power to both rescue and secure in any circumstance.