Psalm 59 10

Psalm 59:10 kjv

The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

Psalm 59:10 nkjv

My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.

Psalm 59:10 niv

my God on whom I can rely. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

Psalm 59:10 esv

My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

Psalm 59:10 nlt

In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me.
He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.

Psalm 59 verses

Psalm 59 10 Meaning

Psalm 59:10 articulates David's profound confidence in God's proactive, unwavering covenant love (hesed) and His ultimate vindication. David declares his firm conviction that his personal God will take the initiative to come to his aid, confronting the danger on his behalf. This divine intervention will empower David to witness God's victory over his treacherous and watchful adversaries, demonstrating that justice will be served and God's sovereign power made manifest.

Psalm 59 10 Context

Psalm 59 is identified as a Michtam of David, specifically composed "when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him," referencing the account in 1 Samuel 19:11-12. This places the psalm in a time of extreme peril for David, where he was unjustly hunted by the very king he served. The enemies described in the psalm are treacherous, violent, and motivated by pure malice, unjustly seeking David's life without cause. Against this backdrop of being surrounded and under siege by ruthless adversaries, Psalm 59 functions as an urgent cry for divine intervention and protection. Verse 10, therefore, is not a naive statement but a profound declaration of unwavering faith born from intense duress, proclaiming absolute trust in God as David's ultimate stronghold and deliverer against tangible, mortal threats.

Psalm 59 10 Word analysis

• "My God" (אֱלֹהַי, Elohai): This possessive form emphasizes a deep, personal, and covenantal relationship between David and the divine. It's an intimate acknowledgment that the sovereign God is his God, underscoring his complete reliance and unique access to the Lord. This personal appeal undergirds David's profound confidence in divine intervention.

• "His steadfast love" (חַסְדּוֹ, khasdo): Derived from hesed, a pivotal biblical concept. It refers to God's unfailing, loyal, covenantal love, marked by enduring mercy and faithfulness. This is not merely an emotional affection but a commitment rooted in God's promises, providing the sure foundation for David's hope that God will act on his behalf.

• "will meet me" (יְקַדְּמֵנִי, yeqad'demeni): From the verb qadam, meaning "to go before," "to precede," "to anticipate," or "to confront." This term highlights God's proactive initiative. God isn't passively waiting but actively moving ahead to encounter the situation, clear the path, or confront the enemy on David's behalf, ensuring timely aid.

• "God" (אֱלוֹהַּ, Eloah): The use of this singular form of the divine name (distinct from the more common Elohim) in poetic contexts often provides a solemn emphasis on the unique, absolute power and majesty of the single divine being. Its repetition, along with "My God," reinforces the certainty and comprehensiveness of divine intervention.

• "will let me look" (יַרְאֵנִי, yareni): This is the causative form of ra'ah ("to see"). It means God will cause David to see or enable him to witness. It implies more than passive observation; it is a divinely orchestrated revelation where David is positioned to observe God's hand in his deliverance and the subsequent judgment of his enemies.

• "in triumph": While not explicitly a single Hebrew word in the ESV translation, the concept of "triumph" is inherently conveyed by the act of "looking upon enemies" (often implying looking down on them) in a context where one is being delivered. This signifies a position of secure victory and vindication for the one who sees the defeat of their adversaries. It denotes a visible demonstration of God's superiority and justice over malevolence.

• "on my enemies" (בְשֹׁרְרָי, veshosh'reray): Derived from shur, meaning "to spy," "to watch," "to lie in wait." These are not just general opponents but insidious, vigilant foes who maliciously monitor David, seeking opportune moments to strike. This precise term highlights their cunning and predatory nature, magnifying the divine power required to overcome them.

• Word-group analysis:

  • "My God in His steadfast love will meet me": This phrase establishes the bedrock of David’s confidence. It emphasizes a profoundly personal relationship (My God) animated by God’s covenantal hesed (unfailing love), which is powerfully proactive (will meet me), demonstrating God’s initiating, forward-moving action on behalf of His beloved.
  • "God will let me look in triumph on my enemies": This second clause is in clear parallel with the first, affirming the divine agency that ensures David's vindication. It speaks to God granting David the privilege and position to observe the manifestation of divine justice. The emphasis is on witnessing God’s definitive action that elevates His servant and dismantles the opposition. This "looking" signifies the secure vantage point of one who has been delivered, not an act of personal aggression.

Psalm 59 10 Bonus section

The highly specific superscription of Psalm 59 directly links David's prayer and confidence to the historical crisis of Saul dispatching men to assassinate him in his own home. This contextual grounding enhances the verse's power, showcasing faith in hesed in the face of very tangible, life-threatening treachery. It highlights that God's intervention is not just a theological concept but a living reality in the most desperate human circumstances. Furthermore, "to look in triumph on my enemies" carries a deeper resonance from ancient Near Eastern victory narratives where a conquering king would stand over his defeated foes. This imagery in Psalm 59:10 underscores that David's vindication comes from a divine reversal, placing him in the position of the one experiencing the decisive triumph, solely by God’s doing, over those who had previously sought his ruin.

Psalm 59 10 Commentary

Psalm 59:10 is a vibrant declaration of absolute trust in God’s character and His active intervention. David, besieged by malicious adversaries, doesn't simply hope but confidently states that God's hesed – His unfailing, loyal, covenant love – will "meet" him. This implies a proactive divine encounter, where God takes the initiative to clear the way or confront the danger on David’s behalf, assuring a pre-emptive rescue. The double invocation of "God" reinforces the certainty of this powerful intervention. The result is that David will be empowered by God to "look in triumph" upon his "watchful" enemies. This is not about human revenge but witnessing God’s justice enacted. It signifies the public vindication of God’s servant through the demonstrable defeat of his adversaries, where God is clearly seen as the victor and David as His securely delivered witness. This verse assures believers that God’s hesed is always active and anticipates their needs, leading to ultimate victory and vindication through His sovereign hand.

• Practical usage: In situations of unfair opposition or treachery, instead of devising your own countermeasures, trust God's hesed to "meet" the situation ahead of you. When feeling helpless or slandered, confidently anticipate that God will enable you to "look in triumph" not by your own might but by His public display of justice and protection over you.