Psalm 59 11

Psalm 59:11 kjv

Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

Psalm 59:11 nkjv

Do not slay them, lest my people forget; Scatter them by Your power, And bring them down, O Lord our shield.

Psalm 59:11 niv

But do not kill them, Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might uproot them and bring them down.

Psalm 59:11 esv

Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield!

Psalm 59:11 nlt

Don't kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons;
stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees,
O Lord our shield.

Psalm 59 verses

Psalm 59 11 Meaning

Psalm 59:11 is a plea to God from the Psalmist regarding his enemies, expressing a desire for divine judgment that serves a dual purpose: not immediate annihilation but a prolonged demonstration of God's power. It asks God to spare them from instant death so that the consequences of their rebellion against God might be a lasting, visible lesson for God's people, preventing forgetfulness of divine justice and power. Instead, the prayer requests their dispersion and humiliation by God's might, emphasizing the Lord's role as the protector and defender of His own.

Psalm 59 11 Context

Psalm 59 is a Miktam of David, explicitly stating its context in 1 Samuel 19:11, when Saul sent men to David's house to kill him. David was in great danger, surrounded by ruthless enemies seeking his life. This Psalm is a heartfelt prayer for deliverance, a lament, and a petition for God's just intervention. David observes his enemies, describes their violent nature ("dogs" that howl and roam the city, v.6, 14), and contrasts their malice with his innocence (v.3-4). Verse 11 falls within David's extended imprecation and prayer for divine justice, where he outlines how he desires God to deal with his adversaries—not merely for his immediate safety, but for a lasting spiritual lesson for the whole nation of Israel. The historical background underscores the imminent threat David faced and his absolute reliance on God as his sole protector.

Psalm 59 11 Word analysis

• Slay them not (אַל־תַּֽהַרְגֵ֥ם – ’al tahargem):

  • ’al: Hebrew negative particle, meaning "do not." A direct prohibition.
  • tahargem: From the root harag (הָרַג), meaning "to kill, slay." The suffixed hem indicates "them."
  • Significance: This is a striking and unexpected request. It reveals David's nuanced understanding of divine judgment. He asks God to refrain from immediate, complete annihilation of his enemies, implying a purpose beyond simple retribution. It points to God's sovereign power over life and death, even concerning those who oppose His chosen ones.

• lest my people forget (פֶּן־יִשְׁכְּח֥וּ עַמִּֽי – pen yishkechu ‘ammī):

  • pen: Hebrew particle meaning "lest," indicating a negative purpose or consequence.
  • yishkechu: From the root shachach (שָׁכַח), meaning "to forget, disregard, cease to care."
  • ‘ammī: "My people," referring to Israel, God's chosen nation.
  • Significance: This phrase highlights a key purpose of delayed judgment: instruction. If the enemies were immediately destroyed, the lesson of their evil and God's powerful justice might quickly fade from the memory of Israel. Sustained, visible humiliation of the wicked ensures that God's people remember His intervention and righteous character, fostering reliance on Him and guarding against spiritual apathy or presumption. It counters the natural human tendency to forget divine works and warnings, a theme prominent in the Pentateuch concerning Israel.

• scatter them (הֲנִיעֵ֣מוֹ – hanī‘emo):

  • From the root nua‘ (נוּעַ), meaning "to wander, be moved, be a fugitive, scatter." The Hiphil form (causative) implies "cause to wander," "make them fugitives."
  • Significance: This is the requested mode of punishment. It implies public disgrace, loss of standing, rootlessness, and vulnerability. Instead of a swift end, they would suffer a prolonged, public existence marked by their fallen state. This judgment serves as a perpetual visible sign of God's justice, ensuring they remain an object lesson for others. It signifies a reduction of their power and influence.

• by thy power (בְּחֵילְךָ֮ – bechelchā):

  • be: Preposition "by, with, in."
  • chelchā: From chayil (חַיִל), meaning "strength, might, power, army." The suffixed chā indicates "your."
  • Significance: The instrument of their dispersion and humbling is God's own irresistible might. It's a direct attribution of sovereignty and effectiveness to Yahweh, emphasizing that only divine intervention can accomplish such a comprehensive and purposeful judgment. This reassures the Psalmist and teaches the people that God alone is their source of strength against all adversaries.

• and bring them down (וְהוֹרִדֵ֖מוֹ – wehōrīdemo):

  • we: Conjunction "and."
  • hōrīdemo: From the root yarad (יָרַד), meaning "to go down, descend." The Hiphil form (causative) means "to bring down, cast down, abase, humble."
  • Significance: This action goes beyond scattering; it implies a total loss of power, status, and authority. They are not merely dislocated but humiliated and diminished. This is a complete abasement from any position of threat or pride, further underscoring the irreversible nature of divine judgment and ensuring their visible lesson endures.

• O Lord our shield (יְהוָ֥ה מָֽגִנֵּֽנוּ – Yahweh māginnēnu):

  • Yahweh (יהוה): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal, relational, and self-existent nature. Addressed as the ultimate authority.
  • māginnēnu: From magen (מָגֵן), meaning "shield, buckler, protector, defender." The suffixed nu indicates "our."
  • Significance: The Psalm begins and ends with an appeal to God as deliverer (v.1, 16-17), and here this appellation reinforces His role as protector. It reiterates the Psalmist's faith that the very God who deals with enemies so comprehensively is also the faithful, steadfast guardian of His people. It connects God's justice upon the wicked directly to His protection of the righteous. It highlights that Israel’s safety depends entirely on Yahweh, their personal and collective defender.

Psalm 59 11 Bonus section

The request in Ps 59:11, for God to "scatter" and "bring down" rather than immediately "slay," provides a fascinating parallel to God's dealings with various enemies throughout Scripture. Pharaoh, for instance, was kept alive through several plagues not just to punish him but "to show [God's] power in him, and that [God's] name might be proclaimed in all the earth" (Ex 9:16). This principle reveals God's often-layered purposes: individual judgment, public demonstration, and enduring instruction for His covenant people. It is a polemic against human short-sightedness that seeks immediate, violent resolutions without considering God's deeper, instructional wisdom in justice. The ongoing disgrace of those who oppose God serves as a visual and historical anchor, continually reaffirming His dominion.

Psalm 59 11 Commentary

Psalm 59:11 offers a profound insight into God's justice and His pedagogical methods with His people. David's prayer is not simply a vengeful cry but a divinely inspired request for a judgment that would serve as a lasting witness. Instead of swift, merciful annihilation, the Psalmist desires a slow, public undoing of his enemies through God's power. This delayed and visible humiliation is precisely "lest my people forget"—forget the wicked nature of rebellion, forget God's sovereign control over even the most ruthless adversaries, and forget His consistent defense of the righteous. This deliberate, long-term display of divine power and the consequences of sin stands as a perpetual reminder, ensuring that God’s acts are etched into the communal memory of Israel. The ultimate goal is to reinforce Israel's dependence on Yahweh, their "shield," understanding that their safety and well-being are rooted in His character and actions, rather than their own might or the swift removal of threats. It reminds us that God's judgments often serve not only as retribution but as powerful lessons for all to observe.