Psalm 59 14

Psalm 59:14 kjv

And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

Psalm 59:14 nkjv

And at evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city.

Psalm 59:14 niv

They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city.

Psalm 59:14 esv

Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.

Psalm 59:14 nlt

My enemies come out at night,
snarling like vicious dogs
as they prowl the streets.

Psalm 59 verses

Psalm 59 14 Meaning

Psalm 59:14 depicts a grim consequence for the wicked, a divinely ordained judgment where they are condemned to a restless, insatiable search for sustenance. They are shown perpetually wandering for basic necessities, perpetually hungry, and expressing their deep frustration through constant grumbling, because their hunger is never satisfied. It is a portrayal of unending misery, contrasting starkly with God's provision for the righteous.

Psalm 59 14 Context

Psalm 59 is a "Miktam of David," specifically attributed to the time when Saul sent men to watch David's house in order to kill him (1 Sam 19:11-17). David, surrounded by enemies and in grave danger, prays for deliverance and justice. The psalm repeatedly describes David's adversaries as predatory dogs, howling, prowling, and eager to devour him. Verses 11-15 form a section of imprecation, where David petitions God to inflict specific, prolonged judgments upon his enemies, not wishing for their swift demise but for their enduring shame and public display of their suffering. Verse 14 extends this plea for a specific, enduring form of suffering: chronic hunger and discontent, paralleling their earlier dog-like behavior of prowling for David. This visible, prolonged misery would serve as a demonstration of God's righteous rule and David's vindication before the nations.

Psalm 59 14 Word analysis

• And let them wander up and down (Hebrew: ינועו yanu'u): Derived from the root nua', meaning to totter, tremble, wander, or be restless. It signifies instability, insecurity, and an unceasing, aimless search. This condition is often associated with a divine curse or judgment, as seen in the punishment of Cain (Gen 4:12,14). Here, it portrays a compelled, unending restlessness driven by an unmet need.

• for meat (Hebrew: ללקט אכל ləliqṭû 'ōkel):

  • Liqet (ללקט): To gather, glean. Implies searching for meager scraps rather than abundant provision, signifying desperation and scarcity.
  • Okhel (אכל): Food, sustenance, that which is eaten.Together, it paints a picture of scavenging for the most basic necessity, revealing a life of perpetual want and effort without fulfillment.

• and grudge (Hebrew: וילינו wəyālînū): This is a significant word, rooted in lun, which carries a double meaning.

  1. To lodge, spend the night: Suggests their restless wandering culminates in miserable, unsettled overnight stays wherever they can find temporary shelter.
  2. To murmur, grumble, complain: Directly conveys their discontent and dissatisfaction.The KJV's "grudge" emphasizes the latter, capturing the inner resentment and outward expression of displeasure due to their miserable state. This dual meaning powerfully underscores their discomfort: even when they find a place to rest, they cannot find inner peace or satisfaction.

• if they be not satisfied (Hebrew: כי לא ישבעו kî lō' yišbā'û):

  • Lo yišba'u: They are not satisfied, they do not have enough, they are not filled.
  • Kî: Can mean "for" or "because," rather than a conditional "if." It clarifies the reason for their wandering and grumbling. Their dissatisfaction is the direct cause of their endless plight. This reveals an internal emptiness that cannot be filled, or an external lack that God ordains as judgment.

• "And let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.": This phrase collectively portrays a life of abject futility and misery. The imagery evokes a perpetually hungry and restless existence, never finding true peace or fulfillment. Their external aimless search for physical nourishment directly correlates with their internal state of gnawing discontent. This serves as an ironic reversal for those who ravenously hunted David, highlighting God's poetic justice.

Psalm 59 14 Bonus section

• The sustained nature of this judgment is a key aspect; David is not asking for an immediate, definitive end but for an ongoing demonstration of divine retribution. This prolonged suffering allows others to witness God's hand in justice, proving that He rules in Jacob "to the ends of the earth" (Ps 59:13).
• This verse contributes to the overall "dog" imagery throughout Psalm 59 (verses 6, 14, 15). David's enemies are likened to snarling, hungry dogs prowling the city. In verse 14, they are condemned to a truly dog-like existence: scavenging, perpetually hungry, and howling with discontent. This artistic symmetry emphasizes the poetic justice exacted upon them.

Psalm 59 14 Commentary

Psalm 59:14 is an impactful prayer for divine justice, illustrating a principle often seen in scripture: those who scheme evil against God's people will themselves face hardship and frustration. David desires not merely the death of his enemies but a prolonged, visible judgment that highlights their moral bankruptcy and God's righteous rule. They are to become perpetual wanderers, never finding stability or sufficiency, enduring constant hunger, and thus incessantly complaining. This state of affairs directly contrasts with the abundance and peace God provides for those who trust in Him. The imagery is deeply ironic, as the adversaries who acted like ravenous, prowling dogs in their pursuit of David are themselves condemned to the very state of hunger and desperation. It underscores the unfulfillable nature of sin and ungodly ambition—they can never truly be satisfied—and serves as a public testament to God's judgment over the wicked.