Psalm 60 9

Psalm 60:9 kjv

Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

Psalm 60:9 nkjv

Who will bring me to the strong city? Who will lead me to Edom?

Psalm 60:9 niv

Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

Psalm 60:9 esv

Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

Psalm 60:9 nlt

Who will bring me into the fortified city?
Who will bring me victory over Edom?

Psalm 60 verses

Psalm 60 9 Meaning

Psalm 60:9 expresses a fervent, rhetorical question from the psalmist, implicitly directed towards God, seeking divine intervention for seemingly insurmountable military objectives. The verse asks, "Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?" This reflects the human inability to achieve victory over formidable adversaries—represented by a "fortified city" and the hostile nation of "Edom"—without God's unique power and guidance. It is a plea for God to fulfill His promise and lead His people to victory.

Psalm 60 9 Context

Psalm 60 is a lament (or a Miktam) by David, identified by its superscription as composed "When he strove with Aram-naharaim, and with Aram-zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt twelve thousand." This context reveals a period of significant military struggle. The psalm begins with a cry of distress, depicting Israel as shattered and defeated, feeling forsaken by God (Ps 60:1-3). The psalmist acknowledges God's discipline, causing the land to quake and split (Ps 60:2-3).

However, the tone shifts, as the psalmist recalls that God has given a "banner to those who fear Him" (Ps 60:4) and expressed promises of future victory and dominion over surrounding nations like Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, Judah, and Moab, with Edom being thrown out (Ps 60:6-8). After these divine assurances, Psalm 60:9 emerges as a question that bridges the current perceived weakness and the hoped-for victory. It implicitly asks who besides God can accomplish the monumental task of conquering Edom. Despite David's general military successes, this psalm captures a moment of deep reliance on God for the final, decisive breakthrough against particularly formidable foes, culminating in the triumphant affirmation of Ps 60:12 that "Through God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes."

Historically, Edom was Israel's perennial adversary, tracing its lineage back to Esau, Jacob's brother. The mountainous, rugged terrain of Edom (which housed fortified cities like Sela/Petra) made it naturally difficult to conquer. Conquering Edom symbolized the complete subjugation of a formidable and long-standing enemy, reflecting the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Israel for dominion over hostile nations. Culturally, gaining access to a "fortified city" represented overcoming a virtually impregnable barrier, a key strategic objective in ancient warfare.

Psalm 60 9 Word analysis

• "Who" (Hebrew: מִי, mi): This interrogative pronoun introduces a rhetorical question. Its repeated use ("Who... Who...") intensifies the inquiry, implying that the task is humanly impossible. It implicitly challenges anyone other than God to undertake such a feat, thus highlighting God's exclusive ability and sovereignty.

• "will bring me" (Hebrew: יוֹבִלֵנִי, yovīlēni): Derived from the Hiphil imperfect of the verb יָבַל (yaval), meaning "to lead" or "to bring." The suffix "-ni" means "me." This indicates a need for active and powerful guidance or conveyance, suggesting the psalmist or Israel needs to be led or carried into the stronghold. It points to a deep dependency on an external agent for successful penetration.

• "into the fortified city" (Hebrew: עִיר מִבְצָר, ʻir mivtzar):

  • עִיר (ʻir): "city" or "town."
  • מִבְצָר (mivtzar): "fortified place," "stronghold," or "fortress." This noun comes from the root בָצַר (batzar), which means "to cut off," "to enclose," or "to fortify." The term denotes impregnability, highlighting the extreme difficulty and strength of the obstacle. It signifies any powerfully defended place or seemingly insurmountable challenge.

• "Who will lead me" (Hebrew: מִי נָחַנִי, mi nāchani):

  • מִי (mi): Again, "Who," emphasizing the rhetorical nature of the question.
  • נָחַנִי (nāchani): Derived from the Qal perfect of the verb נָחָה (nachah), meaning "to lead," "to guide," or "to conduct." Similar in meaning to yovīlēni, but potentially suggesting a more sustained or guiding leadership rather than just a one-time "bringing." The slight linguistic variation reinforces the earnestness of the appeal for divine leadership and highlights different aspects of the required guidance.

• "to Edom" (Hebrew: אֱדוֹם, Edōm): A specific, historical nation and a traditional enemy of Israel, located southeast of the Dead Sea. Edom's mountainous terrain and natural strongholds made it a symbol of a formidable, challenging adversary. In biblical thought, Edom often represented the archetypal antagonist of God's people, subject to God's ultimate judgment. Naming Edom makes the quest concrete and historically significant, rather than just any general enemy.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Who will bring me / Who will lead me": The parallel phrasing and repetition of "Who" magnify the sense of helplessness and dependence on God. It creates an intensifying rhetorical effect, demonstrating that human might and strategy alone are insufficient. It functions as a prayer for God to step in as the one true leader and enabler of victory.
  • "into the fortified city / to Edom": These phrases specify the dual, formidable objectives. "Fortified city" represents any strongly defended, strategic position or overwhelming obstacle. "Edom" grounds the general difficulty in a particular, long-standing historical adversary. Together, they encapsulate the entire challenge: gaining strategic ground and subduing a powerful enemy, both requiring divine intervention.

Psalm 60 9 Bonus section

• Psalm 60:9 finds an almost identical echo in Psalm 108:10, highlighting a shared liturgical or traditional expression of trust in God for victory among the people of Israel.
• The superscription of Psalm 60 ties this lament and prayer to David's actual military engagements mentioned in 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18. Specifically, the "Valley of Salt" is identified as the location where David, through Joab, decisively defeated the Edomites. This suggests the psalmist's question wasn't about an impossible task in general but a specific, historical military campaign where human effort had previously faced setbacks (as implied by the early verses of the psalm). The question anticipates that God, not David's army alone, would grant the ultimate, final success.
• "Fortified city" also held spiritual significance. Throughout the Bible, strongholds are often metaphors for anything that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:4). Thus, the verse can be seen as an appeal for God to conquer not just physical cities, but also spiritual strongholds in the lives of believers or against the church.

Psalm 60 9 Commentary

Psalm 60:9 encapsulates a profound theological truth: ultimate victory and overcoming seemingly impregnable challenges stem not from human strength or strategy, but from divine enablement. Following an initial lament and a reaffirmation of God's promise to Israel (Psalm 60:6-8), the psalmist voices this rhetorical question to express human inability to achieve decisive triumph. It's a prayer born of desperation but rooted in faith. The "fortified city" symbolizes any impenetrable barrier—be it a military stronghold, a deep-seated spiritual bondage, or an overwhelming life circumstance. Edom, Israel's ancient adversary, represents a stubborn, generational foe that resists conventional conquest. The psalmist implicitly appeals to God as the sole provider of the wisdom, strength, and access necessary for victory. This verse, therefore, moves beyond a simple plea for military success, becoming a timeless expression of reliance on God for overcoming any seemingly impossible obstacle, reinforcing the truth that God is the only One who can lead His people through what seems impassable or conquer what appears unconquerable.

• Practical Usage Examples:
  • When faced with an overwhelming debt or a terminal illness, one might spiritually ask, "Who will bring me out of this fortified city of despair?"
  • When struggling with a deeply ingrained sin or habit, one might pray, "Who will lead me against this 'Edom' in my life?"