Psalm 62:3 kjv
How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
Psalm 62:3 nkjv
How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence.
Psalm 62:3 niv
How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down? this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
Psalm 62:3 esv
How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
Psalm 62:3 nlt
So many enemies against one man ?
all of them trying to kill me.
To them I'm just a broken-down wall
or a tottering fence.
Psalm 62 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 62:3 | How long will you assault a man, that you may crush him, all of you, as a leaning wall, a tottering fence? | Psalm of trust amidst constant opposition and plotting by enemies. |
| Theme: Persecution and Enemies' Plots | ||
| Ps 3:1-2 | O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me...many are saying of my soul, "There is no salvation for him in God." | David's numerous adversaries questioning divine help. |
| Ps 7:1 | O LORD my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me... | Plea for deliverance from those who chase to destroy. |
| Ps 17:9 | ...from my enemies, who are eagerly seeking to kill me. | Direct mention of enemies seeking life. |
| Ps 35:7 | For without cause they hid their net for me...without cause they dug a pit for my life. | Unjustified plotting to ensnare the innocent. |
| Ps 56:1 | Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an assailant oppresses me. | Consistent oppression from an attacking foe. |
| 1 Sam 24:9-15 | Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’?... | Saul's groundless pursuit and efforts to harm David. |
| Jn 15:18-20 | If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. | Christ's warning to believers about worldly persecution. |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. | Universal truth that godliness often invites opposition. |
| Theme: Man's Frailty and Vulnerability (as described by "leaning wall") | ||
| Ps 103:15-16 | As for man, his days are like grass...the wind passes over it, and it is gone... | Humanity's fragile and transient nature. |
| Is 40:6-8 | All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field...the grass withers, the flower fades... | Emphasizes the perishable nature of human strength and beauty. |
| Job 14:1-2 | Man, who is born of woman, is of few days and full of trouble...He flees like a shadow and does not continue. | Illustrates the short and troubled life, easily ending. |
| Lam 3:12 | He drew His bow and made me a target for His arrow. | Expresses profound vulnerability to attack. |
| Theme: Trust and God as Refuge (Contrast to human vulnerability) | ||
| Ps 18:2 | The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge... | God as the ultimate stable and unmoving security. |
| Ps 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God's reliable and immediate help in distress. |
| Ps 62:1-2 | My soul waits in silence for God alone...He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress... | Immediate context: trust in God despite the described danger. |
| Prov 18:10 | The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. | God's name as a secure refuge against foes. |
| Nah 1:7 | The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble...He knows those who take refuge in Him. | God's protection during times of adversity. |
| Heb 13:6 | The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? | Confidence in divine help negating fear of human harm. |
| Theme: Wicked Intent and Divine Justice | ||
| Ps 36:4 | He devises mischief on his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good... | Deliberate planning of evil actions. |
| Ps 38:12 | Those who seek my life lay snares for me...they meditate treachery all day long. | Consistent, cunning, and malicious scheming. |
| Ps 58:2 | No, in your hearts you devise wrongdoing; on earth you deal out violence... | Deep-seated evil intent manifesting in action. |
| Mt 26:4 | They plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him. | Specific instance of a plot to murder a righteous man. |
| Ps 9:15-16 | The nations have sunk in the pit that they made...The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. | The ultimate consequence of the wicked's malicious deeds. |
Psalm 62 verses
Psalm 62 3 Meaning
Psalm 62:3 describes the relentless and concerted assault of many adversaries against a solitary individual, comparing him to highly unstable structures: a leaning wall and a tottering fence. It expresses the psalmist's deep lament and sense of imminent collapse due to the intense and sustained malicious efforts of his enemies who aim not merely to defeat, but to utterly destroy or 'crush' him from his position. The verse vividly portrays extreme vulnerability and peril from overwhelming, evil opposition.
Psalm 62 3 Context
Psalm 62 is a Psalm of trust and quiet confidence in God amidst great personal danger. The psalm is attributed to David, likely reflecting a period of intense pressure, betrayal, and hostility from enemies or treacherous friends, possibly during Absalom's rebellion or Saul's relentless pursuit. Verses 1 and 2 establish David's steadfast reliance on God as his sole salvation and refuge. Verse 3 then abruptly shifts to lament and protest, describing the oppressive reality of the assault he faces. It immediately follows the affirmation of trust, contrasting the Psalmist's unwavering faith in God with the desperate, destructive efforts of his numerous adversaries. This juxtaposition highlights the Psalmist's resolve to remain stable in God even as his enemies perceive him as weak and easily toppled.
Psalm 62 3 Word analysis
- How long (עַד־אָ֭נָה `‘ad-’ānah`): This phrase expresses impatience and a plea for relief from a prolonged, burdensome situation. It implies suffering under continuous oppression and questions the duration of the injustice.
- will you assault (תְּהוֹתְתוּ `təhōtətû`): Derived from the root הות `hut`, meaning "to thrust down," "to push," "to conspire," or "to imagine mischief." It denotes an active, hostile plotting, not just physical attack but a relentless, insidious scheme to bring about someone's downfall. This is a constant, ongoing action.
- a man (גֶּ֫בֶר `geber`): This term refers to a strong, valiant, or prominent man, as opposed to simply 'ish (generic man). Using `geber` emphasizes that the target is a significant figure, perhaps highlighting the great injustice that even one of strength or position is being relentlessly targeted by many.
- that you may crush him (תְּרָצְּחוּ `təratṣəḥû`): From רצח `ratsaḥ`, often translated as "to murder" or "to kill." Here, it carries the strong connotation of total destruction, to break utterly, to annihilate not just his physical being but his standing, his reputation, his very existence. It speaks of the wicked intent of complete ruin.
- all of you (כֻלְּכֶם `kulləḵem`): This highlights the collective, numerous, and unanimous nature of the adversaries. It emphasizes the overwhelming odds against the single man, portraying a concerted effort by many.
- as a leaning wall (כְּקִיר־נָטוּי `kəqîr-nāṭûy`): A metaphor for extreme instability. `Qîr` is a strong, permanent wall, but `nāṭûy` means "bent," "inclined," or "bulging." It refers to a wall that is bowing outward and is on the verge of collapsing. It signifies complete vulnerability and imminent ruin, making the man an easy target for any push.
- a tottering fence (גָּדֵר הֲדּוּיָה `gāḏêr haddûyāh`): Another metaphor emphasizing instability and imminent collapse. `Gāḏêr` is a low wall or hedge, often used as a boundary, but `haddûyāh` means "pushed over," "shaken," or "broken down." It implies that the man is perceived as already weakened and easily overthrown, like a fence that can be pushed down by simply leaning on it.
- "How long will you assault a man, that you may crush him?": This phrase underscores the intense, persistent, and deadly intent of the enemies. It highlights a question of enduring suffering, with the wicked pursuing the absolute destruction of their victim. It's a lament over the duration and viciousness of the opposition.
- "all of you, as a leaning wall, a tottering fence": This vivid imagery paints a picture of collective forces targeting someone who appears utterly fragile and about to fall. The "all of you" signifies widespread malice, while the "leaning wall" and "tottering fence" reveal how the enemies perceive the man—as one whose downfall is inevitable and easily brought about by a collective push. This paints a picture of imminent, humiliating ruin in the eyes of his oppressors.
Psalm 62 3 Bonus section
This verse perfectly captures the psychological warfare employed by adversaries. The enemies do not just attack; they aim to cultivate a sense of despair and inevitability of collapse within the victim and to portray this weakness outwardly to others. They actively "assault" the person's spirit and standing, hoping to internalize the "leaning wall" and "tottering fence" image so the person eventually gives up or falls. This is a common tactic of accusers and persecutors who seek to undermine one's reputation, support, and very will to stand. The Psalmist is speaking from a place of great perceived instability and the imminent danger of being utterly overthrown, which underscores the profound level of trust he articulates elsewhere in the psalm as his only defense.
Psalm 62 3 Commentary
Psalm 62:3 is a poignant outcry of a righteous individual facing relentless, insidious, and overwhelming opposition. The Psalmist's enemies are depicted not merely as antagonists but as conspirators united in their goal to utterly destroy him, likening him to a "leaning wall" and a "tottering fence." These vivid metaphors emphasize profound vulnerability and the sensation of being on the precipice of ruin. Despite his inward strength rooted in God (as stated in preceding and following verses), his outward circumstance makes him appear feeble and an easy target for his many adversaries. The verse underscores the unjust and relentless nature of spiritual and physical warfare that believers may experience, where adversaries aim for total demolition rather than mere defeat, viewing the faithful as precarious and easily overcome. Yet, within the larger Psalm, this depiction of vulnerability serves as a contrast, amplifying the unwavering trust the Psalmist places in God alone for his deliverance.