Psalm 63:10 kjv
They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
Psalm 63:10 nkjv
They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals.
Psalm 63:10 niv
They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
Psalm 63:10 esv
they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.
Psalm 63:10 nlt
They will die by the sword
and become the food of jackals.
Psalm 63 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 79:2 | The dead bodies of your servants...food for the birds...flesh for the beasts. | Unburied bodies as carrion for animals due to judgment. |
| Jer 7:33 | And the dead bodies of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven... | Prophecy of severe judgment, corpses left exposed. |
| Deut 28:26 | And thy carcass shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts. | A covenant curse, denying burial, leading to consumption by wild animals. |
| 1 Sam 17:44 | Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts. | Goliath's taunt, implying an unburied death and disgrace. |
| 1 Sam 17:46 | This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee... | David's confident prediction of his enemy's defeat and death. |
| Isa 66:24 | And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed. | Vision of the final judgment and the enduring disgrace of the wicked. |
| Rev 19:17-18 | Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh... | Prophetic imagery of the ultimate consumption of enemies' flesh by birds. |
| Ezek 6:3-7 | Thus saith the Lord God unto the mountains...fall by the sword...your slain men. | Judgment for idolatry, leading to death by the sword and scattered corpses. |
| Ezek 39:4 | Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands... | Judgment on Gog, portraying their armies as food for scavenger birds and beasts. |
| Ps 37:14-15 | The wicked have drawn out the sword...their sword shall enter into their own heart. | The wicked's violence turning back upon themselves. |
| Job 27:7 | Let my enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous. | Expresses a desire for the downfall of an adversary, linking it to divine justice. |
| Ps 35:8 | Let destruction come upon him...let the net he hid catch himself; into that very destruction. | Enemies ensnared by their own destructive plots. |
| Ps 9:15 | The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. | The wicked fall victim to their own devices. |
| Ps 5:10 | Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels... | Prayer for divine intervention against malicious adversaries. |
| Rom 12:19 | Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. | New Testament perspective on divine justice, reserving vengeance for God. |
| Ps 63:9 | But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. | The immediate preceding verse, defining the "they" who face this judgment. |
| Ps 12:3-4 | The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. | God's judgment against those who speak arrogantly and deceitfully. |
| Nah 1:15 | The wicked one shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off. | God's absolute eradication of His people's tormentors. |
| 2 Sam 18:9-17 | And Absalom rode upon a mule...caught in a great oak...and he died. | The violent, undignified end of Absalom, a significant enemy of David, whose body was exposed. |
| Jer 19:7 | I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them. | Prediction of perishing by the sword from hostile forces. |
| Isa 14:19 | Thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain... | Ultimate dishonor through denial of proper burial. |
| Gen 15:10-11 | But the birds of prey came down on the carcasses...and Abram drove them away. | Depiction of carrion birds drawn to carcasses; Abram's action shows concern for sanctifying. |
Psalm 63 verses
Psalm 63 10 Meaning
Psalm 63:10 foretells the utter destruction and ignominious end of King David's enemies, who sought his life. It predicts that they will perish violently, specifically by the sword, symbolizing a decisive defeat or execution. Furthermore, their bodies will not receive proper burial but will become carrion, a "portion" for wild scavengers like foxes (or more broadly, jackals/hyenas common in the region), signifying profound disgrace, dishonor, and separation from any sacred memory. This verse highlights the contrast between the psalmist's devotion to God and the ultimate, humiliating fate awaiting those who oppose God's anointed.
Psalm 63 10 Context
Psalm 63 is a fervent expression of David's deep longing for God while he is in a desolate, dry wilderness. The superscription states, "A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah." This likely refers to a period of intense persecution and flight, possibly during King Saul's relentless pursuit (e.g., 1 Sam 23:14) or later during Absalom's rebellion (e.g., 2 Sam 15-16), a time when his life was constantly threatened. In this hostile environment, David paradoxically finds profound spiritual refreshment and security in God (Ps 63:1-8). The psalmist’s intense spiritual devotion then shifts, in verses 9-11, to a declaration of confident trust in God’s impending judgment upon his enemies. Verse 10 directly describes the ultimate, humiliating fate awaiting those who actively sought David's life, serving as a powerful contrast to David's unwavering faith and God's sustaining hand.
Psalm 63 10 Word analysis
- They: Hebrew: הֵמָּה (hemmah). This pronoun refers directly to "those that seek my soul, to destroy it" from verse 9. This highlights that the judgment is specifically directed at the individuals or groups who actively oppose God's chosen servant.
- shall fall: Hebrew: יָבֹא (yavo'), derived from the verb בּוֹא (bo'), which commonly means "to come," "to enter," or "to go." In this context, it powerfully signifies "they shall descend," "they shall be brought down," or "they shall come to an end." It speaks to an inevitable, divinely ordained fate of collapse and destruction for the enemies.
- by the sword: Hebrew: בִּידֵי חֶרֶב (biydey cherev). Literally meaning "by the hands of the sword" or "by means of the sword."
- חֶרֶב (cherev): Refers to a "sword," the primary weapon for battle, execution, or violence in the ancient world. This signifies a violent, decisive, and often bloody end to their lives. It typically implies death in combat or judicial execution.
- they shall be: Hebrew: יִהְיוּ (yihyu), from the verb הָיָה (hayah), "to be, become, happen." This highlights the definitive change in their state or condition, emphasizing their ultimate destiny and transformation into a different, degraded status.
- a portion: Hebrew: מְנָת (menath). This term means "share, allotment, portion, part, or designated inheritance." It implies that their bodies are divinely apportioned, or explicitly destined, to be food. This signifies that their grim fate is not accidental but a determined consequence, an allocated share of judgment.
- for foxes: Hebrew: שֻׁעָלִים (shu'alim), the plural of שׁוּעָל (shu'al).
- שׁוּעָל (shu'al): Typically translated as "fox." However, in the context of scavenging carrion in ancient Israel, this term often includes, or perhaps primarily refers to, the "jackal" (Canis aureus syriacus). Jackals are more significant scavengers of human remains in the region than common foxes. To become a "portion for foxes" implies being abandoned, unburied, and consumed by wild scavengers. This signifies the ultimate dishonor, disgrace, and complete annihilation of their legacy. It underscores their complete removal from the human sphere, denied even the basic dignity of burial according to custom and religious practice.
- They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes: This striking two-part parallelism vividly illustrates the completeness of their destruction and dishonor. First, a violent end, signifying defeat in war or execution. Second, the subsequent defilement of their bodies, symbolizing utter disgrace and rejection, both by humanity and, implicitly, by God. This severe imagery contrasts sharply with David's blessed relationship with God and the honor God bestows on His faithful servants.
Psalm 63 10 Bonus section
The denial of proper burial, as depicted in Psalm 63:10, was one of the most severe punishments and curses in the ancient Near East, often considered worse than death itself. It meant the permanent shaming of the individual and their lineage, as the body was rendered "unclean" and could not properly return to the dust of the earth from which it came. This concept resonated deeply with the cultural and religious values of Israel, where burial within family tombs was a symbol of peace and hope beyond this life (e.g., Gen 25:8). The inclusion of "foxes" (or jackals) as scavengers points to the reality of the desolate wilderness David inhabited and underscores the animalistic, debased fate awaiting those who had human form but harbored malevolent intent. This verse, though strong, operates within a covenantal framework, expressing confidence in God's righteous rule and the eventual triumph of good over evil.
Psalm 63 10 Commentary
Psalm 63:10 is a vivid prophecy of judgment pronounced against David's enemies. It forecasts their violent demise ("fall by the sword") and the profound disgrace that follows death: their unburied bodies becoming carrion for wild animals, particularly foxes or jackals. This imagery goes beyond mere death; it signifies the utter negation of dignity and the blotting out of memory, which in ancient Israel, was a supreme humiliation. Such a fate implied a curse and being cast out from both community and God's favor, starkly contrasting with the sacred practices of honorable burial. The verse stands as a testament to God's protective sovereignty over His anointed and a warning to those who oppose His divine purposes. It highlights the principle of divine justice, where those who plot evil ultimately face their own downfall, illustrating that God defends His chosen servants and brings retribution upon their adversaries.