Psalm 7 13

Psalm 7:13 kjv

He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

Psalm 7:13 nkjv

He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.

Psalm 7:13 niv

He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.

Psalm 7:13 esv

he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.

Psalm 7:13 nlt

He will prepare his deadly weapons
and shoot his flaming arrows.

Psalm 7 verses

Psalm 7 13 Meaning

Psalm 7:13 conveys that God, as a righteous and discerning judge, has not only decided upon but also actively prepared the specific means for executing His divine justice against the wicked. This preparation includes instruments designed for destruction, symbolized by "fiery arrows," emphasizing the swift, inescapable, and intensely consuming nature of His impending judgment.

Psalm 7 13 Context

Psalm 7 is a psalm of David, often categorized as an individual lament and appeal for justice, specifically against Cush, a Benjamite (as stated in the superscription). The psalmist asserts his innocence (Ps 7:3-5) and appeals to God, who judges righteously, to vindicate him and judge his oppressors (Ps 7:6-8). Immediately preceding verse 13, Psalm 7:11-12 states that "God is a just judge, and God is indignant with the wicked every day. If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready." Verse 13 directly follows and elaborates on this readiness, depicting the very weapons God has prepared. The cultural context reflects ancient Near Eastern concepts of warfare and divine kingship, where gods wield cosmic weaponry to enforce justice or topple foes. The psalm's depiction of God as preparing lethal instruments contrasts with any belief that injustice goes unnoticed or that divine power is inert.

Psalm 7 13 Word analysis

• He: Refers to Yahweh, the LORD, emphasizing God's sole divine agency and supreme authority in judgment.
• has also prepared: Hebrew: kun (כּוּן). Implies intentional, deliberate action and forethought. God is not merely reactive but has actively equipped Himself for justice. It underscores divine purpose and readiness.
• for Himself: Though some translations (KJV) have "for him," the Hebrew often implies the action originates from and serves the agent's purpose. Here, it signifies that God's judgment proceeds from His own righteous nature and serves His divine glory, not a secondary or external force.
• instruments of death: Hebrew: keley mavet (כְּלֵי מָוֶת).
  • keley: plural of kli, meaning "vessel," "article," or "weapon/tool." In this context, it signifies "implements" or "weapons."
  • mavet: "death."
  • Together: Directly denotes tools or armaments explicitly designed to bring about cessation of life, judgment, or destruction. It highlights the fatal consequence of God's action against the wicked.
• He makes His arrows: The verb "makes" (asah - עָשָׂה) implies creative, purposeful, and effective action.
• His arrows: Hebrew: hitzav (חִצָּיו), plural of khetz (חֵץ), "arrow." A common biblical metaphor for swift, piercing, and precise divine judgment or calamity, whether literal or figurative, often associated with plague, famine, or the direct punishment of God.
• fiery shafts: Hebrew: l'dolkîm (לְדֹלְקִים), from the root dalaq (דָּלַק) meaning "to burn," "to glow," or "to hotly pursue."
  • This phrase isn't just "arrows" but "burning ones" or "glowing ones." It denotes not just literal fire-tipped arrows, but conveys intense heat, consuming power, speed, and inevitability of destruction. It symbolizes the white-hot wrath and consuming nature of divine justice.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He has also prepared for Himself instruments of death": This phrase establishes God's intentionality and comprehensive readiness for divine judgment. It portrays God as a cosmic warrior or judge who thoughtfully equips Himself with potent means of execution. The "instruments of death" indicate the severity and finality of the consequence awaiting the wicked.
• "He makes His arrows fiery shafts": This phrase elaborates on one specific and vivid type of "instrument of death" – arrows. The imagery of "fiery shafts" emphasizes the characteristics of God's judgment: it is swift (arrows), precise, pervasive (no escape), and utterly consuming or destructive (fiery). It speaks to the terror and efficacy of divine wrath.

Psalm 7 13 Bonus section

The active depiction of God "preparing" His instruments of judgment contrasts with common human procrastination or the perceived slowness of justice. This verse underlines divine foresight and absolute control over the mechanisms of retribution. Furthermore, the "fiery" aspect of the arrows connects conceptually with broader biblical themes of purification and ultimate judgment by fire, which signifies a thorough and absolute purging of evil. While David sought vindication in his present circumstances, the imagery transcends immediate historical events to encompass God's consistent character as the universal, righteous Judge who will ultimately put an end to all forms of injustice.

Psalm 7 13 Commentary

Psalm 7:13 offers a potent visual of God's commitment to justice. Far from a passive observer, the Almighty actively prepares His arsenal against wickedness. The phrase "instruments of death" is comprehensive, implying a variety of means through which divine judgment can be executed. This includes everything from natural disasters and disease to the consequences of human actions that turn back on the wicked. The subsequent specific example of "fiery arrows" further refines this imagery, highlighting the precision, swiftness, and consuming intensity of God's judgment. These are not randomly discharged but carefully "made" and "prepared" by God Himself. This verse serves both as a severe warning to those who persist in unrighteousness, affirming the certainty of their eventual reckoning, and as a powerful reassurance to the righteous that their plea for justice will be answered by a God who is both omnipotent and inherently just. It means that divine retribution is not a mere possibility but a meticulously prepared and inevitable reality for those who refuse to repent.