Psalm 7 15

Psalm 7:15 kjv

He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

Psalm 7:15 nkjv

He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made.

Psalm 7:15 niv

Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made.

Psalm 7:15 esv

He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.

Psalm 7:15 nlt

They dig a deep pit to trap others,
then fall into it themselves.

Psalm 7 verses

Psalm 7 15 Meaning

Psalm 7:15 declares a fundamental principle of divine justice: the evil plans meticulously crafted by the wicked against others will ultimately turn back and ensnare them. It illustrates how the malicious schemer becomes the victim of their own destructive designs, falling into the very trap they intended for someone else. This verse speaks of a natural and divine retribution where the wicked's actions lead to their own undoing.

Psalm 7 15 Context

Psalm chapter 7 is a personal lament and prayer by David, delivered "to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite." While the identity of Cush is debated (possibly a slanderous supporter of Saul or a fictional representation of an enemy), the psalm portrays David's fervent appeal to God for vindication against false accusations and malicious persecution. David asserts his innocence (Ps 7:3-5) and calls upon God, the righteous Judge, to administer justice (Ps 7:6-8). The psalm shifts from David's plea to a confident declaration of God's character as a righteous judge who is constantly just and acts against evil (Ps 7:9-11).

Verse 15 comes after David describes the wicked's malicious plotting (Ps 7:12-14) – their turning swords, bending bows, conceiving mischief, and giving birth to evil. Psalm 7:15-16 serve as the divine pronouncement of the wicked's inevitable doom, concluding this section by showing how their efforts boomerang upon themselves. It signifies David's trust that God will indeed uphold justice and protect the innocent by turning the oppressor's plans back on them. The imagery of pits and traps was well-understood in the ancient world, commonly used in hunting or warfare to ensnare foes.

Psalm 7 15 Word analysis

• He: Refers to the wicked individual, the adversary described earlier in the psalm (Ps 7:4-5, 11-14).
• made: From the Hebrew verb חָבַל (chabal), which in some ancient interpretations and versions (like the Septuagint) carries the sense of "making" or "planning," especially in a destructive way. While often meaning "to act corruptly" or "to bind," in contexts of digging a pit (related to חָרַה charah - to dig), it signifies deliberate, strenuous preparation of a harmful trap.
• a pit: Hebrew בּוֹר (bor). A deep hole or well. In this context, it functions metaphorically as a hidden trap designed for ruin.
• and digged it: Hebrew כָּרָהוּ (karahu), from the verb כָּרָה (karah), meaning "to dig" or "excavate." The repetition and specification of "digged it" emphasize the wicked one's laborious, intentional, and premeditated effort in constructing the snare. It's not a hasty act, but a calculated undertaking.
• and is fallen: Hebrew וַיִּפֹּל (vayyiqpol), from נָפַל (naphal), meaning "to fall." The sudden, abrupt, and involuntary nature of the fall is conveyed by this verb. It contrasts sharply with the diligent effort of "making" and "digging." This fall is typically depicted as shameful and ruinous.
• into the ditch: Hebrew בְּשַׁ֣חַת (b’shachat), from שַׁחַת (shachath). This term is significant as it means "pit," "corruption," or "destruction." While bor refers to the physical hole, shachath often denotes a deeper sense of ruin, decay, or ultimate undoing. The wicked falls not merely into a physical hole but into their own personal ruin and perdition.
• which he made: Hebrew יִפְעָֽל׃ (yiph'al), from the verb פָּעַל (pa’al), meaning "to do," "make," "accomplish," or "work." This is the core element asserting poetic justice. It explicitly states that the downfall experienced is the direct, undeniable consequence of the wicked person's own efforts, deeds, and devices. The destruction is self-inflicted.

Words-group analysis:

• "He made a pit, and digged it": This phrase underlines the deliberate and exhaustive effort invested by the wicked in their malicious plot. The dual description—first stating the construction, then explicitly detailing the digging—reinforces the intentionality and perhaps the meticulous nature of the evil plan. It portrays a calculated and concerted endeavor to cause harm.
• "and is fallen into the ditch which he made": This starkly contrasting phrase reveals the divine reversal. The passive "is fallen" immediately follows the active "made" and "digged," highlighting a swift and often humiliating end. The shift from bor (pit) to shachath (ditch/destruction) elevates the outcome from mere entrapment to utter ruin. Crucially, "which he made" emphasizes that this destruction is not random or external, but directly sourced from his own malicious enterprise, thereby asserting God's perfect justice.

Psalm 7 15 Bonus section

• Theological Irony: The verse demonstrates a powerful divine irony, where the very act of meticulously planning destruction for others becomes the instrument of one's own destruction. This reflects God's justice which is often poetic in its execution.
• Refutation of Fatalism: This principle rejects the idea that evil acts go unpunished or that the wicked are arbitrarily doomed. Instead, their end is intrinsically linked to their choices and actions, reinforcing moral accountability.
• God's Sovereignty in Justice: While appearing as a natural consequence, the "falling" implies God's orchestrating hand, ensuring that justice prevails. God often uses the very wickedness of man to bring about His just judgments.

Psalm 7 15 Commentary

Psalm 7:15 encapsulates a profound theological and moral principle woven throughout Scripture: divine justice ensures that the schemes of the wicked boomerang, leading to their own ruin. This is not a passive law of consequence but an active demonstration of God's oversight. The "making" and "digging" portray the intense, calculated effort of the enemy, highlighting their premeditated malice and their investment in creating harm. The use of two verbs for the creation of the pit emphasizes the intentionality and painstaking nature of their evil plotting.

However, the climax lies in the abrupt "fallen." This dramatic reversal highlights God's intervention, allowing the wicked's own trap to become their snare. The change from bor (pit) to shachath (destruction/corruption) is key: it's not just a physical fall but an ultimate undoing, leading to their complete demise or ethical decay. The explicit note "which he made" is paramount; it firmly attributes the ultimate suffering of the wicked directly to their own hands, emphasizing the self-inflicted nature of their demise. The verse thus serves as both a comfort to those persecuted (knowing God will vindicate them) and a stark warning to perpetrators of evil that their designs will inevitably be met with fitting divine retribution.