Psalm 7 5

Psalm 7:5 kjv

Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

Psalm 7:5 nkjv

Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah

Psalm 7:5 niv

then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.

Psalm 7:5 esv

let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah

Psalm 7:5 nlt

then let my enemies capture me.
Let them trample me into the ground
and drag my honor in the dust. Interlude

Psalm 7 verses

Psalm 7 5 Meaning

Psalm 7:5 represents a severe self-imprecation made by David, where he invokes the direst of consequences upon himself should the accusations against him (from verses 3-4) prove true. It signifies his absolute conviction of his innocence before God and man, demonstrating his complete trust in God as the righteous Judge. By declaring himself willing to suffer the ultimate humiliation and death—being pursued, overtaken, trampled, and left to perish in the dust—he publicly and solemnly submits his life and honor to divine arbitration, seeking vindication from false charges.

Psalm 7 5 Context

Psalm 7 is a "shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite." While the identity of Cush is debated—perhaps a loyalist to Saul, a specific individual, or a general type of adversary—the psalm unequivocally portrays David's experience of false accusation and persecution. The psalm moves from an initial cry for deliverance (Ps 7:1-2) to a strong affirmation of his innocence (Ps 7:3-5), culminating in an appeal to God for judgment (Ps 7:6-8) and confidence in God's righteousness (Ps 7:9-17). Verse 5, specifically, serves as the most profound declaration of innocence, an "oath of purgation." David states that if he has committed the wrongs detailed in verses 3 and 4, then he willingly invites the most severe consequences from his enemies—complete humiliation, capture, and death. This is not mere hyperbole but a solemn judicial appeal to the God of Israel, who judges impartially and knows the heart. The context is a king and prophet under severe pressure, demonstrating profound reliance on divine justice.

Psalm 7 5 Word analysis

• let the enemy pursue me:
  • "let" (verb forms imply jussive or volitive, indicating a wish or command; here, a strong allowance/invocation).
  • "enemy" (אויב, ʾôyēḇ): Refers to a hostile adversary, one who hates or shows enmity. In the context of false accusations, it's the accuser or their agents. The word implies someone actively seeking to harm or destroy.
  • "pursue" (רָדַף, rāḏap̄): To chase, hunt, pursue, persecute relentlessly. It paints a picture of being hounded without respite, losing all escape.
  • Significance: This signifies the complete and relentless aggression permitted by divine will should David be found guilty. He would be granted no escape.
• and overtake me:
  • "overtake" (נָשַׂג, nāśaḡ): To catch up with, attain, reach. The consequence of being pursued relentlessly is eventually being caught.
  • Significance: This portrays capture and the end of any ability to evade or defend oneself. It's the fulfillment of the pursuit, leading to a state of being fully at the mercy of the enemy.
• let him trample my life to the ground:
  • "let him trample" (וְיִרְמֹס, wəyirmōs, from רָמַס rāmas): To tread down, stamp on, oppress. This is a vivid image of complete humiliation, crushing, and subjugation. It implies violent degradation.
  • "my life" (נַפְשִׁי, nap̄šî, from נֶפֶשׁ nepeš): Refers to the whole person, their soul, their vitality, their very being. It's not just physical life, but all that constitutes the individual's essence and worth.
  • "to the ground" (לָאָרֶץ, lāʾāreṣ): Indicates utter abasement, bringing down to the lowest possible level, as low as dust or earth.
  • Significance: This powerfully conveys utter destruction, utter loss of dignity, honor, and personhood, bringing him to a state of absolute ruin.
• and make me sleep in the dust:
  • "make me sleep" (וְיַשְׁכֵּן, wəyaškēn from שָׁכַן šākan, or a similar root meaning to lay down/cause to rest): While some translations use "lay my glory," the provided "make me sleep" uses imagery strongly associated with death in biblical literature. This refers to a forced cessation, a being put down permanently.
  • "in the dust" (בֶּעָפָר, beʿāp̄ār): Signifies the grave, the earth to which the body returns upon death. "Sleep in the dust" is a well-established euphemism for death and being buried.
  • Significance: This is the ultimate consequence—death and utter oblivion, without honor. It brings to mind Gen 3:19, where humans return to the dust from which they were formed, underscoring mortality and fragility.
• Selah (סֶלָה, selah):
  • A Hebrew term of uncertain meaning found in the Psalms and Habakkuk. Generally interpreted as a musical notation for a pause or interlude for silent meditation and reflection, or possibly an instruction to lift the voice or instruments louder.
  • Significance: In this context, "Selah" demands a moment of profound contemplation on the gravity of David's solemn vow and the immense stakes of divine judgment. It emphasizes the weight of the preceding self-imprecation.

Psalm 7 5 Bonus section

• Oath of Purgation: This verse is a prime example of an "oath of purgation" or "purgative oath" found in ancient Near Eastern legal and religious contexts. An individual accused of wrongdoing would swear an oath to a deity, inviting severe divine punishment if they were indeed guilty, thereby asserting their innocence and submitting to divine judgment. This indicates a high level of spiritual and judicial earnestness.
• The Gravity of the Oath: For a Hebrew king, the thought of his "glory" (as often translated in ESV) being laid in the dust was particularly abhorrent, representing the utter loss of status, power, and reputation. Choosing to "sleep in the dust" also directly signifies a shameful, unhallowed death, contrary to the hope of the righteous.
• David's Confidence in God's Righteousness: The audacity of David's prayer in this verse rests entirely on his foundational belief in God as a perfectly righteous and infallible Judge (as stated in Ps 7:9-11). He trusts that God will not let the righteous be perpetually shamed but will expose the wickedness of the wicked and vindicate His own.

Psalm 7 5 Commentary

Psalm 7:5 is David's dramatic assertion of innocence through an oath of purgation. By invoking such devastating consequences upon himself—unrestrained pursuit, capture, trampling, and death without honor—he expresses unwavering trust in God's perfect justice. This isn't a mere poetic flourish but a solemn covenantal appeal to the covenant Lord, who judges between right and wrong. It underscores the biblical principle that genuine righteousness seeks no hiding place but willingly submits to God's all-seeing eye. David’s willingness to invite death demonstrates the profound value he placed on his integrity and God's ultimate vindication, preferring oblivion over living under false accusation with a tainted conscience. It serves as an example of profound reliance on God as the just arbiter in the face of grave injustice, setting one's reputation and very life squarely before divine judgment.