Psalm 7 6

Psalm 7:6 kjv

Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

Psalm 7:6 nkjv

Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded!

Psalm 7:6 niv

Arise, LORD, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.

Psalm 7:6 esv

Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.

Psalm 7:6 nlt

Arise, O LORD, in anger!
Stand up against the fury of my enemies!
Wake up, my God, and bring justice!

Psalm 7 verses

Psalm 7 6 Meaning

Psalm 7:6 is a passionate plea from David to the Sovereign Lord, invoking divine action against his unjust enemies. David urges God to rise up in righteous anger, assert His authority over the destructive fury of his adversaries, and intervene decisively to establish the justice and judgment that God Himself has ordained and promised. It is a profound appeal to God's character as a righteous judge who defends the innocent and punishes wickedness.

Psalm 7 6 Context

Psalm 7 is a "Shiggaion of David," a type of psalm implying a wild, passionate outpouring of emotion. It is addressed to the Lord concerning "Cush, a Benjaminite," whose identity is uncertain but likely represents a significant false accuser or persecutor of David. The psalm serves as a fervent prayer of an innocent individual appealing for divine vindication. Before verse 6, David earnestly affirms his integrity and innocence in verses 3-5, stating that if he had indeed committed the wrongs alleged against him, his enemies should justly overcome him. Having established his uprightness before God, David now moves to call upon God, the ultimate Judge, to intervene and dispense righteous judgment. This verse is the emotional peak of his plea for God to actively demonstrate His attributes as a powerful, righteous Judge against the malicious intentions and actions of his foes.

Psalm 7 6 Word analysis

• Arise (קוּמָה - qûmāh): This is an imperative verb, "Get up!" or "Rise up!" It is an urgent and direct command or plea to God, signifying a desire for Him to take decisive, active steps. It suggests a militant posture, implying God's readiness to engage in conflict on behalf of His servant, similar to the command given to the Ark in Num 10:35, signaling a battle or a move forward.
• O Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): The divine covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. David addresses God intimately and personally, appealing to their established covenant relationship and God's unchangeable character.
• in Your anger (בְּאַפֶּךָ - bə'appeka): The Hebrew word 'aph (אַף) literally means "nose" or "nostrils," but is idiomatically used to denote intense emotion, especially anger, due to the physical manifestation of forceful breathing through the nostrils when enraged. Here, it signifies God's righteous indignation and holy wrath, not capricious fury, but a controlled, just response to sin and injustice.
• lift Yourself up (הִנָּשֵׂא - hinnāsē'): This verb is from the root nasa', meaning "to lift, carry, bear." The Hithpael stem ("lift Yourself up") suggests God asserting His high position, His sovereignty, and His authority. It’s a call for God to manifest His majesty and power conspicuously, rising above the chaos of human conflict to establish His order.
• because of the rage (בְּעַבְרוֹת - bəʿaḇrôṯ): From the noun 'evrah (עֶבְרָה), which describes an "outburst," "fury," or "overflowing rage." This refers to the uncontrollable, destructive, and often irrational anger of David's enemies. The term contrasts sharply with God's measured, righteous anger.
• of my foes (צוֹרְרָי - ṣōrərāy): From the root ṣārar, meaning "to bind," "confine," or "distress." These are adversaries who not only oppose David but also constrict and cause him severe distress and anguish, attempting to trap or oppress him.
• and stir up / awake (וְעוּרָה - wəʿûrāh): Another imperative verb from 'ur, meaning "to rouse oneself," "awake," or "incite." This implies that God, who might seem dormant or inactive in the face of ongoing injustice, is called upon to shake off perceived slumber and take vigorous, unmistakable action. It conveys a deep longing for divine intervention.
• for me (אֵלַי - ʾēlāy): This prepositional phrase directs God's requested action specifically towards David's personal vindication and defense, emphasizing his unique and desperate need for divine intervention.
• justice (מִשְׁפָּט - mišpāṭ): This comprehensive Hebrew term signifies much more than mere retribution. It encompasses "judgment," "ordinance," "right verdict," "equity," "righteous governance," and "what is due." David is asking for God to establish and implement what is inherently right and ordered according to divine standards, restoring proper balance and righteousness.
• You have commanded / appointed (צִוִּיתָ - ṣiwwîṯā): This past tense verb emphasizes that justice is not something foreign or novel to God's character. Instead, it is an integral part of His divine decrees and established will. David appeals to God to perform that which He has already ordained or committed Himself to doing, asserting that divine justice is a certainty woven into the very fabric of God's covenant and law. It implies an appeal to God's own stated purpose or established norm regarding righteousness and fairness.

• "Arise, O Lord, in Your anger": This phrase encapsulates an urgent and bold summons for God to end His perceived inaction and decisively intervene. It appeals to God's holy character, trusting that His wrath is never capricious but always righteously directed against evil and injustice.
• "lift Yourself up because of the rage of my foes": This powerful request calls for God to visibly demonstrate His sovereign authority and power. The lifting up of God's Person is meant to overpower and contrast with the uncontrollable and destructive fury of the adversaries, establishing divine order over human chaos.
• "and stir up for me justice; You have commanded it": This forms the specific request. David is not merely asking for general help, but for the enactment of mišpāṭ, divine justice, directly on his behalf. The declaration that God has "commanded" or "appointed" this justice reinforces David's faith that God's character dictates such action and that He will be faithful to His own decrees. It is an affirmation that God is committed to upholding righteousness and executing His just purposes.

Psalm 7 6 Bonus section

• The use of anthropomorphic language such as "Arise," "lift Yourself up," and "awake" does not imply limitations on God's omnipresent and active nature. Instead, these expressions convey the psalmist's earnest desire for a tangible, manifest intervention of God in the temporal realm, reflecting human understanding and reliance on a God who actively engages with His creation.
• This verse underpins the theological truth that divine justice is not arbitrary but flows from God's intrinsic character and eternal decrees. It affirms God's commitment to upholding righteousness, even when earthly circumstances appear chaotic and unfair. It reassures that evil will not prevail indefinitely, as God has already determined its just end.
• The Psalm transitions here, as is common in lament psalms, from a heartfelt lament and desperate plea to a more confident anticipation of God's future judgment and vindication, demonstrating a faith that transcends present distress.

Psalm 7 6 Commentary

Psalm 7:6 presents David's passionate appeal for divine justice. Faced with malicious falsehoods and the irrational fury of his enemies, David invokes the covenant Lord to shatter any apparent divine passivity. The command to "Arise" and "lift Yourself up" is a deeply anthropomorphic plea, urging God to take His seat as judge and act like a warrior prepared for battle, directly countering the chaos wrought by the adversaries. The request for God's "anger" is a specific invocation of His righteous indignation against sin, recognizing that divine wrath is not like human vindictiveness but is a holy response to unrighteousness. Most significantly, David appeals for God to "stir up... justice" that God Himself "has commanded" or "appointed." This is not a request for a new decree but for the execution of God's pre-ordained order of righteousness. It highlights David's confidence in God's faithfulness to His own character and His established decrees concerning justice for the oppressed. This verse encourages believers to approach God boldly in times of injustice, grounding their prayers in God's immutable character as the righteous Judge who will ultimately execute His commanded justice.