Psalms 143:3

Psalms 143:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
• New International Version (NIV)The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead.

Context of Psalms 143:3

1O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me. 2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You. For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead. 4My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me. 5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I consider the work of Your hands.

Psalms 143:3 word by word

כִּ֥י רָ֘דַ֤ף אוֹיֵ֨ב׀ נַפְשִׁ֗י דִּכָּ֣א לָ֭אָרֶץ חַיָּתִ֑י הוֹשִׁיבַ֥נִי בְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃Read the interlinear

• Forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• the enemyאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
• has pursuedרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
• my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• crushingדָּכָאdâkâ' · to crushH1792
• my lifeחַיָּהchay · living thingH2416
• to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• making me dwellיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• in darknessמַחְשָׁךְmachshâk · darknessH4285
• like those long sinceעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: antiquityH5769
• deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191

Cross-references for Psalms 143:3

• Psalms 7:1O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,
• Psalms 17:9from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
• Psalms 35:4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
• Psalms 54:3For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life— men with no regard for God. Selah
• Psalms 142:6Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.
• Psalms 7:5then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
• 2 Samuel 2:22Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”
• 2 Samuel 18:11“You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt!”
• Psalms 31:12I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind. I am like a broken vessel.
• Psalms 88:4I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength.
• Ezekiel 37:11Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’

Commentaries on Psalms 143:3

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul - Has persecuted me; has sought my life. He hath smitten my life down to the ground - He has, as it were, trampled me down to the earth. The word rendered “smitten” means to break in pieces, to beat small, to crush. See Psalm 72:4; Psalm 89:10; Job 6:9. His very life seemed to be crushed out as one that is trodden down to the ground. He hath made me to dwell in darkness - He has made my life like that of one who…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4My spirit grows faint within me: The psalmist admits his desperation as his life seems to slip away under cruel and powerful enemies.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. The exciting reason for his prayer--his afflictions--led to confession as just made: he now makes the complaint. as those that have been long dead--deprived of life's comforts (compare Psa 40:15; 88:3-6).Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 3For an enemy pursued my soul That is to say: If I have sinned before You, behold, I have suffered. This psalm was recited as referring to all of Israel in Babylon.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 143:3

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Colors
• Death

In the dictionaries

• Desolate
• Muse
• Death
• Eschatology of the Old Testament
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 143

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings