Psalms 118:12

Psalms 118:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
• New International Version (NIV)They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
• New King James Version (NKJV)They surrounded me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

Context of Psalms 118:12

10All the nations were ready to attack me, but I turned them away by the power of the Lord. 11Yes, they were all round me, ready to attack, but I won against them in the name of the Lord. They were all round me like a cloud of bees! But they were like a fire in a thorn bush that burns quickly and has soon gone. I turned them away by the power of the Lord. 13My enemies attacked me and they tried to knock me down! But the Lord helped me. 14The Lord makes me strong and he takes care of me. He is the one who keeps me safe.

Psalms 118:12 word by word

סַבּ֤וּנִי כִדְבוֹרִ֗ים דֹּ֭עֲכוּ כְּאֵ֣שׁ קוֹצִ֑ים בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• They compassed me aboutסָבַבsâbab · to turn: surroundH5437
• like beesדְּבוֹרָהdebôrâh debôrâh · beeH1682
• they are quenchedדָּעַךְdâ‛ak · to put outH1846
• as the fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• of thornsקוֹץqôts qôts · thornH6975
• for in the nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• I will destroyמוּלmûl · to circumciseH4135

Cross-references for Psalms 118:12

• Deuteronomy 1:44The Amorite people who lived in those hills came out to attack you. You ran away from them, as if they were a crowd of bees. They attacked you as you ran down into the country of Edom, all the way to Hormah.
• Psalms 83:14Go after them, like a fire that burns both forest and mountains.
• Ecclesiastes 7:6If you use thorn bushes to make a fire, they make a lot of noise but they burn too quickly. When a foolish person laughs, their noise also has no purpose.
• Isaiah 27:4I am not angry now. If there were thorn bushes or weeds in my vineyard, I would attack them. I would burn them all.
• Nahum 1:10He will kill them. And then it will be like when thorn bushes have caught people. Or it will be like when they have drunk too much alcohol. It will be like when someone burns dry straw.
• Psalms 8:9Lord, our ruler, your name is famous all over the world.
• Psalms 20:1May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble and you call to him for help. May Israel's great God keep you safe.
• 1 Samuel 17:45David said to him, ‘You have come to fight against me with a sword, a knife and a spear. But I come to fight against you with the authority of the Lord Almighty. He is the God who leads Israel's army, and you have insulted him!
• 2 Samuel 23:6But God will remove all wicked people. He will throw them away like weeds. They are like thorn bushes that you cannot pull out with your hands.
• 1 Chronicles 14:10David asked God, ‘Should I go and attack the Philistines? Will you put them under my power?’ The Lord answered him, ‘Yes, go and attack the Philistines. I will help you to win against them.’
• 2 Chronicles 14:11Then Asa called out to the Lord his God to help him. He prayed, ‘There is nobody like you Lord. You have power to help a few weak people against many strong people. Help us, Lord our God, because we trust you. We want people to give honour to your name. That is why we have come to fight against this large army. Lord, you are our God. You cannot let these men win against you.’
• 2 Chronicles 16:7At that time, the prophet Hanani went to visit Asa, king of Judah. He said to him, ‘You asked the king of Syria to help you. You should have trusted the Lord your God to help you instead. Because of that, the army of Syria's king has escaped from your power.
• 2 Chronicles 20:17You will not have to fight in this battle. Go to your places and stand still. Then you will see the Lord rescue you. People of Judah and Jerusalem, do not be afraid. Be brave! Tomorrow you must march out of here towards the enemy army. The Lord is with you!” ’
• 2 Chronicles 22:7When Ahaziah visited Joram, God used it to cause Ahaziah's death. When Ahaziah arrived, he went with Joram to meet Nimshi's son Jehu. But the Lord had chosen Jehu to kill all Ahab's family.

Commentaries on Psalms 118:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns - I shall refer to Dr. Delaney's note on this passage. The reader has here in miniature two of the finest images in Homer; which, if his curiosity demands to be gratified, he will find illustrated and enlarged, Iliad ii., ver. 86. - . ̈́ , , ' ,̔ ' ̔ , ̔ ̔ ̈́ . - The following host, Poured forth by thousands, darkens all the coast. As from some rocky cleft the shepherd sees…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12They compassed me about like bees - (a) As thick or numerous as bees; (b) armed as bees - or, their weapons might be compared to the stings of bees. They are quenched as the fire of thorns - The Septuagint and the Vulgate render this, “They burn as the fire of thorns.” The connection would seem to demand this, but the Hebrew will not bear it. The figure is changed in the Hebrew, as is not uncommon. The mind of the psalmist at first recalls the number and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-12Strength comes from the name of the LORD. This is shown by the threefold repetition of the attackers, the name of the LORD, and the victory he gives. Even when hostile people surrounded the psalmist, the Lord extinguished them like burning thorns (see Isaiah 9:18; 10:17).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1210-12. Though as numerous and irritating as bees [Psa 118:12], by God's help his enemies would be destroyed.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 118:12

• Bee
• Thorn
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Bee
• Better
• Confidence
• Hallel
• Hymn
• Psalms
• Refuse
• Rejoicing
• Temple, the Second
• Celebrate

Commentaries on Psalms 118

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings