English Standard Version
Psalms 118:12
12They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They swarmed around me like bees; they blazed against me like a crackling fire. But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
Context of Psalms 118:12
10All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 11They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 13I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. 14The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
Read all of Psalms 118Psalms 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 1:44Then the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do and beat you down in Seir as far as Hormah.
- Psalms 83:14As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
- Ecclesiastes 7:6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.
- Isaiah 27:4I have no wrath. Would that I had thorns and briers to battle! I would march against them, I would burn them up together.
- Nahum 1:10For they are like entangled thorns, like drunkards as they drink; they are consumed like stubble fully dried.
- Psalms 8:9O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
- Psalms 20:1May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
- 1 Samuel 17:45Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
- 2 Samuel 23:6But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand;
- 1 Chronicles 14:10And David inquired of God, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to him, "Go up, and I will give them into your hand."
- 2 Chronicles 14:11And Asa cried to the Lord his God, "O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you."
- 2 Chronicles 16:7At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you.
- 2 Chronicles 20:17You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you."
- 2 Chronicles 22:7But it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram. For when he came there, he went out with Jehoram to meet Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries