New English Translation
Psalms 118:12
12They surrounded me like bees. But they disappeared as quickly as a fire among thorns. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.
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 surrounded me. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away. 11They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away. They surrounded me like bees. But they disappeared as quickly as a fire among thorns. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away. 13“You aggressively attacked me and tried to knock me down, but the Lord helped me. 14The Lord gives me strength and protects me; he has become my deliverer.”
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 1:44The Amorite inhabitants of that area confronted you and chased you like a swarm of bees, striking you down from Seir as far as Hormah.
- Psalms 83:14Like the fire that burns down the forest, or the flames that consume the mountainsides,
- Ecclesiastes 7:6For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless.
- Isaiah 27:4I am not angry. I wish I could confront some thorns and briers! Then I would march against them for battle; I would set them all on fire,
- Nahum 1:10Surely they will be totally consumed like entangled thorn bushes, like the drink of drunkards, like very dry stubble.
- Psalms 8:9O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth!
- Psalms 20:1May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble; may the God of Jacob make you secure!
- 1 Samuel 17:45But David replied to the Philistine, “You are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I am coming against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel’s armies, whom you have defied!
- 2 Samuel 23:6But evil people are like thorns – all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand.
- 1 Chronicles 14:10David asked God, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to him, “March up! I will hand them over to you!”
- 2 Chronicles 14:11Asa prayed to the Lord his God: “O Lord, there is no one but you who can help the weak when they are vastly outnumbered. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you and have marched on your behalf against this huge army. O Lord our God, don’t let men prevail against you!”
- 2 Chronicles 16:7At that time Hanani the prophet visited King Asa 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 from your hand.
- 2 Chronicles 20:17You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!’”
- 2 Chronicles 22:7God brought about Ahaziah’s downfall through his visit to Joram. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had commissioned to wipe out 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
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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