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! Pay attention to my plea for help! Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me! 2Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent before you. Certainly my enemies chase me. They smash me into the ground. They force me to live in dark regions, like those who have been dead for ages. 4My strength leaves me; I am absolutely shocked. 5I recall the old days; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on your accomplishments.

Psalms 143:3 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• For the enemyאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
• hath persecutedרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
• my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• he hath smittenדָּכָאdâkâ' · to crushH1792
• my lifeחַיָּהchay · living thingH2416
• to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• he hath made me to dwellיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• in darknessמַחְשָׁךְmachshâk · darknessH4285
• as those that have been longעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: antiquityH5769
• deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191

Cross-references for Psalms 143:3

• Psalms 7:1O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter. Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!
• Psalms 17:9Protect me from the wicked men who attack me, my enemies who crowd around me for the kill.
• Psalms 35:4May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated! May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed!
• Psalms 54:3For foreigners attack me; ruthless men, who do not respect God, seek my life. (Selah)
• Psalms 142:6Listen to my cry for help, for I am in serious trouble! Rescue me from those who chase me, for they are stronger than I am.
• Psalms 7:5may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)
• 2 Samuel 2:22So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. How then could I show my face in the presence of Joab your brother?”
• 2 Samuel 18:11Joab replied to the man who was telling him this, “What! You saw this? Why didn’t you strike him down right on the spot? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a commemorative belt!”
• Psalms 31:12I am forgotten, like a dead man no one thinks about; I am regarded as worthless, like a broken jar.
• Psalms 88:4They treat me like those who descend into the grave. I am like a helpless man,
• Ezekiel 37:11Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are all the house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dry, 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