Psalms 54:3

Psalms 54:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah
• New King James Version (NKJV)For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah
• New Living Translation (NLT)For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God. Interlude

Context of Psalms 54:3

1Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might. 2Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me— people without regard for God. 4Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. 5Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them.

Psalms 54:3 word by word

כִּ֤י זָרִ֨ים׀ קָ֤מוּ עָלַ֗י וְֽ֭עָרִיצִים בִּקְשׁ֣וּ נַפְשִׁ֑י לֹ֤א שָׂ֨מוּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְנֶגְדָּ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For strangersזוּרzûr · be a strangerH2114
• are risen upקוּםqûm · to arise: attackH6965
• against me, and oppressorsעָרִיץ‛ârîyts · ruthlessH6184
• seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• after my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• they have not setשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• Selahסֶ֫לָהselâh · SelahH5542

Cross-references for Psalms 54:3

• Psalms 69:8I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children;
• Psalms 86:14Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God; ruthless people are trying to kill me— they have no regard for you.
• Job 19:13“He has alienated my family from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
• Psalms 22:16Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
• Psalms 59:3See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
• Matthew 27:20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
• Psalms 16:8I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
• Psalms 36:1I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
• Psalms 53:4Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on God.
• John 16:3They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.

Commentaries on Psalms 54:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Strangers are risen up against me - The Ziphites. And oppressors - Saul, his courtiers, and his army. They have not set God before them - It is on no religious account, nor is it to accomplish any end, on which they can ask the blessing of God. Selah - This is true.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For strangers are risen up against me - That is, foreigners; those of another nation or land. Saul and his friends who sought the life of David were his own countrymen; these persons who sought go betray him were another people. They attempted to gain the favor of Saul, or to secure a reward from him, by betraying to him an innocent man whom he was persecuting. And oppressors seek after my soul - Seek after my life. The word here rendered “oppressors”…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The strangers were excluded from the covenant community (see Psalm 109:11; Proverbs 5:10). Proud and violent people do not respect God or others (see Psalms 35:11, 25; 86:14; Proverbs 11:16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. strangers--perhaps Ziphites. oppressors--literally, "terrible ones" (Is 13:11; 25:3). Such were Saul and his army. not set ... them--acted as atheists, without God's fear (compare Psa 16:8).Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 54:3

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Godlessness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Neginoth
• Psalms
• Psalms, Book of
• Ziphims
• Maschil

Commentaries on Psalms 54

• 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