New King James Version
Psalms 54:3
3For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah
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.
- New International Version (NIV)Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me— people without regard for God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. 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, And vindicate me by Your strength. 2Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah 4Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. 5He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth.
Read all of Psalms 54Psalms 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 have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother’s children;
- Psalms 86:14O God, the proud have risen against me, And a mob of violent men have sought my life, And have not set You before them.
- Job 19:13“He has removed my brothers far from me, And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
- Psalms 22:16For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
- Psalms 59:3For look, they lie in wait for my life; The mighty gather against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord.
- Matthew 27:20But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
- Psalms 16:8I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
- Psalms 36:1An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.
- Psalms 53:4Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon God?
- John 16:3And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries