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

1Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. 2Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you. My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave. 4I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. 5I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.

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 7:1I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!
• Psalms 17:9Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me.
• Psalms 35:4Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.
• Psalms 54:3For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God. Interlude
• Psalms 142:6Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
• Psalms 7:5then let my enemies capture me. Let them trample me into the ground and drag my honor in the dust. Interlude
• 2 Samuel 2:22Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?”
• 2 Samuel 18:11“What?” Joab demanded. “You saw him there and didn’t kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero’s belt!”
• Psalms 31:12I am ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot.
• Psalms 88:4I am as good as dead, like a strong man with no strength left.
• Ezekiel 37:11Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’

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