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.
• 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 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

Context of Psalms 54:3

1Come with great power, O God, and rescue me! Defend me with your might. 2Listen to my prayer, O God. Pay attention to my plea. For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God. Interlude 4But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive! 5May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them. Do as you promised and put an end to 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 69:8Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger.
• Psalms 86:14O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me. You mean nothing to them.
• Job 19:13“My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me.
• Psalms 22:16My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet.
• Psalms 59:3They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, Lord, though I have not sinned or offended them.
• Matthew 27:20Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.
• Psalms 16:8I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
• Psalms 36:1Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all.
• Psalms 53:4Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to God.
• John 16:3This is because they have never 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