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

1A psalm of David. Hear my prayer, Adonai, give ear to my petitions. In Your faithfulness and Your righteousness, answer me! 2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for in Your eyes no one living is righteous. For an enemy pursues my soul. He crushes my life down to the ground. He makes me dwell in darkness, like those long dead. 4So my spirit grows faint within me. My heart is shocked within me. 5I remember the days of old. I meditate on all You have done. I ponder the work of Your hands.

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 7:1A passionate song of David, which he sang to Adonai concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
• Psalms 17:9from the wicked who attack me— my enemies, who surround me.
• Psalms 35:4May those who seek my life be ashamed and disgraced. May they be turned back and humiliated —those who plot evil against me.
• Psalms 54:3O God, save me by Your Name, vindicate me by Your might.
• Psalms 142:6I have cried out to You, Adonai. I said: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
• Psalms 7:5if I have paid back evil to anyone at peace with me, or unjustly attacked my adversary,
• 2 Samuel 2:22Once again Abner warned Asahel, “Turn away from pursuing me! Why should I strike you to the ground? How would I ever look your brother Joab in the face?”
• 2 Samuel 18:11Then Joab said to his informant, “Look here, you saw him, so why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt!”
• Psalms 31:12Because of all my adversaries I am the contempt of my neighbors and a dread to my acquaintances. Seeing me on the street, they flee from me.
• Psalms 88:4For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.
• Ezekiel 37:11Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say: ‘Our bones are dried up; our hope is lost; we are cut off—by ourselves.’

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