Tree of Life Version
Psalms 7:16
16He digs a pit, scrapes it out, and then falls into the hole he has made.
Psalms 7:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
- New International Version (NIV)The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.
- English Standard Version (ESV)His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.
- New King James Version (NKJV)His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
Context of Psalms 7:16
14He prepares His own deadly weapons. He makes His fiery arrows. 15Look! The one pregnant with trouble conceives mischief and brings forth deceit. He digs a pit, scrapes it out, and then falls into the hole he has made. 17His mischief will turn on his own head. His violence will boomerang on his crown. 18I will praise Adonai for His justice. I sing praise to the Name of Adonai Elyon!
Read all of Psalms 7Psalms 7:16 word by word
יָשׁ֣וּב עֲמָל֣וֹ בְרֹאשׁ֑וֹ וְעַ֥ל קָ֝דְקֳד֗וֹ חֲמָס֥וֹ יֵרֵֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 7:16
- Psalms 36:4His mouth’s words are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and do good.
- Psalms 37:12The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth.
- 1 Samuel 23:9Now David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him, so he said to Abiathar the kohen, “Bring the ephod.”
- 1 Samuel 24:12May Adonai judge between me and you, and may Adonai avenge me of you, but my hand will not be against you.
- 1 Samuel 26:10David added, “As Adonai lives, either Adonai will strike him down, or his day will come to die, or he will go down to battle and be swept away.
- 1 Samuel 28:19Moreover, Adonai will also give the Israelites who are with you into the hand of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me! Yes, Adonai will give the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
- 1 Samuel 31:3When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers hit him, so he was severely wounded by the archers.
- 1 Kings 2:32Thus Adonai will return his blood on his own head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he—Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah—and killed them with the sword, without my father David’s knowledge.
- Esther 9:25But when it came to the king’s attention, he issued a written edict that the wicked scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. (
- Malachi 2:3Behold, I am rebuking the seed on account of you, and will spread dung on your faces —the dung of your festivals— and take you away together with it.
Commentaries on Psalms 7:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Shall come down upon his own pate - Upon his scalp, קדקד kodkod, the top of the head. It may refer to knocking the criminal on the head, in order to deprive him of life. Had scalping been known in those days, I should have thought the reference might be to that barbarous custom.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16His mischief - The mischief which he had designed for others. Shall return upon his own head - Shall come upon himself. The blow which he aimed at others shall recoil on himself. This is but stating in another form the sentiment which had been expressed in the two previous verses. The language used here has something of a proverbial cast, and perhaps was common in the time of the writer to express this idea. And his violent dealing - Which he shows to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-17Verses 10-17 David is confident that he shall find God his powerful Saviour. The destruction of sinners may be prevented by their conversion; for it is threatened, If he turn not from his evil way, let him expect it will be his ruin. But amidst the threatenings of wrath, we have a gracious offer of mercy. God gives sinners warning of their danger, and space to repent, and prevent it. He is slow to punish, and long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-17This psalm includes the following: A lament (Psalm 7:1–2): The psalmist cries out to God for help and protection from enemies. An oath of innocence (Psalm 7:3–5): The psalmist declares that he has done no wrong and maintains his integrity. A call for God's justice (Psalm 7:6–9): He asks God to act against evildoers and defend the righteous. An affirmation of God’s just kingship (Psalm 7:10–16): The psalmist praises God as a fair judge who rules the world…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1615-16. 1Sa 18:17; 31:2 illustrate the statement whether alluded to or not. These verses are expository of Psa 7:14, showing how the devices of the wicked end in disappointment, falsifying their expectations.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 7:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 7
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
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