Psalms 18 · Verse 17

Psalms 18:17

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
Psalms 18:17, King James Version

Psalms 18:17 in other translations

BSBHe rescued me from my powerful enemy, from foes too mighty for me.
WEBHe delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
ASVHe delivered me from my strong enemy, And from them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
YLTHe delivereth me from my strong enemy, And from those hating me, For they have been stronger than I.
DARBYHe delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me; for they were mightier than I.
BBEHe made me free from my strong hater, and from those who were against me, because they were stronger than I.
WebsterHe delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them who hated me: for they were too strong for me.

What does Psalms 18:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 18:16-19

16-19. from above--As seated on a throne, directing these terrible scenes, God-- sent--His hand (Psa 144:7), reached down to His humble worshipper, and delivered him. many waters--calamities (Job 30:14; Psa 124:4, 5).

Read the full comment on Psalms 18:16-19 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy - Does not this refer to his conflict with Ishbi-benob? "And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant - thought to have slain David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel;" 2Sam 21:16, 2Sam 21:17. It appears that at this time he was in the most imminent danger of his life, and that he must have fallen by the hands of the giant, if God had not sent Abishai to his assistance. They were too strong for me. He was nearly overpowered by the Philistines; and his escape was such as evidently to show it to be supernatural.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 18:1-19

The first words, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength," are the scope and contents of the psalm. Those that truly love God, may triumph in him as their Rock and Refuge, and may with confidence call upon him. It is good for us to observe all the circumstances of a mercy which magnify the power of God and his goodness to us in it. David was a praying man, and God was found a prayer-hearing God. If we pray as he did…

Read the full comment on Psalms 18:1-19 →

Psalms 18:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יַצִּילֵ֗נִיya.tzi.Le.nihe rescued meH5337
מֵאֹיְבִ֥יme.'o.ye.Vifrom enemy myH341
עָ֑ז'AzstrongH5794
וּ֝מִשֹּׂנְאַ֗יu.mi.so.ne.'Aiand from [those who] hate meH8130
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
אָמְצ֥וּ'a.me.Tzuthey were [too] strongH553
מִמֶּֽנִּי\׃mi.Me.nifor meH4480

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 18:17

  • Hebrews 2:14-15

    Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

  • Job 16:9

    He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

  • Psalms 35:10

    All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

  • Psalms 142:6

    Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

  • Psalms 69:4-14

    They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. …

  • Ephesians 6:10-12

    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

  • Psalms 118:7

    The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

  • 2 Samuel 22:1

    And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

  • Psalms 38:19

    But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

  • Psalms 9:13

    Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

  • Psalms 18:40-41

    Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.

  • 2 Samuel 22:18

    He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
strong.
38:19; 2Sa 22:1,18; Heb 2:14,15
them.
40,41; 9:13; 25:19; 69:4-14; 118:7; Job 16:9; Lu 19:14
they were.
35:10; Eph 6:10-12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 18:16

    He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

  • Psalms 18:17

    He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

  • Psalms 18:18

    They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.

Read all of Psalms 18

Psalms 18:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Libróme de mi poderoso enemigo, y de los que me aborrecían, aunque eran ellos más fuertes que yo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		D’en haut il étendit sa main, il me prit, il me tira des grandes eaux;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er errettete mich von meinem starken Feinde und von meinen Hassern, denn sie waren mächtiger als ich.