Psalms 54 · Verse 3

Psalms 54:3

For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
Psalms 54:3, King James Version

Psalms 54:3 in other translations

BSBFor strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life— men with no regard for God. Selah
WEBFor strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven’t set God before them. Selah.
ASVFor strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul: They have not set God before them. [Selah
YLTFor strangers have risen up against me And terrible ones have sought my soul, They have not set God before them. Selah.
DARBYFor strangers are risen up against me, and the violent seek after my life: they have not set God before them. Selah.
BBEFor men who are going after me have come out against me, violent men are purposing to take my soul; they have not put God before their eyes. (Selah.)
WebsterFor strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

What does Psalms 54:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. 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).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Strangers 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 54:1-3

God is faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it is well for us it is so. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than God's strength, and these he makes his refuge and confidence. This would be the effectual answer to his prayers. Looking unto David, betrayed by the men of Judah, and to Jesus, betrayed by one of his apostles, what can we expect from any who…

Read the full comment on Psalms 54:1-3 →

Psalms 54:3 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.

כִּ֤יkiforH3588
זָרִ֨ים\׀za.RimstrangersH2114
קָ֤מוּKa.muthey have risen upH6965
עָלַ֗י'a.Laion meH5921
וְֽ֭עָרִיצִיםVe.'a.ri.tzimand ruthless [people]H6184
בִּקְשׁ֣וּbik.Shuthey have soughtH1245
נַפְשִׁ֑יnaf.Shilife myH5315
לֹ֤אlo'notH3808
שָׂ֨מוּSa.muthey have setH7760
אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
לְנֶגְדָּ֣םle.neg.Damto before themselvesH5048
סֶֽלָה\׃Se.lahSelahH5542

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

Cross references for Psalms 54:3

  • Psalms 86:14

    O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

  • Psalms 36:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

  • John 16:3

    And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

  • Psalms 53:4

    Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.

  • Job 19:13-15

    He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.

  • Psalms 22:16

    For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

  • Psalms 59:3-5

    For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord. They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold. Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

  • Psalms 16:8

    I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

  • Psalms 69:8

    I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.

  • Psalms 40:14

    Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

  • Matthew 27:20-23

    But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
strangers.
69:8; 86:14; Job 19:13-15
oppressors.
22:16; 59:3-5; Mt 27:20-23
they have.
16:8; 36:1; 53:4; Joh 16:3

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

Context

  • Psalms 54:2

    Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

  • Psalms 54:3

    For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

  • Psalms 54:4

    Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

Read all of Psalms 54

Psalms 54:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque extraños se han levantado contra mí, y fuertes buscan mi alma: no han puesto á Dios delante de sí. (Selah.)
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ô Dieu! sauve-moi par ton nom, et fais-moi justice par ta puissance.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn Fremde sind wider mich aufgestanden, und Gewalttätige trachten nach meinem Leben; sie haben Gott nicht vor sich gestellt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		intende mihi, et exaudi me. Contristatus sum in exercitatione mea, et conturbatus sum