Psalms 64 · Verse 7

Psalms 64:7

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
Psalms 64:7, King James Version

Psalms 64:7 in other translations

BSBBut God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded.
WEBBut God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.
ASVBut God will shoot at them; With an arrow suddenly shall they be wounded.
YLTAnd God doth shoot them with an arrow, Sudden have been their wounds,
DARBYBut God will shoot an arrow at them: suddenly are they wounded;
BBEBut God sends out an arrow against them; suddenly they are wounded.
WebsterBut God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

What does Psalms 64:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. The contrast is heightened by representing God as using weapons like theirs.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow - They endeavor to trace me out, that they may shoot me; but God will shoot at them. This, if the Psalm refer to the times of David, seems to be prophetic of Saul's death. The archers pressed upon him, and sorely wounded him with their arrows. 1Sam 31:3.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 64:7-10
When God brings upon men the mischiefs they have desired on others, it is weight enough to sink a man to the lowest hell. Those who love cursing, it shall come upon them. Those who behold this shall understand, and observe God's hand in all; unless we do so, we are not likely to profit by the dispensations of Providence. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord; not glad of the misery and ruin of their fellow-creatures, but glad that God is glorified, and his word fulfilled, and the cause of injured innocence pleaded effectually. They rejoice not in men, nor in themselves, nor in any creature, or creature enjoyments, nor in their wisdom, strength, riches, or righteousness; but in Christ, in whom all the seed of Israel are justified and glory, and in what he is to them, and has done for them.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 64:7 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.

וַיֹּרֵ֗םvai.yo.Remand he shot at themH3384
אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
חֵ֥ץchetzan arrowH2671
פִּתְא֑וֹםpit.'omsuddenlyH6597
הָ֝י֗וּha.Yuthey will beH1961
מַכּוֹתָֽם\׃ma.ko.Tamwounds theirH4347

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

Cross references for Psalms 64:7

  • Proverbs 6:15

    Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

  • Psalms 7:12-13

    If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3

    For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

  • Psalms 18:14

    Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

  • Job 6:4

    For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

  • Proverbs 29:1

    He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

  • Deuteronomy 32:23

    I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.

  • Isaiah 30:13

    Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

  • Psalms 73:19

    How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

  • 1 Chronicles 10:3-7

    And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers. Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died. So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together. …

  • Deuteronomy 32:42

    I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.

  • Lamentations 3:12-13

    He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
God.
7:12,13; 18:14; De 32:23,42; Job 6:4; La 3:12,13
suddenly.
4; 73:19; Pr 6:15; 29:1; Isa 30:13; Mt 24:40,50,51; 1Th 5:2,3
shall they be wounded. Heb. their wound shall be.
1Ki 22:34; 1Ch 10:3-7

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

Context

  • Psalms 64:6

    They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

  • Psalms 64:7

    But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

  • Psalms 64:8

    So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

Read all of Psalms 64

Psalms 64:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas Dios los herirá con saeta; de repente serán sus plagas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ils méditent des méchancetés: Nous avons fini; la machination est ourdie. L’intérieur de chacun, et le cœur, est profond.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber Gott schießt auf sie, -plötzlich kommt ein Pfeil: ihre Wunden sind da.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Præparans montes in virtute tua, accinctus potentia;