Psalms 18:5
Psalms 18:5 in Multiple Translations
The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.
The cords of hell were round me: the nets of death came on me.
The grave wound its ropes around me; death set snares for me.
The sorowes of the graue haue compassed me about: the snares of death ouertooke me.
Cords of Sheol have surrounded me, Before me have been snares of death.
The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me.
The sorrows of hell encompassed me: the snares of death seized me.
Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world.
It was as though the place where dead people are had ropes that were wrapped around me, or it was as though there was a trap [MET] that would seize and kill me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 18:5
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 18:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אֲפָפ֥וּ/נִי
חֶבְלֵי
מָ֑וֶת
וְֽ/נַחֲלֵ֖י
בְלִיַּ֣עַל
יְבַֽעֲתֽוּ/נִי
אֲפָפ֥וּ/נִי
ʼâphaph
H661
to surround
V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff
חֶבְלֵי
chebel
H2256
cord
N-cp
מָ֑וֶת
mâveth
H4194
death
N-ms
וְֽ/נַחֲלֵ֖י
nachal
H5158
Brook
Conj | N-mp
בְלִיַּ֣עַל
bᵉlîyaʻal
H1100
Belial
N-ms
יְבַֽעֲתֽוּ/נִי
bâʻath
H1204
to terrify
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 18:5
אֲפָפ֥וּ/נִי
ʼâphaph
H661
"to surround"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff
To surround or encompass is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often used to describe God's protection or the enemy's attack, as in compassing about someone.
Definition: 1) to surround, encompass 1a) (Qal) to encompass
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: compass. See also: 2 Samuel 22:5; Psalms 40:13; Psalms 18:5.
חֶבְלֵי
chebel
H2256
"cord"
N-cp
A cord or rope, also a measured area of land or a group of people tied together. In the Bible, it appears in books like Joshua and Psalms. It can also mean a company or region.
Definition: 1) a cord, rope, territory, band, company 1a) a rope, cord 1b) a measuring-cord or line 1c) a measured portion, lot, part, region 1d) a band or company § destruction
Usage: Occurs in 60 OT verses. KJV: band, coast, company, cord, country, destruction, line, lot, pain, pang, portion, region, rope, snare, sorrow, tackling. See also: Deuteronomy 3:4; Psalms 119:61; Psalms 16:6.
מָ֑וֶת
mâveth
H4194
"death"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word refers to death, whether natural or violent, and is used in books like Genesis and Isaiah. It can also mean the place of the dead, or a state of ruin. This concept is seen in the story of Moses, where death is a punishment for disobedience.
Definition: 1) death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead 1a) death 1b) death by violence (as a penalty) 1c) state of death, place of death Aramaic equivalent: mot (מוֹת "death" H4193)
Usage: Occurs in 153 OT verses. KJV: (be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d). See also: Genesis 21:16; Job 38:17; Psalms 6:6.
וְֽ/נַחֲלֵ֖י
nachal
H5158
"Brook"
Conj | N-mp
The Hebrew word for a brook or stream, often referring to a small river or valley, is used in the Bible to describe natural landscapes, such as the Brook Kidron in 2 Samuel 15:23. It can also refer to a narrow valley or a shaft of a mine, emphasizing the idea of a flowing body of water.
Definition: palm-tree Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: brook, flood, river, stream, valley. See also: Genesis 26:17; 1 Kings 18:5; Psalms 18:5.
בְלִיַּ֣עַל
bᵉlîyaʻal
H1100
"Belial"
N-ms
Belial refers to something or someone worthless or wicked, often translated as evil or ungodly. It describes people or actions that are good for nothing and lead to destruction.
Definition: : worthless 1) worthlessness 1a) worthless, good for nothing, unprofitable, base fellow 1b) wicked 1c) ruin, destruction (construct) Also means: be.liy.ya.al (בְּלִיַּ֫עַל ": destruction" H1100H)
Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: Belial, evil, naughty, ungodly (men), wicked. See also: Deuteronomy 13:14; 2 Samuel 23:6; Psalms 18:5.
יְבַֽעֲתֽוּ/נִי
bâʻath
H1204
"to terrify"
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp | Suff
This Hebrew word means to terrify or startle someone, causing them to be overtaken by sudden fear or panic. It is used to describe a strong emotional response to a situation.
Definition: 1) to terrify, startle, fall upon, dismay, be overtaken by sudden terror 1a) (Niphal) to be terrified 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to fall upon, overwhelm 1b2) to terrify
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: affright, be (make) afraid, terrify, trouble. See also: 1 Samuel 16:14; Job 13:11; Psalms 18:5.
Study Notes — Psalms 18:5
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 18:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 18:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 18:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 18:5
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 18:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 18:5
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 18:5
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 18:5
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 18:5
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 18:5
- Sermons on Psalms 18:5
Context — The LORD Is My Rock
3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.
4The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.
5The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears. 7Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 86:13 | For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol. |
| 2 | Psalms 88:3–8 | For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths. Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me. Selah You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape. |
| 3 | Acts 2:24 | But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches. |
| 4 | Psalms 88:15–17 | From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair. Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side. |
| 5 | Psalms 116:3 | The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow. |
| 6 | Ecclesiastes 9:12 | For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them. |
Psalms 18:5 Summary
[This verse means that the speaker, David, felt like he was trapped by the power of death and was in a very dangerous situation. He uses the word 'Sheol' to describe this, which is like the deepest, darkest pit. But even in this desperate place, he knows that God can hear his cry for help, as we see in Psalms 18:6. Just like David, when we feel overwhelmed, we can call out to God and trust in His power to save us, as promised in Psalms 50:15.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sheol mean in Psalms 18:5?
Sheol refers to the place of the dead, or the grave, as seen in Psalms 9:17, where it is associated with a state of separation from God. It symbolizes the ultimate consequence of sin, which is death and separation from God.
How can the 'cords of Sheol' and 'snares of death' be overcome?
According to Psalms 18:3, calling upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, brings salvation from enemies, including the ultimate enemy, death, as also promised in Psalms 23:4, where God's presence comforts us even in the valley of the shadow of death.
Is this verse talking about a physical or spiritual death?
While the verse mentions death, the context of Psalms 18 suggests that David is referring to a spiritual or emotional experience of being overwhelmed, similar to what is described in Psalms 38:4, where the weight of sin feels like a burden too heavy to bear.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the Psalm?
This verse is part of a larger narrative where David is expressing his distress and then his trust in God's deliverance, as seen in Psalms 18:6, where he cries out to God for help and receives a powerful response, illustrating the theme of God's salvation from all kinds of troubles.
Reflection Questions
- What are the 'cords of Sheol' that have entangled you in your life, and how have you cried out to God for help?
- How do the 'snares of death' confront you, and what does it mean for you to trust in God's power to overcome them?
- In what ways do you feel overwhelmed by the 'torrents of chaos' mentioned in the previous verse, and how can you apply the promise of God's salvation to those situations?
- Reflect on a time when you felt like you were in a desperate situation, similar to what David describes, and how God intervened or comforted you.
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 18:5
The sorrows of hell compassed me about,.... Or "the cords of the grave" (s), under the power of which he was detained for awhile; the allusion may be to the manner of burying among the Jews, who
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 18:5
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows ... the sorrows - rather, 'the cords ... the cords,' as the parallel word, "the snares" (Psalms 18:5), requires.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 18:5
Of hell; or, of the grave, which brought me to the brink of the grave. Prevented me; had almost taken hold of me, ere I was aware of my danger.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 18:5
Psalms 18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.Ver. 5. The sorrows] Or, throes, or cords, such as wherewith they bind malefactors led forth to execution. The snares of death prevented me] David knew how to make the most of a mercy; he means, I was almost surprised, and all hope of help seemed to be anticipated; if help should come, it would some too late.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 18:5
(5) Hell.—Heb., sheôl. (See Note on Psalms 6:5.) Prevented—i.e., suddenly seized upon. The poet seems to feel the cords already tightening on his limbe. He is not dead yet, but like to them who go down to sheôl. This verse has one verbal difference from Samuel.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 18:5
Verse 5. The sorrows of hell] חבלי שאול chebley sheol, the cables or cords of the grave. Is not this a reference to the cords or ropes with which they lowered the corpse into the grave? or the bandages by which the dead were swathed? He was as good as dead. The snares of death prevented me.] I was just on the point of dropping into the pit which they had digged for me. In short, I was all but a dead man; and nothing less than the immediate interference of God could have saved my life.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 18:5
5. Render with R.V., The cords of Sheol were round about me: The snares of death came upon me. The Heb. word rendered sorrows in the A.V. may no doubt have the meaning pangs, and is so rendered by the LXX (ὠδῖνεςθανάτου … ὠ. ᾁδου, cp. Acts 2:24). But the parallelism decides in favour of the rendering cords. Death and Sheol, the mysterious unseen world (see on Psalms 6:5), are like hunters lying in wait for their prey with nooses and nets. prevented] i.e. came before, confronted me (Psalms 17:13) with hostile intention. See note on Psalms 18:18.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 18:5
The sorrows of hell - Margin, “cords.” The word used here is the same which occurs in the previous verse, and which is there rendered “sorrows.” It is correctly translated here, as in that verse,
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 18:5
4, 5. In these verses he gives a rapid retrospect of the collective years of his persecutions by Saul, his wars, and his exposures. He surveys them with a glance without detail.
Sermons on Psalms 18:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Problems Are God's Opportunities by Reuben Walter | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of God's glory and how it doesn't take a long time to understand it. He refers to a victory song sung by David in 2 Samuel, highli |
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Waters Which Do Not Drown and Flames Which Do Not Burn by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches about the comforting promises of God to His people, assuring them of His presence and protection through trials and tribulations. He emphasizes the strong fou |
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Prayer - 1 Peter 1:3-5, Part 2 by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink emphasizes the abundant mercy of God as the foundation of our regeneration and lively hope in Christ, highlighting that this mercy is both general and special. He explain |
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Letter 65. by James Bourne | James Bourne preaches about the necessity of going through trials and sufferings as a means of spiritual refinement and growth. He reflects on his own struggles with sin, pride, an |
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The Power of the Holy Ghost (1 of 2) by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of the Holy Ghost in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. He highlights the significance of the resurrection in the everyday C |
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Burning Fire of the Spirit - Part 5 by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the general situation and the need for the Lord's intervention. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the greatness of Jesus Christ in o |
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(Genesis) Genesis 40 Introduction by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the parallels between the life of Joseph and the life of Jesus. He highlights how Joseph was sent to his brethren, just as Jesus was sent to |