Psalms 56:6
Psalms 56:6 in Multiple Translations
They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps, Even as they have waited for my soul.
They come together, they are waiting in secret places, they take note of my steps, they are waiting for my soul.
They gather together in their hiding places to keep watch on me, hoping to kill me.
They gather together, and keepe them selues close: they marke my steps, because they waite for my soule.
They assemble, they hide, they watch my heels, When they have expected my soul.
They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life.
They assemble themselves, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.
In order to cause trouble for me, they hide and watch everything that I do, waiting for an opportunity to kill me [MTY].
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 56:6
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 56:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כָּל
הַ֭/יּוֹם
דְּבָרַ֣/י
יְעַצֵּ֑בוּ
עָלַ֖/י
כָּל
מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֣/ם
לָ/רָֽע
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
הַ֭/יּוֹם
yôwm
H3117
day
Art | N-ms
דְּבָרַ֣/י
dâbâr
H1697
Chronicles
N-mp | Suff
יְעַצֵּ֑בוּ
ʻâtsab
H6087
to hurt
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp
עָלַ֖/י
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֣/ם
machăshâbâh
H4284
plot
N-fp | Suff
לָ/רָֽע
raʻ
H7451
bad
Prep | Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 56:6
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הַ֭/יּוֹם
yôwm
H3117
"day"
Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
דְּבָרַ֣/י
dâbâr
H1697
"Chronicles"
N-mp | Suff
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Definition: This name means word, speaking
Usage: Occurs in 1290 OT verses. KJV: act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. See also: Genesis 11:1; Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 18:21.
יְעַצֵּ֑בוּ
ʻâtsab
H6087
"to hurt"
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp
To shape or carve something, like a craftsman forming wood or stone, can also mean to worry or cause pain, as in the emotional distress of King David in Psalm 38:18.
Definition: 1) to hurt, pain, grieve, displease, vex, wrest 1a) (Qal) to hurt, pain 1b)(Niphal) to be in pain, be pained, be grieved 1c) (Piel) to vex, torture 1d) (Hiphil) to cause pain 1e) (Hithpael) to feel grieved, be vexed Aramaic equivalent: a.tsav (עֲצַב "to pain" H6088)
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: displease, grieve, hurt, make, be sorry, vex, worship, wrest. See also: Genesis 6:6; Nehemiah 8:10; Psalms 56:6.
עָלַ֖/י
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֣/ם
machăshâbâh
H4284
"plot"
N-fp | Suff
In the Bible, this word refers to a plan, device, or invention, which can be either good or bad. It appears in places like 2 Chronicles 2:11 and Esther 8:3, where it is used to describe clever ideas or schemes. The word is associated with creativity and problem-solving.
Definition: 1) thought, device 1a) thought 1b) device, plan, purpose 1c) invention
Usage: Occurs in 52 OT verses. KJV: cunning (work), curious work, device(-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought. See also: Genesis 6:5; Proverbs 19:21; Psalms 33:10.
לָ/רָֽע
raʻ
H7451
"bad"
Prep | Adj
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Definition: : harmful adj 1) bad, evil 1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant 1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery) 1c) evil, displeasing 1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc) 1e) bad (of value) 1f) worse than, worst (comparison) 1g) sad, unhappy 1h) evil (hurtful) 1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition) 1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically) 1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts 1j2) deeds, actions
Usage: Occurs in 623 OT verses. KJV: adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). See also: Genesis 2:9; Judges 9:57; 2 Kings 21:6.
Study Notes — Psalms 56:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 56:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 56:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 56:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 56:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 56:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 56:6
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 56:6
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 56:6
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 56:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 56:6
- Sermons on Psalms 56:6
Context — Be Merciful to Me, O God
4In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
5All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.
6They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.
7In spite of such sin, will they escape? In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations. 8You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle— are they not in Your book?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 71:10 | For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire, |
| 2 | Psalms 59:3 | See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD. |
| 3 | Psalms 140:2 | who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long. |
| 4 | Acts 23:12–14 | When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty of them were involved in this plot. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. |
| 5 | Luke 20:20 | So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor. |
| 6 | Isaiah 54:15 | If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you. |
| 7 | Psalms 89:51 | how Your enemies have taunted, O LORD, and have mocked every step of Your anointed one! |
| 8 | Matthew 27:1 | When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death. |
| 9 | Jeremiah 20:10 | For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.” |
| 10 | Psalms 57:6 | They spread a net for my feet; my soul was despondent. They dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it! Selah |
Psalms 56:6 Summary
[Psalms 56:6 says that the enemies of the psalmist are conspiring, lurking, and watching his steps, waiting to take his life. This means that they are secretly planning and plotting against him, trying to find ways to harm him. But even in the face of such danger, the psalmist trusts in God's protection and sovereignty, knowing that God is aware of all the plots against him (Psalms 139:1-6). We can trust God in the same way, knowing that He is all-powerful and all-knowing, and that He promises to protect and deliver us from harm (Romans 8:28).]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to conspire against someone in the context of Psalms 56:6?
To conspire against someone means to secretly plan or plot against them, often with the intention of harming them, as seen in Psalms 56:6 where the enemies of the psalmist are conspiring against him, and also in Jeremiah 11:9 where the people of Judah conspired against God.
How can I trust God when people are plotting against me?
We can trust God because He is all-powerful and all-knowing, and He promises to protect and deliver us from harm, as stated in Psalms 23:4 and Romans 8:28, where God works all things together for our good.
What does it mean to lurk or watch someone's steps?
To lurk or watch someone's steps means to secretly observe or monitor their actions, often with the intention of finding fault or weakness, similar to what is described in Job 31:4 where God observes all our ways.
How can I apply Psalms 56:6 to my own life when I feel like I'm being watched or plotted against?
We can apply Psalms 56:6 to our own lives by trusting in God's sovereignty and protection, and remembering that He is aware of all the plots and schemes against us, as stated in Psalms 139:1-6 where God knows all our ways and thoughts.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I feel like I'm being watched or plotted against in my own life, and how can I trust God in those situations?
- How can I be sure that God is aware of all the plots and schemes against me, and that He will protect me from harm?
- What are some ways that I can 'watch my step' and be mindful of my actions, knowing that God is observing me and that others may be watching me too?
- How can I balance the need to be aware of potential dangers and plots against me with the need to trust God and not live in fear?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 56:6
They gather themselves together,.... And meet in some one place, to contrive ways and means to do hurt, and then assemble together again to put them in execution; as did the Jews with respect to Christ, Matthew 26:3.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 56:6
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. They gather themselves together. So the Hebrew [ guwr (H1481)] is rendered, Psalms 59:3; Isaiah 54:15. Compare Psalms 31:13.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 56:6
They gather themselves together; after they have severally employed their thoughts against me, they meet together to compare their thoughts, and to put them in execution. They hide themselves; they lurk secretly, either that they may pry into all my most private actions, or that they may surprise me with mischief unawares. Compare . They mark my steps, i.e. all my goings and doings, that they may find some occasion to reproach or entangle, and so destroy me. My soul, or life, to wit, to take it away from me.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 56:6
Psalms 56:6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.Ver. 6. They gather themselves together] They convene and combine to do me mischief; and should not God’ s people meet often together to counterplot such malignants, and to pray them down? Cum bent, cum probi coeunt, cum pii, cum casti congregantur, non est factio dicenda, sed curia: Et e contrario, illis nomen factionis accommodandum est, qui in odium bonorum et proborum conspirant, saith Tertullian (Apol. advers. Gentes, cap. 39, Numbers 520). They mark my steps] They spy and pry into my practices, that they may take any advantage; this calls for careful and exact walking, 1 Peter 2:21 Hebrews 12:13.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 56:6
(6) They hide themselves.—Better, they set spies. Mark my steps.—Literally, watch my heels. (See Psalms 49:5; Psalms 89:51.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 56:6
Verse 6. They gather themselves together] They form cabals; have secret meetings and consultations how they may most effectually destroy me, under the pretense of justice and safety to the state. They hide themselves] They do all secretly. They mark my steps] They are constantly at my heels. They wait for my soul.] They lie in wait for my life. Our translators have missed the meaning of נפש nephesh and ψυχε, which generally signify the animal life, not the immortal spirit, - more than any other words in the Old or New Testament.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 56:6
6. they hide themselves] I.e., lie in wait for me; or according to the Kthibh, set an ambush. Cp. Psalms 59:3; Psalms 10:8-9. they mark my steps] Like hunters tracking their game. “Go, I pray you,” said Saul to the men of Keilah, “and know and see his place where his haunt (lit. foot) is” (1 Samuel 23:22-23). when they wait &c.] R.V., even as (marg. inasmuch as) they have waited for my soul; have been watching their opportunity to take my life. Cp. Psalms 119:95.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 56:6
They gather themselves together - That is, they do not attack me singly, but they unite their forces; they combine against me. They hide themselves - They lurk in ambush.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 56:6
6. They gather… together—They assemble for evil counsel. The word also signifies a temporary sojourn, or residence, as Genesis 20:1; Isaiah 16:4; and it is not improbable that the chief men in the
Sermons on Psalms 56:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(The Book of Acts) Session 11 by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the need for Christians to take action and make a difference in their country through prayer, witness, and distributing literature. The Holy S |
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6 Blessings + 6 Barriers by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker discusses six blessings and six barriers in the work of OM (Operation Mobilization). The first blessing is the power of the Holy Spirit, which enables b |
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Promise Keepers Whats It About by George Verwer | In this video, the speaker shares his experience at a Promise Keepers event. He mentions conducting interviews and expresses his hope that the young man he interviewed would come t |
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World Vision - How Om Began by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not being moved or discouraged by the challenges and burdens that come with ministry. He encourages listeners to renew thei |
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Promise Keepers - What's It About by George Verwer | In this video, the speaker discusses his decision to put his picture on the cover of a book, despite initially feeling hesitant about it. He mentions being inspired by other admire |
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The Assassins (Sacarii) by Robert Wurtz II | Robert Wurtz II delves into the historical context of the Zealots and the Sacarii, highlighting their brutal actions and motivations driven by greed and desire for spoils rather th |
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Major Ian Thomas - Part 1 by Major Ian Thomas | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of God's word and its ability to uphold all things in the universe. He highlights the importance of understanding the Gospel of Lu |