Psalms 59:15
Psalms 59:15 in Multiple Translations
They scavenge for food, and growl if they are not satisfied.
Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
They shall wander up and down for food, And tarry all night if they be not satisfied.
Let them go wandering up and down in search of food, and be there all night if they have not enough.
They wander around, looking for things to eat, and howl when they're not satisfied.
They shall runne here and there for meate: and surely they shall not be satisfied, though they tary all night.
They — they wander for food, If they are not satisfied — then they murmur.
They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren’t satisfied.
Let them wander up and down for food, and grudge if they are not satisfied.
They roam around, searching for food; and if they do not find enough, they growl.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 59:15
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 59:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/יָשׁ֣וּבוּ
לָ֭/עֶרֶב
יֶהֱמ֥וּ
כַ/כָּ֗לֶב
וִ/יס֥וֹבְבוּ
עִֽיר
וְ/יָשׁ֣וּבוּ
shûwb
H7725
to return
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
לָ֭/עֶרֶב
ʻereb
H6153
evening
Prep | N-ms
יֶהֱמ֥וּ
hâmâh
H1993
to roar
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
כַ/כָּ֗לֶב
keleb
H3611
dog
Prep | N-ms
וִ/יס֥וֹבְבוּ
çâbab
H5437
to turn
Conj | V-m-Imperf-3mp
עִֽיר
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 59:15
וְ/יָשׁ֣וּבוּ
shûwb
H7725
"to return"
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Definition: : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back 1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment 1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore 1d3) to bring back, report to, answer 1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense) 1d5) to turn back or backward, repel, defeat, repulse, hinder, reject, refuse 1d6) to turn away (face), turn toward 1d7) to turn against 1d8) to bring back to mind 1d9) to show a turning away 1d10) to reverse, revoke 1e) (Hophal) to be returned, be restored, be brought back 1f) (Pulal) brought back
Usage: Occurs in 953 OT verses. KJV: ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. See also: Genesis 3:19; Numbers 8:25; Judges 8:13.
לָ֭/עֶרֶב
ʻereb
H6153
"evening"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means evening or sunset, like when God created daylight and darkness in Genesis. It refers to the time of day, often marking the end of a workday. This word is used in many verses, including Exodus and Psalms.
Definition: 1) evening, night, sunset 1a) evening, sunset 1b) night
Usage: Occurs in 125 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] day, even(-ing, tide), night. See also: Genesis 1:5; Numbers 19:19; Psalms 30:6.
יֶהֱמ֥וּ
hâmâh
H1993
"to roar"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To make a loud noise, like roaring or moaning, is what this Hebrew word means. It can also imply a state of turmoil or commotion, like in the book of Jeremiah where it describes a city in uproar.
Definition: 1) to murmur, growl, roar, cry aloud, mourn, rage, sound, make noise, tumult, be clamorous, be disquieted, be loud, be moved, be troubled, be in an uproar 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to growl 1a2) to murmur (fig. of a soul in prayer) 1a3) to roar 1a4) to be in a stir, be in a commotion 1a5) to be boisterous, be turbulent
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar. See also: 1 Kings 1:41; Song of Solomon 5:4; Psalms 39:7.
כַ/כָּ֗לֶב
keleb
H3611
"dog"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, this word means dog, but it can also refer to someone who is despised or considered lowly. It is sometimes used to describe a male prostitute in a pagan context. The word appears in various books, including Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Definition: 1) dog 1a) dog (literal) 1b) contempt or abasement (fig.) 1c) of pagan sacrifice 1d) of male cult prostitute (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 31 OT verses. KJV: dog. See also: Exodus 11:7; 2 Kings 8:13; Psalms 22:17.
וִ/יס֥וֹבְבוּ
çâbab
H5437
"to turn"
Conj | V-m-Imperf-3mp
To turn or surround is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can be used literally or figuratively. It appears in the Bible to describe changing direction or surrounding something.
Definition: : turn/bring_around 1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change 1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round 1b2) to be turned over to 1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform 1d) (Poel) 1d1) to encompass, surround 1d2) to come about, assemble round 1d3) to march, go about 1d4) to enclose, envelop 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to turn, cause to turn, turn back, reverse, bring over, turn into, bring round 1e2) to cause to go around, surround, encompass 1f) (Hophal) 1f1) to be turned 1f2) to be surrounded
Usage: Occurs in 148 OT verses. KJV: bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, [idiom] whirl, [idiom] round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, [idiom] circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, [idiom] on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back). See also: Genesis 2:11; 1 Chronicles 16:43; Psalms 7:8.
עִֽיר
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
N-fs
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
Study Notes — Psalms 59:15
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 59:15 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 59:15
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 59:15
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 59:15
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 59:15
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 59:15
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 59:15
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 59:15
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 59:15
- Sermons on Psalms 59:15
Context — Deliver Me from My Enemies
13Consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, so it may be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah
14They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
15They scavenge for food, and growl if they are not satisfied.
16But I will sing of Your strength and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning. For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. 17To You, O my strength, I sing praises, for You, O God, are my fortress, my God of loving devotion.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 15:23 | He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand. |
| 2 | Psalms 109:10 | May his children wander as beggars, seeking sustenance far from their ruined homes. |
| 3 | Job 30:1–7 | “But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to entrust with my sheep dogs. What use to me was the strength of their hands, since their vigor had left them? Gaunt from poverty and hunger, they gnawed the dry land, and the desolate wasteland by night. They plucked mallow among the shrubs, and the roots of the broom tree were their food. They were banished from among men, shouted down like thieves, so that they lived on the slopes of the wadis, among the rocks and in holes in the ground. They cried out among the shrubs and huddled beneath the nettles. |
| 4 | Lamentations 5:9 | We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 28:53–58 | Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter the afterbirth that comes from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within your gates. If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God— |
| 6 | Isaiah 8:21 | They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God. |
| 7 | Lamentations 4:4–5 | The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps. |
| 8 | 2 Kings 6:25–29 | So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver. As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!” He answered, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?” Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.” |
| 9 | Micah 3:5 | This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths: |
| 10 | Isaiah 56:11 | Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: |
Psalms 59:15 Summary
Psalms 59:15 describes the enemies of God as scavenging for food and growling if they are not satisfied, illustrating their insatiable hunger for evil. This verse teaches us that those who oppose God are never content and always seek more, much like the wicked in Psalms 10:3. In contrast, believers can trust in God's strength and loving devotion, finding satisfaction in Him (as in Psalms 16:11). By choosing to focus on God's goodness, we can avoid the discontentment that characterizes the enemies of God and instead find peace and joy in our relationship with Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of 'scavenge for food' in Psalms 59:15?
The phrase 'scavenge for food' in Psalms 59:15 refers to the enemies of God who are constantly seeking to satisfy their evil desires, much like wild animals searching for their next meal, as seen in Proverbs 30:15-16 where it describes the insatiable nature of evil. This highlights their relentless pursuit of wickedness.
Why do the enemies 'growl if they are not satisfied'?
The enemies 'growl if they are not satisfied' because they are never content with the evil they have done, always seeking more, which is a characteristic of the wicked as described in Psalms 10:3 where the wicked boast in their hearts' desires. This dissatisfaction drives them to continue in their sinful ways.
How does this verse relate to the Christian life?
This verse serves as a reminder to Christians of the constant spiritual battle they face against the enemies of God, as warned in Ephesians 6:12. It encourages believers to trust in God's strength and loving devotion, as expressed in Psalms 59:16-17, where David finds refuge in God amidst his troubles.
What can we learn from the contrast between the enemies and David in this passage?
The contrast between the enemies who scavenge and growl, and David who sings and praises God, teaches us about the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty and goodness, even in the midst of adversity, as seen in Habakkuk 3:17-19 where the prophet chooses to rejoice in God despite the difficult circumstances.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond when my desires are not met, do I growl in discontent or seek satisfaction in God?
- In what ways can I, like David, choose to sing of God's strength and proclaim His loving devotion in the face of adversity?
- What are the 'foods' that I scavenge for in my life, and are they truly satisfying, or do they leave me growling for more?
- How can I cultivate a heart that trusts in God's sovereignty and goodness, even when surrounded by the 'enemies' of this world?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 59:15
Let them wander up and down for meat,.... Like hungry dogs; and grudge if they be not satisfied; or murmur and howl as dogs when hungry, and can find nothing to eat; or "when they shall not be
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 59:15
And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. -Second part of the second division.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 59:15
Wander up and down for meat, to get a livelihood. And grudge if they be not satisfied: when their bodies are hungry, let their minds be discontented. Or, as others render the words, and lodge, or be forced to lodge, all night, when they are not satisfied. Let them go to their rest with an empty stomach.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 59:15
Psalms 59:15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.Ver. 15. Let them wander up and down for meat] Sicut mendici de ostio ad ostium faciunt, as beggars do from door to door, saith Kimchi. And grudge if they be not satisfied] Murmur against God and men, howling against heaven, as hungry wolves, Isaiah 8:21. Others understand it thus, Let them run to and fro for meat, that is, to devour me, as Psalms 27:2; but surely they shall not be satisfied, but miss their design, though they tarry all night, watching for me.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 59:15
(15) Let them wander.—This verse is variously understood. The margin gives the rendering of most modern scholars; but what does it mean by “They will pass the night”? To say they will not go away unsatisfied seems poor. Ewald’s conjecture, “They will satisfy themselves forsooth, and remain,” i.e., die, seems strained. The slightest change in the vowel-points gives the interpretation adopted by the LXX., Vulg., Jerome, Luther, &c: “If not satisfied they will growl,” which admirably suits the context.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 59:15
14–17. The Psalmist contrasts the baffled rage of his persecutors with his own calm trust in God.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 59:15
Let them wander up and down for meat - Let them be like dogs that wander about for food, and find none. The idea is, that they would not find him, and would be then as dogs that had sought in vain for food.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 59:15
15. Let them wander—Or, they shall wander. The metaphor of hungry dogs prowling about the city for some offal to alleviate their hunger, but finding nothing, is here carried out to illustrate that
Sermons on Psalms 59:15
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Job: An Epic in Brokenness) 2. Where Job Went Wrong by Roy Hession | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the book of Job and explores where Job went wrong in his understanding of God's moral philosophy. The speaker explains that the ancient Orien |
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(Job: An Epic in Brokenness) 3. the Message of Elihu by Roy Hession | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the book of Job and its various chapters. He highlights how Job's friends were amazed and stopped speaking, allowing Job to finally have a ch |
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The Siege of Samaria by Denis Lyle | Denis Lyle preaches on the Siege of Samaria, highlighting the misery that sin brings, including idolatry in the land and the hypocrisy of the leader, King Jehoram. Despite the dire |
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Commentary Notes - Ii Kings by Walter Beuttler | Walter Beuttler delves into the Book of 2 Kings, highlighting the division of the book into two parts and the continuous history it provides of God's people. The message of the boo |
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Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod -Part 2 by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the necessity for Christians to remain mute and silent during afflictions, drawing from Psalm 39:9 to illustrate that silence allows believers to hear the |
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He Dares Spit in the Very Face of God Himself! by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the folly of fretting against God during times of distress, illustrating how individuals often blame God for their suffering instead of recognizing their o |
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Will There Be Another Revival? by Keith Malcomson | Keith Malcomson preaches on the story of the siege of Samaria in 2 Kings, highlighting the tragic consequences of spiritual famine and unbelief among God's people. The chapter reve |