Psalms 118:7 — Word Study
WLCיְהוָ֣ה לִ֭י בְּעֹזְרָ֑י וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶרְאֶ֥ה בְשֹׂנְאָֽי׃
BSAThe LORD [is]Yᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] He is my helperʻâzar [to aid and assist me] ◂Therefore Iʼănîy will look in triumphrâʼâh▸ [see and gaze upon, with confidence and victory] on those who hate mesânêʼ [intensely dislike and oppose]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יְהוָ֣ה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| לִ֭י | [is] for me | Preposition, suffix |
| בְּעֹזְרָ֑י | helper my | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| וַ֝אֲנִ֗י | and I | Conjunction, pronoun |
| אֶרְאֶ֥ה | I will look | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
| בְשֹׂנְאָֽי׃ | on [those who] hate me | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The LORD is on my side; He is my helper. Therefore I will look in triumph on those who hate me. |
| KJV | The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. |
| ASV | Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. |
| YLT | Jehovah [is] for me among my helpers, And I — I look on those hating me. |
| WEB | Yahweh is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me. |
| BBE | The Lord is my great helper: I will see my desire against my haters. |
The translations agree on the essence of God's support and the psalmist's declaration of triumph.
The sentence has a main clause with supporting phrases that clarify the psalmist's confidence and the source of his strength.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectיהוה
verbרָאָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 118:7
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Trust in God's Helpgenerated
Psalm 118:7 reveals the psalmist's assurance in God's presence and support. He acknowledges Yahweh as his helper, which allows him to face adversaries with confidence. This theme of divine assistance is prevalent throughout the Psalms, where trust in God is emphasized as a source of strength against enemies, as seen in Psalm 54:4 and Psalm 55:18.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 54:4 | Surely God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul. |
| 2 | Psalm 55:18 | He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 12:18 | Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his troops. |
| 4 | Psalm 54:7 | For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eyes have stared down my foes. |
| 5 | Psalm 59:10 | My God of loving devotion will come to meet me; God will let me stare down my foes. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְהוָ֣ה, Yah.wehgenerated
The name יְהוָה (Yahweh) signifies the self-existent and eternal nature of God. It is the personal name of the God of Israel, often rendered as 'the Lord'. This name is foundational in the Jewish faith and is used throughout the Old Testament to denote God's covenant relationship with His people.
In this verse, Yahweh is presented as a protector and helper, reinforcing the psalmist's confidence. The use of this name emphasizes the intimate and personal nature of God's involvement in the life of the believer.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb אֶרְאֶ֥ה ('er'eh, I will look) governs the main clause, with two prepositional phrases providing context: one indicating who is on the psalmist's side and the other describing the action of looking in triumph. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's confidence stemming from God's support.
The word order places emphasis on Yahweh as the subject and the psalmist's declaration of seeing triumph as the outcome of divine assistance.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, יְהוָה is rendered as κύριος (kyrios), which also means 'Lord'. This choice reflects a broader understanding of God's authority and presence.
The translation captures the essence of divine help, maintaining the original meaning while adapting to the Greek audience's understanding.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 118:7 expresses the psalmist's trust in God as his helper. He confidently states that because God is on his side, he will look in triumph at those who oppose him. This reflects a common theme in the Psalms, where reliance on God leads to victory over enemies.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that God is actively supporting and defending the psalmist, providing strength and assistance in times of trouble.
The psalmist declares that he will look in triumph at those who hate him, indicating a belief in God's ultimate victory over his enemies.
This title emphasizes God's role as a source of aid and support, highlighting the personal relationship between the psalmist and God.
Similar themes of divine assistance can be found in other Psalms, such as Psalm 54:4 and Psalm 55:18, where trust in God leads to deliverance from enemies.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I experienced God's help in my life?
- How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God as my helper?
- What does it mean to look in triumph over my challenges?
- How can I share the assurance of God's support with others facing difficulties?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers referenced this verse to illustrate God's support for believers. Here, Augustine of Hippo quotes it to emphasize the assurance of divine help against enemies.
The Lord is my helper: therefore shall I despise mine enemiesEarly Church Fathers on Psalms 118 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 118:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe Lord taketh my part with them that help me,.... With the four hundred men that were with David, and stood by him in his troubles, 1 Samuel 22:2; see Psalms 54:4; and with those who ministered unto Christ as man, Lu 8:3.
Read John Gill on Psalms 118 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. -At the beginning (Psalms 118:5) and at the close of this division (Psalms 118:13-14) the salvation already received is described.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 118 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe Lord taketh my part with them that help me; he is one of the number of my helpers, and enables them to defend me.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 118 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 118:7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see [my desire] upon them that hate me.Ver. 7. The Lord taketh my part with them that help me] Not only as one of my helpers, but instead of all, and more than all. How many reckon ye me at? said that general to his soldiers, who were afraid of their enemy’ s numbers; Cui adhaereo praeest, He whom I take part with must needs prevail.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 118 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) Made up of Psa 54:4-7, where see Notes.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 118 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 7. The Lord taketh my part with them that help me] Literally, The Lord is to me among my helpers. Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. Literally, And I shall look among them that hate me. As God is on my side, I fear not to look the whole of them in the face. I shall see them defeated.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 118 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges7. Jehovah is on my side as my helper] Cp. Psalms 54:4. The expression is an idiomatic one. It denotes not merely among my helpers, as one among many, but ‘in the character or capacity of my helpers,’ ‘as a host of helpers.’ “He sums up in Himself the qualities of a class, viz. the class of helpers” (Cheyne). therefore shall I see &c.] Or, do I see, a general truth. Cp. Psalms 54:7 b, and note; Psalms 59:10; Psalms 92:11.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 118 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe Lord taketh my part with them that help me - The psalmist had friends. There were those who stood by him. He relied, indeed, on their aid, but not on their aid without God.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 118 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The LORD is on my side; He is my helper. Therefore I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
Yahweh is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
The LORD is on my side; He is my helper. Therefore I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
The Lord is on my side as my helper. I look in triumph on those who hate me.
Tyndale line
The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
The LORD is on my side among them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
The Lord is with mee among them that helpe me: therefore shall I see my desire vpon mine enemies.
Strictly literal
Jehovah is for me among them that help me; and I shall see [my desire] upon them that hate me.
Jehovah [is] for me among my helpers, And I — I look on those hating me.
YHWH [is] for me among my helpers, || And I look on those hating me.
The Lord is for me, among those that help me: therefore shall I indeed look on [the punishment of] those that hate me.
Yahweh is on my side as my helper; I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
From the Latin
I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.
Simplified
The Lord is with me, he will help me. I will see those who hate me defeated.
The Lord is my great helper: I will see my desire against my haters.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with the Septuagint providing a direct correspondence to the Hebrew text. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align closely with the Masoretic Text, confirming the consistency of the verse across these ancient witnesses.
יְהוָ֣ה לִ֭י בְּעֹזְרָ֑י וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶרְאֶ֥ה בְשֹׂנְאָֽי׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
יהוה ל׳י בעזר׳י אני אראה בשנא׳י
6 words on the leather.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 118:7
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
עָזַר (azar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to help or succour. It is built from a primitive root that conveys the idea of surrounding or protecting. The entries indicate its use in various forms: Qal (to help), Niphal (to be helped), and Hiphil (to help). The word captures the essence of providing support or aid.
[עָזַר] 82 vb. help, succour
Qal help
Niph. I am helped
Hiph. v. Qal.
base
H5826 [עָזַר] help, succour
5826 `azar aw-zar'
a primitive root; to surround, i.e. protect or aid:--help,
succour.
עָזַר (a.zar) — to help.
1) to help, succour, support
1a) (Qal) to help
1b) (Niphal) to be helped
1c) (Hiphil) to help
Prep | V-Qal | Suff — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHR/Vqrmpc/Sp1bs
אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I
base
H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I
589 'aniy an-ee'
contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X
which, X who.
see HEBREW for 0595
אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.
I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronounHC/Pp1bs
רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.
רָאָה 1315 vb. see
Qal 1141
see, subj.
see, c. acc. rei
see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design
see, so as to learn to know
abs. see, have (power of) vision
see = perceive
look at, see, by direct volition
of mental observation
c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest
see, c. acc. rei
Niph.
appear
be seen
be visible
Pu. appar. his bones are not detected
Hithp. recipr. look at each other
Hiph.
cause one to see something, shew
cause to experience something
cause to look intently at, to behold
Hoph.
be caused to see, be shewn
be exhibited to
base
H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.
. see, c. acc. rei
. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design
. see, so as to learn to know
. abs. see, have (power of) vision
. see = perceive
. look at, see, by direct volition
. of mental observation
. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest
. see, c. acc. rei
. . appear
. be seen
. be visible
. appar. his bones are not detected
. recipr. look at each other
. . . cause one to see something, shew
. cause to experience something
. cause to look intently at, to behold
. . be caused to see, be shewn
. be exhibited to
H7200b רְאוּת look
7200 ra'ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in
numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,
intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,
behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have
experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look
(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,
upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,
regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one
another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X
surely, X think, view, visions.
רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.
: see/show
1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out
1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish
1a6) to look at, gaze at
1a7) to provide, choose
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to appear, present oneself
1b2) to be seen
1b3) to be visible
1c) (Pual) to be seen
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to see, show
1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at
1e) (Hophal)
1e1) to be caused to see, be shown
1e2) to be exhibited to
1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face
רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.
: examine/consider
1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
look:
(1) The uses of the simple verb in English Versions of the Bible are nearly all good modern English. In Isa 5:2, however, "He looked that it should bring forth grapes"--"look" is used in the sense of "expect." Compare the King James Version of Sirach 20:14; Ac 28:6, "They looked when he should have swollen" (the Revised Version (British and American) "They expected that he would have swollen"). In 1 Macc 4:54, the King James Version has inserted "look" (omitted in the Revised Version (British and American)) as a simple interjection, without a corresponding word in the Greek
(2) "Look upon" means "fix one's attention on," and is often so used in English Versions of the Bible without further significance (Ec 2:11;
שָׂנֵא (sane') is a primitive root meaning 'to hate.' It covers various forms of hatred, including personal animosity and enmity, and can refer to both humans and God. The word appears in different grammatical forms, with uses in Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating actions of hating or being hated. Its Aramaic equivalent is שְׂנָא.
שָׂנֵא 145 vb. hate
Qal 128 hate
Niph. is hated
Pi. enemy
base
H8130 שָׂנֵא hate
8130 sane' saw-nay'
a primitive root; to hate (personally):--enemy, foe, (be)
hate(-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.
שָׂנֵא (sa.ne) — to hate.
1) to hate, be hateful
1a) (Qal) to hate
1a1) of man
1a2) of God
1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst)
1b) (Niphal) to be hated
1c) (Piel) hater (participle)
1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom
Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)
Prep | V-Qal | Suff — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHR/Vqrmpc/Sp1bs