Psalms 18:14 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִ֭צָּיו וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם וּבְרָקִ֥ים רָ֝ב וַיְהֻמֵּֽם׃
BSAto thunderrâʻam heavenshâmayim The LordYᵉhôvâh highʻelyôwn to givenâthan voiceqôwl hailbârâd coalgechel fireʼêsh
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח | and he sent out | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| חִ֭צָּיו | arrows his | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם | and he scattered them | Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| וּבְרָקִ֥ים | and lightning flashes | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| רָ֝ב | he shot | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| וַיְהֻמֵּֽם׃ | and he routed them | Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them. |
| KJV | Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. |
| ASV | And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them. |
| YLT | And He sendeth His arrows and scattereth them, And much lightning, and crusheth them. |
| WEB | He sent out his arrows, and scattered them. He routed them with great lightning bolts. |
| BBE | He sent out his arrows, driving them in all directions; by his flames of fire they were troubled. |
The translations agree on the overall meaning and imagery of God's actions in this verse.
The main action is clear, with additional actions following that elaborate on God's powerful intervention.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbרָעַם
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 18:14
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 — God's Deliverance in Battlegenerated
Psalms 18:14 describes how God intervenes in battle, using arrows and lightning to defeat His enemies. This imagery emphasizes His power and authority over creation, as seen in the preceding verses where the Lord thunders from heaven and the foundations of the earth are shaken. The psalmist illustrates God's might in defending His people and routing their foes, reflecting a common theme in the Psalms of divine protection and deliverance.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 21:12 | For You will put them to flight when Your bow is trained upon them. |
| 2 | Psalm 77:17 | The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth. |
| 3 | Numbers 24:8 | God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 32:23–42 | I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend My arrows against them. |
| 5 | Joshua 10:10 | And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח, vai.yish.Lachgenerated
The verb שָׁלַח (shalach) means 'to send out' and is used here to depict God's action of sending arrows against His enemies. This word has a broad range of meanings, including sending away, stretching out, or letting go, and it is often used in contexts of divine intervention.
The parsing indicates that it is in the sequential imperfect tense, which highlights the ongoing nature of God's actions in the narrative. This verb sets the stage for the dramatic imagery that follows, showing God's active role in the battle.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse uses shot for רָב, while the KJV and ASV also choose shot.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (and He sent out) governs the entire verse, with two clauses following: one describing the scattering of foes and the other detailing the use of lightning. The structure emphasizes God's active involvement in the battle.
The Hebrew word order places the actions of sending and scattering prominently, highlighting the immediacy and power of God's intervention.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח as ἐβρόντησεν, which means 'He sent forth.' This choice reflects a similar action of sending but may carry a slightly different nuance in the Greek context, focusing on the act of dispatching rather than the specific imagery of arrows.
The use of φωνὴν for lightning indicates a broader interpretation, suggesting a manifestation of God's voice or power in nature, aligning with the theme of divine authority.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 18:14 depicts God sending arrows and lightning to defeat His enemies. This verse illustrates God's power and action in battle, emphasizing His role as a protector and warrior for His people.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It symbolizes God's direct intervention in battle against His enemies, using powerful imagery to convey His might.
Both arrows and lightning are swift and destructive forces, illustrating God's ability to act decisively and effectively against those who oppose Him.
Scattering enemies signifies a complete defeat and disarray among those who oppose God, highlighting His authority and protection over His people.
Themes of divine intervention, protection, and the power of God in battle are central to this verse, reflecting a common motif in the Psalms.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I see God's power at work in my life today, similar to how He acted in this verse?
- What does it mean for me to trust in God's protection against my 'enemies'?
- In what ways can I recognize and respond to God's interventions in my life?
- How can I share the story of God's deliverance with others, as seen in this psalm?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators reflect on this verse's significance, discussing God's power and the implications of His actions in battle.
When we compare spiritual things with spiritual things, we flash forth lightnings, indicating the knowledge advancing from them.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 18 →
"And He sent out His arrows, and scattered them" [Psalms 18:14].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 18 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 18:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleYea, he sent out his arrows,.... By which thunderbolts, cracks of thunder, and flashes of lightning, seem to be meant; see Psalms 77:17; comparable to arrows shot, and sent out of a bow; and may
Read John Gill on Psalms 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryYea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHis arrows, to wit, lightnings, as it is explained in the next clause. Scattered them, to wit, mine enemies; which is sufficiently understood from ,17, and from the whole context.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 18:14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.Ver. 14. Yea, he sent out his arrows, &c.] Tandem permiscentur omnia grandine flammis et fulminibus tanquam telis et sagittis Dei adversus hostes pugnantis. After the advance guard, Psalms 18:12, the great ordnance, Psalms 18:13, the battle begins, and all is on a hurry.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 18 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(14) He sent out.—In the majesty of the storm we have almost forgotten its cause, the Divine wrath against the enemies of the poet. They are abruptly recalled to our remembrance in the suffix (“them”) of the verbs in this verse. So the LXX. and Vulg. Many ancient interpreters, however, understood by them “the lightnings,” while Ewald would carry the pronoun on to the “waters” in the next verse. Instead of “shot” (rab) many render as if it were the adjective “many,” “his numerous lightnings.” But comp. Psalms 144:6 and the verse in Samuel.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 14. He sent out his arrows - he shot out lightnings] I believe the latter clause to be an illustration of the former. He sent out his arrows-that is, he shot out lightnings; for lightnings are the arrows of the Lord, and there is something very like the arrowhead apparent in the zigzag lightning. Sense and sound are wonderfully combined in the Hebrew of this last clause: וברכים רב ויהמם uberakim rab vaihummem, "and thunderings he multiplied and confounded them." Who does not hear the bursting, brattling, and pounding of thunder in these words? See Delaney?
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges14. And he sent out &c. (R.V.) gives the connexion better than Yea. Lightnings are Jehovah’s arrows. Cp. Psalms 77:17; Habakkuk 3:11. Scattered them clearly refers to the enemies whose destruction was the object of this Divine interposition (Psalms 18:3). and he shot out lightnings] Better, yea, lightnings in abundance; or, as R.V., lightnings manifold. discomfited] A word denoting the confusion of a sudden panic, and used especially of supernatural defeat. Cp. Exodus 14:24 (R.V.); Joshua 10:10; Judges 4:15; 1 Samuel 7:10. Psalms 144:6-7 is based on Psalms 18:14; Psalms 18:16.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 18 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleYea, he sent out his arrows - The word arrows here probably refers to the lightnings mentioned in the other clause of the verse.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 18 →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
He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
He sent out his arrows, and scattered them. He routed them with great lightning bolts.
He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
He shot his arrows and scattered them, many lightning bolts and routed them.
Tyndale line
Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.
And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.
Yes, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
Then hee sent out his arrowes and scattred them, and he increased lightnings and destroyed them.
Strictly literal
And he sent his arrows, and scattered [mine enemies]; and he shot forth lightnings, and discomfited them.
And He sendeth His arrows and scattereth them, And much lightning, and crusheth them.
And He sends His arrows and scatters them, || And much lightning, and crushes them.
(18:15) And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot forth lightnings, and discomfited them.
He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; many lightning bolts dispersed them.
From the Latin
And from those of others spare thy servant. If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot: and I shall be cleansed from the greatest sin.
Simplified
He fired his arrows, scattering his enemies; he routed them with his lightning bolts.
He sent out his arrows, driving them in all directions; by his flames of fire they were troubled.
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 align closely, with five of the six words matching. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some differences, with two words present and the rest restored by an editor, indicating a similar but damaged text.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִ֭צָּיו וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם וּבְרָקִ֥ים רָ֝ב וַיְהֻמֵּֽם׃
5 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.
[וירעם] [בשמים] יהוה [ועליון] [יתן] [קל׳ו] [ברד] [וגחלי] אש
2 words on the leather — 7 supplied entire by an editor.
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 18:14
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.
The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (shalach) is a primitive root meaning 'to send' with a wide range of applications. It can refer to sending away, stretching out (especially a hand), or letting go. The entries indicate various forms, including sending off, casting out, and setting free. Notably, it can also imply divorce or being sent away in a marital context.
שָׁלַח 814 vb. send
Qal
send: human subj.
send: subj. י׳ (God)
stretch out, esp. acc. hand
rarely send away: human subj.
let loose
Niph. letters were sent
Pi.
send off, away, human subj.
send away, subj. י׳
give over
cast out
send out, forth
let go, set free
shoot forth branches
let down
shoot
Phrases
Pu. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
Hiph. and I (י׳) will send
base
H7971 שָׁלַח send .. send: human subj.
. send: subj. י׳ (God)
. stretch out, esp. acc. hand
. rarely send away: human subj.
. let loose
. letters were sent
. . send off, away, human subj.
. . send away, subj. י׳
. give over
. cast out
. send out, forth
. let go, set free
. shoot forth branches
. let down
. shoot
. Phrases
. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
. and I (י׳) will send
7971 shalach shaw-lakh'
a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great
variety of applications):--X any wise, appoint, bring (on the
way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give
(up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose),
push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send
(away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread,
stretch forth (out).
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: depart.
: depart/send
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled
1e) (Hiphil) to send
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: let go.
: let_go/free
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
Hc/Vqw3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
חֵץ (chets) means 'arrow,' primarily found in poetic and prophetic contexts. It is derived from a root meaning 'to pierce' and can imply a wound or refer to a thunderbolt in a figurative sense. The word also encompasses related terms like 'dart' and 'shaft,' indicating its use in various forms of weaponry.
חֵץ n.m. arrow, mostly poet. and proph.
base
H2671 חֵץ arrow, mostly poet. and proph.
2671 chets khayts
from 2686; properly, a piercer, i.e. an arrow; by
implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God) thunder-bolt; (by
interchange for 6086) the shaft of a spear:--+ archer, arrow,
dart, shaft, staff, wound.
see HEBREW for 02686
see HEBREW for 06086
חֵץ (chets) — arrow.
arrow
HNcmpc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word פּוּץ (puwts) primarily means to scatter or disperse, applicable to both people and armies. It can also convey the idea of flowing or overflowing. The noun form מֵפִיץ (mephits) refers to a scatterer. Additionally, it has connotations of breaking or shattering, as seen in related forms.
[פּוּץ] vb. be dispersed, scattered
Qal be dispersed, disperse; be scattered, of enemies
Niph.
be scattered, of army
be spread abroad, of peoples
Hiph.
trans. scatter
intrans. scatter
base
מֵפִיץ n.m. scatterer, disperser
base
פּוּץ vb. flow, overflow
base
[פָּצַץ] vb. break (Ar. break, break asunder; Nab. break asunder; Syr. crush)
Pō‛. a hammer which shatters rock.
Pilp. he [God] dashed me in pieces (fig.).
base
H6327a פּוּץ be dispersed, scattered .be dispersed, disperse; be scattered, of enemies
. . be scattered, of army
. be spread abroad, of peoples
. . trans. scatter
. intrans. scatter
H6327b מֵפִיץ scatterer, disperser H6327c פּוּץ flow, overflow H6327d [פָּצַץ] break (Ar. break, break asunder; Nab. break asunder; Syr. crush) . a hammer which shatters rock.
. he [God] dashed me in pieces (fig.).
6327 puwts poots
a primitive root; to dash in pieces, literally or
figuratively (especially to disperse):--break (dash, shake)
in (to) pieces, cast (abroad), disperse (selves), drive,
retire, scatter (abroad), spread abroad.
פּוּץ (puts) — to scatter.
1) to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered
1a) (Qal) to be dispersed, be scattered
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be scattered
1b2) to be spread abroad
1c) (Hiphil) to scatter
1d) Hithpael) scatter
מֵפִיץ (me.phits) — scatterer.
n.m.
scatterer
פּוּץ (puts) — to flow.
(Qal) to flow, overflow
פָּצַץ (pa.tsats) — to shatter.
1) to break
1a) (Polel) to shatter
1b) (Pilpel) to dash to pieces
Hc/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp — Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp
בָּרַק (baraq) refers to lightning and its associated phenomena, such as flashes of light or gleams. It can also describe a bright or glittering object, like a sword or an arrowhead. The entries consistently emphasize its connection to the natural phenomenon of lightning, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
בָּרַק vb. flash, of lightning
base
בָּרָק n.m. lightning
lit. mostly pl. = lightnings, lightning flashes
fig. (always sing.) of flashing arrow-head
base
H1300a בָּרַק flash of lightning H1300b בָּרָק lightning
1300 baraq baw-rawk'
from 1299; lightning; by analogy, a gleam; concretely, a
flashing sword:--bright, glitter(-ing sword), lightning.
see HEBREW for 01299
בָּרַק (ba.raq) — to use lightning.
to flash (with lightning)
בָּרָק (ba.raq) — lightning.
1) lightning
1a) lightnings, lightning flashes
1b) of flashing arrow-head (fig.)
HC/Ncmpa — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Ncmpa
רָבַב (rabab) primarily means to shoot, particularly in the context of arrows. It is a primitive root related to the idea of projection, and can also imply the notion of multiplying to ten thousand. The entries indicate a focus on the action of shooting, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
[רָבַב] vb. shoot
base
H7232 [רָבַב] shoot
7232 rabab raw-bab'
a primitive root (rather identical with 7231 through the idea
of projection); to shoot an arrow:--shoot.
see HEBREW for 07231
רָבַב (ra.vav) — to multiply ten thousand.
(Qal) to shoot
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
הָמַם (hamam) is a Hebrew verb that conveys the idea of making noise or commotion, as well as causing confusion or distress. It encompasses a range of meanings including to disturb, crush, and vex. The entries suggest it is a primitive root related to various forms of disruption or destruction.
הָמַם vb. make a noise, move noisily, confuse, discomfit
base
H2000 הָמַם make a noise, move noisily, confuse, discomfit
2000 hamam haw-mam'
a primitive root (compare 1949, 1993); properly, to put in
commotion; by implication, to disturb, drive, destroy:--break,
consume, crush, destroy, discomfit, trouble, vex.
see HEBREW for 01949
see HEBREW for 01993
הָמַם (ha.mam) — to confuse.
1) to move noisily, confuse, make a noise, discomfit, break, consume, crush, destroy, trouble, vex
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to move noisily
1a2) to confuse, discomfit, vex
Hc/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp