Psalms 18:40 — Word Study
WLCוְֽאֹיְבַ֗י נָתַ֣תָּה לִּ֣י עֹ֑רֶף וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃
BSAto girdʼâzar Helechchayil battlemilchâmâh to bowkâraʻ -kamaiqûwm underneathtachath
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י | and enemies my | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| נָתַ֣תָּה | you gave | Verb, Qal, perfect second person masculine singular |
| לִּ֣י | to me | Preposition, suffix |
| עֹ֑רֶף | [the] neck | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י | and [those who] hated me | Conjunction, verb piel participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃ | I destroyed them | Verb hiphil imperfect first person common singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me. |
| KJV | Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. |
| ASV | Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me. |
| YLT | As to mine enemies — Thou hast given to me the neck, As to those hating me — I cut them off. |
| WEB | You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. |
| BBE | By you their backs are turned in flight, so that my haters are cut off. |
Where they part company is אֹיֵב — see How Translations Differ.
The main action is followed by a description of what was given and a statement of the psalmist's response, emphasizing the victory granted by God.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbחַיִל
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 18:40
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 18:40 reflects a moment of triumph where the psalmist acknowledges God's role in defeating his enemies. The preceding verses (like Psalms 18:39) set the stage by describing how God has equipped him for battle, emphasizing the divine support that leads to victory. This theme resonates throughout the psalm, illustrating God's faithfulness in times of conflict.
Cross References
The Key Word — אֹיֵב, oyebgenerated
The Hebrew word אֹיֵב (oyeb) means 'enemy' or 'foe,' indicating hostility. It is derived from the root אָיַב (ayab), which conveys the sense of being hostile. This word encompasses both personal and national adversaries, reflecting the psalmist's experience of opposition.
In this verse, the psalmist uses אֹיֵב to refer to those who oppose him, highlighting the conflict between himself and those who hate him. The word's use here underscores the seriousness of the enmity he faces, as well as the divine assistance he receives.
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 main verb in this verse is נָתַ֣תָּה, you gave, which governs the action of the sentence. It is followed by a noun phrase עֹ֑רֶף, the neck, indicating what has been given, and a second verb אַצְמִיתֵֽם, I destroyed them, which completes the thought.
The structure emphasizes God's active role in granting victory over enemies, with the psalmist's actions following as a response to that divine empowerment.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נָתַ֣תָּה as δύναμιν, meaning 'power' or 'strength.' This choice highlights the enabling force God provides to the psalmist, emphasizing the divine support in overcoming adversaries.
The Greek word συνεπόδισας is used for עֹ֑רֶף, which suggests a focus on the act of subduing or overcoming, further illustrating the theme of victory over enemies.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 18:40 shows the psalmist expressing gratitude for God's help in defeating his enemies. He acknowledges that God has made his foes retreat and that he has ended those who hated him. This reflects a deep sense of reliance on God's strength in times of conflict.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist refers to those who oppose him or act with hostility, which can include both personal adversaries and broader national foes.
God empowers the psalmist, enabling him to defeat his enemies and secure victory in conflict.
The neck symbolizes a turning point, representing the defeat of enemies who are forced to flee, illustrating their submission.
This verse encapsulates the theme of divine deliverance, showing how God supports His people in overcoming challenges and adversaries.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I feel like I am facing enemies or opposition?
- How can I rely on God's strength to overcome challenges I encounter?
- What does it mean for me to put an end to things that oppose my well-being?
- How can I recognize and appreciate God's help in my own battles?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, interpreting it as a reflection of God's power in overcoming enemies and the psalmist's victory.
"And you have given mine enemies the back to me" [Psalms 18:40]. And you have turned mine enemies, and hast made them to be a back to me, that is, to follow me.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 18 →
We will see the backs of our enemies fleeing, not the faces of ones pursuing us.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 18 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 18:40 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies,.... Either to slay them, or to trample or put a yoke upon them; or rather the sense is, thou hast made them to fly before me, to turn their necks or
Read John Gill on Psalms 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryFor thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. Here follows the fourth section of the psalm.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleEither, 1. That I might smite or behead them. Or, 2. That I might put my yoke upon their necks, or bring them into subjection. Or rather thus, Thou hast made them turn their backs to me, i.e. flee away from me; for so this very phrase is used and rendered, ,12, and elsewhere. So far are they mistaken, that say this Hebrew word oreph is only used for the neck, and not for the back. That I might destroy them; that I might have opportunity to destroy them.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 18:40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.Ver. 40. Thou hast given me the necks of mine enemies] sc. To chop them off at my pleasure; or to cut the throats.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 18 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(40) Thou hast also given.—Literally, and as to mine enemies, thou gavest to me the back, which either means “turned to flight so that only their backs were visible” (Jeremiah 18:17 and Psalms 21:12), or alludes to the common symbolism of defeat—trampling on an enemy’s neck.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 40. The necks of mine enemies] Thou hast made me a complete conqueror. Treading on the neck of an enemy was the triumph of the conqueror, and the utmost disgrace of the vanquished.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges40. Yea mine enemies hast thou made to turn their backs unto me, And as for them that hated me, I cut them off. The first line means that his enemies were put to flight before him Exodus 23:27), not (as the A.V. seems to imply) that he planted his foot on their necks in token of triumph (Joshua 10:24).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 18 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies - Their necks to tread upon, as the result of victory; or their necks to be subject to me, as the neck of the ox is to his owner.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 18 →The verse in English, compared — 16 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
You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me.
You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
You have made my enemies retreat before me; I destroyed those who hated me.
You make my enemies retreat; I destroy those who hate me.
Tyndale line
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me.
Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, that I might cut off them that hate me.
Thou hast also given me the necks of my enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
And thou hast giuen me the neckes of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
Strictly literal
And mine enemies didst thou make to turn their backs unto me, and those that hated me I destroyed.
As to mine enemies — Thou hast given to me the neck, As to those hating me — I cut them off.
As for my enemies—You have given to me the neck, || As for those hating me—I cut them off.
(18:41) And my enemies thou causest to turn their back to me; and those that hate me,—that I may destroy them.
You gave me the back of my enemies' necks; I annihilated those who hated me.
Simplified
You made my enemies run away; I destroyed all my enemies.
By you their backs are turned in flight, so that my haters are cut off.
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 states, "וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י נָתַ֣תָּה לִּ֣י עֹ֑רֶף וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃" which translates to, "You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me." The Septuagint aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, matching five out of six words, although the specific wording and structure differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically 4Q85 and 11Q8, do not contain the text for this verse as they are largely restored or supplied by an editor, but the 5/6hev1b manuscript includes five words, with one word partly restored. Overall, the primary agreement is between the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint, while the Dead Sea Scrolls provide limited and partially restored evidence.
וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י נָתַ֣תָּה לִּ֣י עֹ֑רֶף וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃
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.
ותאזר׳ני [חיל] [למלחמה] [תכריע] [קמ׳י] [תחת׳י]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
[ותאזר׳ני] [חיל] [למלחמה] [תכריע] [קמ׳י] תחת׳י
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
ותאזר׳ני חיל למלחמה תכריע קמ׳י תחת׳י
5 words on the leather — 1 partly restored.
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 18:40
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.
אֹיֵב (oyeb) means 'enemy' or 'foe,' indicating hostility. It can refer to personal or national adversaries. The word is derived from the active participle of another root, אָיַב (ayab), which also conveys the sense of being hostile.
[אָיַב] 283 vb. be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)
base
H341 אָיַב be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)
341 'oyeb o-yabe'
or (fully) owyeb {o-yabe'}; active participle of 340;
hating; an adversary:--enemy, foe.
see HEBREW for 0340
אֹיֵב (o.yev) — enemy.
1) (Qal) enemy
1a) personal
1b) national
HC/Vqrmpc/Sp1bs — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHC/Vqrmpc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
HVqp2ms — Verb · Qal · perfect second person masculine singularHVqp2ms
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
עֹ֫רֶף (oreph) refers to the back of the neck, and can also denote the back generally, both literally and figuratively. It is associated with concepts like obstinacy and apostasy. The word is derived from a related term, עָרַף (araf), and is mentioned in contexts describing a stiff neck or a fleeing foe.
עֹ֫רֶף n.m. back of neck, neck
base
H6203 עֹ֫רֶף back of neck, neck
6203 `oreph o-ref'
from 6202; the nape or back of the neck (as declining);
hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative):--
back ((stiff-)neck((-ed).
see HEBREW for 06202
עֹ֫רֶף (o.reph) — neck.
1) neck, back of the neck, back
1a) back of the neck
1a1) of fleeing foe
1a2) of apostasy (fig.)
1b) stiff of neck, obstinate (fig.)
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
nek (tsawwar, tsawwa'r, tsawwaron, tsawwa'rah, Aramaic tsawwar (Da 5:7,16,29), `oreph, miphreqeth (1Sa 4:18); nostos, "back" (Baruch 2:33); occasionally the words garon (Isa 3:16; Eze 16:11), and gargeroth, plural of gargarah, literally, "throat" (Pr 1:9; 3:3,12; 6:21), are translated "neck"): The neck is compared with a tower for beauty (So 4:4; 7:4) and is decorated with necklaces and chains (Pr 1:9; 3:3,12; 6:21, Hebrew gargeroth; Eze 16:11, Hebrew garon…
Neck
Used sometimes figuratively. To “lay down the neck” (Rom. 16:4) is to hazard one’s life. Threatenings of coming judgments are represented by the prophets by their laying bands upon the people’s necks (Deut. 28:48; Isa. 10:27; Jer. 27:2). Conquerors put their feet on the necks of their enemies as a sign of their subjection (Josh. 10:24; 2 Sam. 22:41).
The phrases to "harden the neck," Pr 29:1, and to be "stiff- necked," like a headstrong brute, illustrate the willful obstinacy of sinners against the instructions and commands of God. The tyrants of ancient days sometimes put their feet on the prostrate necks of princes, in token of their subjugation, trampling them in the dust. Their mischief sometimes returned upon their own heads, Jos 10:24; Ps 18:40.
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)
HC/Vprmpc/Sp1bs — Conjunction · verb piel participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHC/Vprmpc/Sp1bs
צָמַת (tsamath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to put an end to or exterminate. It encompasses various forms, including to destroy, cut off, or vanish, with nuances in different stems indicating actions like being annihilated or causing annihilation. The entries highlight its use in contexts of termination and destruction, but do not present any significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[צָמַת] vb. put an end to, exterminate
Qal they have put an end to my life
Niph. be ended, annihilated
Pi. hath put an end to me
Pi‛lēl thine alarms have annihilated me
Hiph. exterminate, annihilate
base
H6789 צָמַת put an end to, exterminate .they have put an end to my life
. be ended, annihilated
. hath put an end to me
.thine alarms have annihilated me
. exterminate, annihilate
6789 tsamath tsaw-math'
a primitive root; to extirpate (literally or
figuratively):--consume, cut off, destroy, vanish.
צָמַת (tsa.mat) — to destroy.
1) to put an end to, cut off, destroy, exterminate, extirpate
1a) (Qal) to put an end to, terminate
1b) (Niphal) to be ended, be annihilated, be exterminated
1c) (Piel) to put an end to
1d) (Pilel) to be exterminated, be annihilated
1e) (Hiphil) to exterminate, annihilate
HVhi1cs/Sp3mp — Verb hiphil imperfect first person common singular · suffixHVhi1cs/Sp3mp