Psalms 59:1 — Word Study
WLCהַצִּילֵ֖נִי מֵאֹיְבַ֥י׀ אֱלֹהָ֑י מִּמִתְקוֹמְמַ֥י תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי׃
BSAFor the choirmasternâtsach To the tune ofʼAl tashchêth Do Not DestroyʼAl tashchêth A Miktammiktâm of DavidDâvid when SaulShâʼûwl sentshâlach men to watchshâmar [David’s] housebayith in order to kill himmûwth
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הַצִּילֵ֖נִי | deliver me | Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| מֵאֹיְבַ֥י׀ | from enemies my | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| אֱלֹהָ֑י | O God my | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| מִּמִתְקוֹמְמַ֥י | from [those who] rise up against me | Preposition, verb hithpael participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי׃ | may you set on high me | Verb piel imperfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me. |
| KJV | Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. |
| ASV | Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: Set me on high from them that rise up against me. |
| YLT | To the Overseer. — 'Destroy not,' by David. — A secret treasure, in Saul's sending, and they watch the house to put him to death. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God, From my withstanders set me on high. |
| WEB | Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me. |
| BBE | Take me out of the hands of the cruel ones, O my God; keep me safe from those who come up against me. |
Where they part company is in the phrasing of the requests — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of two main requests, each with a prepositional phrase providing context about the enemies.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
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 59:1
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 — A Prayer for Deliverancegenerated
Psalm 59:1 is a heartfelt plea from the psalmist asking God for deliverance from enemies who threaten him. This psalm reflects a common theme in the Psalms, where the writer seeks divine intervention against adversaries. The urgency of the request highlights the psalmist's reliance on God as a protector, as seen in the surrounding verses that further express distress and the need for safety.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 57:1 | Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed. |
| 2 | Psalm 58:1 | Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men? |
| 3 | Judges 16:2–3 | When the Gazites heard that Samson was there, they surrounded that place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They were quiet throughout the night, saying, “Let us wait until dawn; then we will kill him.” |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 19:11–24 | Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” |
| 5 | 2 Corinthians 11:32–33 | In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הַצִּילֵ֖נִי, ha.tzi.Le.nigenerated
The Hebrew word הַצִּילֵ֖נִי (ha.tzi.Le.ni) is a hiphil imperative form of נָצַל (natsal), meaning 'to rescue' or 'to deliver.' It conveys a strong request for help, emphasizing the act of being saved from danger or harm.
This word is often used in contexts where someone is in peril and requires immediate assistance. The parsing indicates that it is directed to a second person masculine singular, making it a direct appeal to God for intervention.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations of this verse generally agree on the meaning of the key terms.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse revolves around two main verbs: הַצִּילֵ֖נִי (deliver me) and תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי (may you set on high me). The first verb introduces the main request, while the second verb emphasizes the desire for exaltation and protection.
The sentence is built around these two actions, with prepositional phrases providing context about the enemies and the nature of the threats faced by the psalmist.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew הַצִּילֵ֖נִי is rendered as εἰς (eis), which suggests a directional aspect to the plea, indicating a movement towards safety or refuge. This choice reflects the urgency of the request for divine aid.
The translation of אֹיְבַ֥י as τῷ (tō) emphasizes the relationship between the psalmist and his adversaries, highlighting the personal nature of the conflict.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 59:1 is a prayer asking God for rescue from enemies and protection from those who threaten the psalmist. The urgency of the request highlights the need for divine help in times of danger.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist is asking God to rescue him from danger posed by his enemies.
This personal address signifies a close relationship and reliance on God for help.
The enemies can be personal adversaries or broader threats, reflecting hostility and opposition.
Like many psalms, it expresses a deep reliance on God for protection and deliverance in times of trouble.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I felt the need to call out to God for deliverance?
- How can I trust in God's protection when facing challenges or adversaries?
- What does it mean to me to have God as my protector?
- How can I support others who are in need of deliverance or protection?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early interpretations of this psalm, such as those by Augustine of Hippo, highlight its themes of deliverance and divine protection.
"Deliver me from mine enemies, my God, and from men rising up upon me, redeem Thou me" [Psalms 59:1].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 59 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 59:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDeliver me from mine enemies, O my God,.... David had his enemies in his youth, notwithstanding the amiableness of his person, the endowments of his mind, his martial achievements, his wise behaviour
Read John Gill on Psalms 59 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryDeliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Psalms 59:1-17.-Two divisions.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 59 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BiblePsalms 59 THE The matter and design of this Psalm is the same in general and for substance with the former, to wit, a declaration of the cruelty and treachery of his enemies; and a prayer to God to deliver him out of their hands. David, in danger, prayeth unto God for deliverance from his enemies, ,2, relating his own innocency and their cruelty, . He trusteth in God, and prayeth against them, ; promiseth thankfulness to God for being his defence and refuge, ,17. He chiefly understands Saul, but speaks in the plural number, out of, reverence to his king, and that he might, as far as he could in truth, derive the envy and hatred of these odious practices upon those that were about him; as he…
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 59 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 59:1 « To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. » Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.Al-taschith] Destroy not, preserve me from this ambush. See Psalms 57:1, title. When Saul sent, and they watched the house] But were disappointed by Michal shifting him out of the way, preferring a husband before a father, though she had otherwise no great goodness in her. The glory of this deliverance David wholly ascribeth to God, and seeketh help of him. Ver. 1. Deliver me from mine enemies, O God] This psalm is the same in substance with those aforegoing, viz. David’ s desire to be…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 59 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(1) Defend me.—Literally, set me on high, i.e., place me on some lofty and secure height.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 59 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BiblePSALM LIX The psalmist prays for deliverance from his enemies, whose desperate wickedness he describes, 1-7; professes strong confidence in God, 8-10; speaks of the destruction of his enemies, 11-15; praises God for benefits already received; and determines to trust in him, 16, 17. NOTES ON PSALM LIX The title, "To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David," has already occurred: and perhaps means no more than that the present Psalm is to be sung as Psalms 57:1-11, the first which bears this title. But there is here added the supposed occasion on which David made this Psalm: it was, "when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him." When the reader considers the whole of this…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 59 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1–5. The Psalmist prays for deliverance from the enemies who are bent on taking his life, pleading his innocence, and appealing to God to punish all injustice.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 59 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleDeliver me from mine enemies, O my God - See the notes at Psalms 18:48. This prayer was offered when the spies sent by Saul surrounded the house of David.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 59 →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
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me.
Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me.
Deliver me from my enemies, my God! Protect me from those who attack me!
Tyndale line
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: Set me on high from them that rise up against me.
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: set me on high from them that rise up against me.
To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
To him that excelleth. Destroy not. A Psalme of David on Michtam. When Saul sent and they did watch the house to kill him. O my God, deliuer mee from mine enemies: defend me from them that rise vp against me.
Strictly literal
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God; secure me on high from them that rise up against me.
To the Overseer. — 'Destroy not,' by David. — A secret treasure, in Saul's sending, and they watch the house to put him to death. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God, From my withstanders set me on high.
TO THE OVERSEER. “DO NOT DESTROY.” A MIKTAM OF DAVID, IN SAUL’S SENDING, AND THEY WATCH THE HOUSE TO PUT HIM TO DEATH. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God, || Set me on high from my withstanders.
“To the chief musician, Al-tashcheth, by David, a Michtham, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to put him to death.” (59:2) Deliver me from my enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
Rescue me from my enemies, my God; set me on high away from those who rise up against me.
From the Latin
Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the inscription of a title, to David himself, for doctrine,
Simplified
Rescue me from my enemies, God! Protect me from those who are attacking me!
Take me out of the hands of the cruel ones, O my God; keep me safe from those who come up against me.
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 הַצִּילֵ֖נִי מֵאֹיְבַ֥י אֱלֹהָ֑י מִּמִתְקוֹמְמַ֥י תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי׃, showing a consistent plea for deliverance and protection across these ancient texts.
הַצִּילֵ֖נִי מֵאֹיְבַ֥י׀ אֱלֹהָ֑י מִּמִתְקוֹמְמַ֥י תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי׃
5 of the 5 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.
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 59:1
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 נָצַל (natsal) is built from a primitive root meaning to snatch away, with various usages across different stems. It covers a range of meanings including to rescue, deliver, plunder, and strip. The word appears in contexts of delivering oneself or being delivered, as well as rescuing from enemies or sin.
[נָצַל] 212 vb. not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
Niph.
reflex. tear oneself away, deliver oneself
passive, be torn out or away
Pi.
strip off, spoil
deliver
Hiph.
take away, snatch away
rescue, recover
deliver from
deliver from sin and guilt
Hoph. as a brand plucked out of the burning
Hithp. and they stripped themselves of their ornaments.
base
H5337 נָצַל not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
5337 natsal naw-tsal'
a primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad
sense:- X at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, X without
fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save,
spoil, strip, X surely, take (out).
נָצַל (na.tsal) — to rescue.
1) to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder
1a)(Niphal)
1a1) to tear oneself away, deliver oneself
1a2) to be torn out or away, be delivered
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to strip off, spoil
1b2) to deliver
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to take away, snatch away
1c2) to rescue, recover
1c3) to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death)
1c4) to deliver from sin and guilt
1d) (Hophal) to be plucked out
1e) (Hithpael) to strip oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsal (נְצַל "to rescue" H5338)
HVhv2ms/Sp1bs — Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVhv2ms/Sp1bs
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
HR/Vqrmpc/Sp1bs — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHR/Vqrmpc/Sp1bs
אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.
אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.
pl. in number.
rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
angels
gods
pl. intensive
god or goddess
godlike one
works of God, or things belongng to him
God
הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
אֱלֹהִים = God
base
H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
. angels
. gods
. pl. intensive . god or goddess
. godlike one
. works of God, or things belongng to him
. God
. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
. אֱלֹהִים = God
430 'elohiym el-o-heem'
plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically
used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the
supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to
magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X
exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X
mighty.
see HEBREW for 0433
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.
This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.
Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.
Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)
HNcmpc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word קוּם (qum) is a primitive root meaning 'to rise' and encompasses a range of actions such as standing, becoming powerful, and establishing. It can imply a sudden or hostile rise, as well as the act of fulfilling or confirming something. The entries also note various grammatical forms, indicating its use in different contexts, including raising up or causing to stand.
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
קוּם 628 vb. arise, stand up, stand
Qal 460
arise
arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)
arise, abs., = become powerful
arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet
arise for, i.e. to become
arise for action
arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed
esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere
stand
Pi.
fulfil
confirm, ratify
confirm, establish
impose, an obligation
Pō‛l. raise up
Hithpō‛l. raise oneself, = rise up
Hiph.
146cause to arise, raise
raise, set up, stones
erect, build
fig, of setting up law
raise up = bring on the scene
raise up = rouse, stir up
instigate, build
fig, of setting up law
raise up = constitute
cause to stand
Hoph. be raised up
base
H6965a לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash H6965b קוּם arise, stand up, stand .. arise
. arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)
. arise, abs., = become powerful
. arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet
. arise for, i.e. to become
. . arise for action
. arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed
. esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere
. stand
. . fulfil
. . confirm, ratify
. confirm, establish
. impose, an obligation
. raise up
. raise oneself, = rise up
. . cause to arise, raise
. . raise, set up, stones
. erect, build
. fig, of setting up law
. raise up = bring on the scene
. . raise up = rouse, stir up
. instigate, build
. fig, of setting up law
. raise up = constitute
. cause to stand
. be raised up
6965 quwm koom
a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal,
figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X
be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X
enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift
up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise
(up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse
up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up,
strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -
rising).
קָמָי (qa.may) — (Leb)-kamai.
Combined with lev (לֵב "Leb" H3820B)
§ -Kamai = "my adversary"
Leb-kamai, i.e., people of Gambulai
קוּם (qum) — to arise: rise.
: rise/get_going
1) to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to arise
1a2) to arise (hostile sense)
1a3) to arise, become powerful
1a4) to arise, come on the scene
1a5) to stand
1a5a) to maintain oneself
1a5b) to be established, be confirmed
1a5c) to stand, endure
1a5d) to be fixed
1a5e) to be valid
1a5f) to be proven
1a5g) to be fulfilled
1a5h) to persist
1a5i) to be set, be fixed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to fulfil
1b2) to confirm, ratify, establish, impose
1c) (Polel) to raise up
1d) (Hithpael) to raise oneself, rise up
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to cause to arise, raise
1e2) to raise, set up, erect, build
1e3) to raise up, bring on the scene
1e4) to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate
1e5) to raise up, constitute
HR/Vtrmpc/Sp1bs — Preposition · verb hithpael participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHR/Vtrmpc/Sp1bs
שָׂגַב (sagab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be high or exalted, often in an inaccessible way. It conveys a sense of safety and strength, used both literally and figuratively. The word appears in various forms, indicating actions like setting something securely on high or being too high for capture, and is associated with God's exalted nature.
[שָׂגַב] vb. be (inaccessibly) high
Qal
of city, be (too) high for capture
be high in prosperity
Niph.
be high
be (safely) set on high
be exalted
Pi.
set (securely) on high
exalt
Pu. be set (securely) on high
Hiph. God acts exaltedly
base
H7682 שָׂגַב be (inaccessibly) high .. of city, be (too) high for capture
. be high in prosperity
. . be high
. be (safely) set on high
. be exalted
. . set (securely) on high
. exalt
. be set (securely) on high
. God acts exaltedly
7682 sagab saw-gab'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) lofty, especially
inaccessible; by implication, safe, strong; used literally and
figuratively --defend, exalt, be excellent, (be, set on) high,
lofty, be safe, set up (on high), be too strong.
שָׂגַב (sa.gav) — to exalt.
1) to be high, be inaccessibly high
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be (too) high (for capture)
1a2) to be high (of prosperity)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be high
1b2) to be set on high, be (safely) set on high
1b3) to be exalted (of God)
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to set on high, set (securely) on high
1c2) to exalt, exalt (in effective hostility)
1d) (Pual) to be set (securely) on high
1e) (Hiphil) to act exaltedly
HVpi2ms/Sp1bs — Verb piel imperfect second person masculine singular · suffixHVpi2ms/Sp1bs