Psalms 7:13 — Word Study
WLCוְ֭לוֹ הֵכִ֣ין כְּלֵי־ מָ֑וֶת חִ֝צָּ֗יו לְֽדֹלְקִ֥ים יִפְעָֽל׃
BSAHe has preparedkûwn▸ [readied for use, made ready to strike]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְ֭לוֹ | and for him | Conjunction, preposition, suffix |
| הֵכִ֣ין | he has prepared | Verb, Hiphil, perfect third person masculine singular |
| כְּלֵי־ | weapons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| מָ֑וֶת | death | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| חִ֝צָּ֗יו | arrows his | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| לְֽדֹלְקִ֥ים | into burning [things] | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural |
| יִפְעָֽל׃ | he will make | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire. |
| KJV | He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. |
| ASV | He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He maketh his arrows fiery shafts. |
| YLT | Yea, for him He hath prepared Instruments of death, His arrows for burning pursuers He maketh. |
| WEB | He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death. He makes ready his flaming arrows. |
| BBE | He has made ready for him the instruments of death; he makes his arrows flames of fire. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of חִ֝צָּ֗יו — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause presents God's action, supported by descriptive phrases that clarify the nature of His weapons and their intended use.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbחֶרֶב
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 7:13
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 Judgment on the Wickedgenerated
Psalm 7:13 portrays God as a warrior preparing deadly weapons and arrows of fire to execute judgment. This imagery emphasizes God's readiness to confront evil, as seen in the preceding and following verses, which highlight the consequences of wickedness and the certainty of divine justice.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 11:2 | For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. |
| 2 | Psalm 45:5 | Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s foes; the nations fall beneath your feet. |
| 3 | Psalm 64:3–7 | who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows, |
| 4 | Psalm 144:6 | Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows and rout them. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 32:23–42 | I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend My arrows against them. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הֵכִ֣ין, he.Khingenerated
The verb הֵכִ֣ין (he.Khin) is a Hiphil perfect form meaning 'he has prepared.' It conveys the idea of establishing or making something ready for use, similar to setting up a tent or preparing for battle. This reflects God's active role in orchestrating judgment.
The usage here suggests a deliberate and purposeful action, indicating that God does not merely allow events to unfold but actively prepares for them, emphasizing His sovereignty and authority over justice.
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 verbs הֵכִ֣ין (he.Khin) and יִפְעָֽל (yif.'Al) govern the sentence, with the first indicating God's preparation and the second expressing His action. The structure emphasizes God's active role in judgment.
The sentence flows from a declaration of preparation to an affirmation of action, highlighting the connection between God's readiness and His execution of justice.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הֵכִ֣ין as ἡτοίμασεν (hetoimasen), meaning 'He has prepared.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew, reinforcing the notion of God actively preparing for judgment.
The translation of חִ֝צָּ֗יו as βέλη (belē) indicates a focus on the arrows as instruments of judgment, maintaining the imagery of divine warfare.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 7:13 states that God has prepared deadly weapons and fiery arrows for judgment. This imagery illustrates God's readiness to confront wickedness, emphasizing His authority and the certainty of divine justice.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies God's active role in executing judgment against the wicked, showing that He is ready to confront evil.
The fiery arrows symbolize the destructive nature of God's judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of His response to wickedness.
This verse illustrates that God's justice is not passive; He actively prepares for it, ensuring that evil will be confronted and dealt with decisively.
We learn that God is intentional and purposeful in His actions, and that He takes the matter of justice seriously.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see God's justice at work in the world around me?
- How can I reflect God's readiness to confront evil in my own life?
- What does it mean for me to prepare myself spiritually, as God prepares His weapons?
- How can I trust in God's judgment when I see wickedness in the world?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church writings, such as Augustine's exposition, reference this verse to discuss God's judgment and preparation for justice.
"And in it He has prepared the instruments of death: He has wrought His arrows for the burning" [Psalms 7:13].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 7 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 7:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe hath also prepared for him the instruments of death,.... The weapons of his indignation, Isaiah 13:5; which, will issue both in the first and second death, corporeal and eternal; the instruments
Read John Gill on Psalms 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. Ordaineth-`maketh.' against the persecutors.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 7 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleFor him; either, 1. For or against the persecutor, as it follows. Or rather, 2. For himself, for his own use, to wit, to shoot against his enemies. The instruments of death, i.e. arrows, or other deadly weapons. He ordaineth, Heb. maketh or worketh, designeth or fitteth for his very use. Against the persecutors; or, against furious and wry persecutors, as the word signifies, and as it is used, .
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.Ver. 13. He hath also prepared, &c.] The punishment of ungodly persons is here elegantly set forth by three similitudes. 1. From warfare. 2. From child birth, Psalms 7:14 3. From hunting, Psalms 7:15-16. Well might the Lord say, "I have used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets," Hosea 12:10. He ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors] Heb. the hot burning persecutors, that are set on work by the great red dragon (Ardentes, importing their haste to perpetrate mischief). Such were Felix of Wurtemburg, who swore that ere he died he would ride up to the spurs, and…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 7 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) Instruments of death.—That is, deadly weapons.Against the persecutors.—Literally, for those burning; so LXX. and Vulg. The meaning appears to be, “His arrows he makes into fiery arrows”—i.e., tips them with fire, by wrapping them in burning tow. Latin, malleoli. (Comp. Ephesians 6:16, with Note, in New Testament Commentary.) Milton’s “rattling storm of arrows barb’d with fire,” refers to the same custom.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 7 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death] This appears to be all a prophecy of the tragical death of Saul. He was wounded by the arrows of the Philistines; and his own keen sword, on which he fell, terminated his woful days!
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 7 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. Render: Tea at him hath he aimed deadly missiles; Making his arrows fiery. Or, Yea, for him hath he prepared &c. The description of the warrior-judge is continued. God’s arrows are His lightnings (Psalms 18:14; Zechariah 9:14), which He aims at the impenitent sinner. There may be a reference to the fire-darts of ancient warfare (Lat. malleoli), arrows with tow, pitch, and other inflammable materials attached to them, lighted and discharged into a besieged town with the object of setting it on fire. Cp. ‘the fire-charged darts of the evil one,’ Ephesians 6:16.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 7 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe hath also prepared for him - The instruments of punishment are already prepared, and God can use them when he pleases.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 7 →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 has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire.
He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death. He makes ready his flaming arrows.
He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire.
He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.
Tyndale line
He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He maketh his arrows fiery shafts.
He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he maketh his arrows fiery shafts.
He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
Hee hath also prepared him deadly weapons: hee will ordeine his arrowes for them that persecute me.
Strictly literal
And he hath prepared for him instruments of death; his arrows hath he made burning.
Yea, for him He hath prepared Instruments of death, His arrows for burning pursuers He maketh.
Indeed, He has prepared for Himself || Instruments of death, || He makes His arrows for burning pursuers.
(7:14) Also for him he prepareth the instruments of death; he fashioneth his arrows against the persecutors.
He prepares to use weapons against him; he makes his arrows flaming shafts.
From the Latin
Except you will be converted, he will brandish his sword: he hath bent his bow and made it ready.
Simplified
He has prepared weapons of death, he has his flaming arrows ready.
He has made ready for him the instruments of death; he makes his arrows flames of fire.
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 presents the verse as it stands, while the Septuagint matches all words, indicating agreement in the essential meaning. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, suggesting some loss but maintaining the core message of God's preparation for judgment.
וְ֭לוֹ הֵכִ֣ין כְּלֵי־ מָ֑וֶת חִ֝צָּ֗יו לְֽדֹלְקִ֥ים יִפְעָֽל׃
7 of the 7 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.
[אם] לא [ישוב] [חרב׳ו] ילטוש [קשת׳ו] [דרך] [ויכוננ׳ה]
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 6 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 7:13
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.
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HC/R/Sp3ms — Conjunction · preposition · suffixHC/R/Sp3ms
כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to establish or prepare. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to be firm, to fix, to direct, and to be ready, with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, such as Niph'al (to be established) and Hiph'il (to establish), but there is a note on a noun form, נָכוֹן (nakhon), meaning 'blow'.
[כּוּן] 218 vb. prob. be firm, only in der. conj.
Niph.
be set up, established, fixed
in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways
prepare, be ready
pass. be prepared, of judgments
Hiph.
establish, set up
fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift
provide for, provide, furnish
direct one's face toward
arrange, order
Hoph.
be established, of throne
be prepared for
Po‛lēl.
set up, establish
constitute, make, a man (in womb)
fix, so as to be ready
direct
Po‛lal. be established
Hithpo‛l. be established
base
נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow Jb 12:5
ref
H3559a כּוּן prob. be firm, only in der. conj. . . be set up, established, fixed
. in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways
. prepare, be ready
. pass. be prepared, of judgments
. . establish, set up
. . fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift
. provide for, provide, furnish
. direct one's face toward
. arrange, order
. . be established, of throne
. be prepared for
. . set up, establish
. constitute, make, a man (in womb)
. fix, so as to be ready
. direct
. be established
. be established
H3559b נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow
3559 kuwn koon
a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand
perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great
variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,
prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper
or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness,
fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet,
ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self),
provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright,
fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very
deed.
כּוּן (kun) — to establish: prepare.
: prepare/direct
1) to be firm, be stable, be established
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed
1a1a) to be firmly established
1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring
1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined
1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense)
1a3) to prepare, be ready
1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm
1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish
1b3) to direct toward (moral sense)
1b4) to arrange, order
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be established, be fastened
1c2) to be prepared, be ready
1d) (Polel)
1d1) to set up, establish
1d2) to constitute, make
1d3) to fix
1d4) to direct
1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared
1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored
נָכוֹן (na.khon) — blow.
Conj | V-o-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singularHVhp3ms
כְּלִי (kliy) refers to an article or utensil, encompassing a wide range of objects such as vessels, tools, and implements used for various purposes, including music and warfare. It is derived from a root meaning 'to prepare' and can denote anything from furniture to weapons. The entries highlight its general use in the Old Testament without significant disagreement among lexicons.
כְּלִי 324 n.m. article, utensil, vessel
base
H3627 כְּלִי article, utensil, vessel
3627 kliy kel-ee'
from 3615; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an
implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon):--armour
((-bearer)), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture,
instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that
which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool,
vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever.
see HEBREW for 03615
כְּלִי (ke.li) — article/utensil.
1) article, vessel, implement, utensil
1a) article, object (general)
1b) utensil, implement, apparatus, vessel
1b1) implement (of hunting or war)
1b2) implement (of music)
1b3) implement, tool (of labour)
1b4) equipment, yoke (of oxen)
1b5) utensils, furniture
1c) vessel, receptacle (general)
1d) vessels (boats) of paper-reed
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מָ֫וֶת (maveth) means 'death' and encompasses various aspects such as natural or violent death, the state of being dead, and the realm of the dead (hades). It can also refer to pestilence or ruin. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to die' and has an Aramaic equivalent, מוֹת (mot).
מָ֫וֶת 161 n.m. death
death, opp. life
death by violence
state of death or place of death
base
H4194 מָ֫וֶת death
4194 maveth maw'-veth
from 4191; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead,
their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence,
ruin:--(be) dead((-ly)), death, die(-d).
see HEBREW for 04191
מָ֫וֶת (ma.vet) — death.
1) death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead
1a) death
1b) death by violence (as a penalty)
1c) state of death, place of death
Aramaic equivalent: mot (מוֹת "death" H4193)
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
(maweth; thanatos):
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND FIGURATIVE VIEW
The word "Death" is used in the sense of
(1) the process of dying (Ge 21:16);
(2) the period of decease (Ge 27:7);
(3) as a possible synonym for poison (2Ki 4:40);
(4) as descriptive of person in danger of perishing (Jud 15:18; "in deaths oft" 2Co 11:23). In this sense the shadow of death is a familiar expression in Job, the Psalms and the Prophets;
Death
May be simply defined as the termination of life. It is represented under a variety of aspects in Scripture: (1.) “The dust shall return to the earth as it was” (Eccl. 12:7).
(2.) “Thou takest away their breath, they die” (Ps. 104:29).
(3.) It is the dissolution of “our earthly house of this tabernacle” (2 Cor. 5:1); the “putting off this tabernacle” (2 Pet. 1:13, 14).
(4.) Being “unclothed” (2 Cor. 5:3, 4).
(5.) “Falling on sleep” (Ps. 76:5; Jer. 51:39;
Is taken in Scripture, first, for the separation of body and soul, the first death, Ge 25:11; secondly, for alienation from God, and exposure to his wrath, 1Jo 3:14, etc.; thirdly, for the second death, that of eternal damnation. Death was the penalty affixed to Adam’s transgression, Ge 2:17 3:19; and all his posterity are transgressors, and share the curse inflicted upon him. CHRIST is "our life." All believers share his life, spiritually and eternally; and though sin and bodily is taken away, and in the resurrection the last enemy shall be trampled under foot, Ro 5:12-21 1Co 15:1-58.
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
דָּלַק (dalaq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to burn or to hotly pursue. It encompasses actions like burning, kindling, and inflaming, as well as the idea of chasing something fervently. The entries indicate its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but do not provide specific Old Testament references.
[דָּלַק] vb. burn (intrans.), hotly pursue
Qal
burn
hotly pursue
Hiph. inflame
base
H1814 [דָּלַק] burn (intrans.), hotly pursue
1814 dalaq daw-lak'
a primitive root; to flame (literally or
figuratively):--burning, chase, inflame, kindle,
persecute(-or), pursue hotly.
דָּלַק (da.laq) — to burn/pursue.
1) to burn, hotly pursue
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to burn
1a2) to hotly pursue
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to kindle
1b2) to inflame
Aramaic equivalent: de.laq (דְּלַק "to burn" H1815)
HR/Vqrmpa — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine pluralHR/Vqrmpa
פָּעַל (pa'al) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, often used in a systematic or habitual sense. It encompasses actions like committing, ordaining, and working, with a poetic nuance compared to the more common verb for 'to do' (עָשָׂה). The entries consistently highlight its usage in the Qal stem, emphasizing its foundational role in expressing action.
פָּעַל 67 vb. do, make (poet. for עָשָׂה)
Qal
do
make
base
H6466 פָּעַל do, make (poet. for עָשָׂה)
6466 pa`al paw-al'
a primitive root; to do or make (systematically and
habitually), especially to practise:--commit, (evil-)
do(-er), make(-r), ordain, work(-er).
פָּעַל (pa.al) — to work.
1) to do, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do
1a2) to make
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms