The Meaning of Psalms 140:1 Explained

Psalms 140:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

YLT: To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Jehovah, from an evil man, From one of violence Thou keepest me.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.} Free me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man:

ASV: Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; Preserve me from the violent man:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  A Psalm  of David.  }} Deliver  me, O LORD,  from the evil  man:  preserve  me from the violent  man; 

What does Psalms 140:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 140:1-13 - Confidence In God's Protection
Here is a picture of a man who is beset by foes. Around are slander and hatred; at his feet stratagems and traps. There is no help save in Him who alone can cover the head in the day of battle. Similar experiences befall God's people still. Some are hunted by earthly enemies; others are stung by the fiery darts of the wicked. In Psalms 140:1-5 life is like a path through a forest, where adders hide and where gins are laid. At any moment the foe may break from his ambush. In Psalms 140:6-7 faith discovers God, at such a time, as strength, salvation, and protection.
There follows, in Psalms 140:8-12, a terrible outburst. Instead of the let of the imperative, many read the shall of prediction. We belong to the kingdom of Christ, the teachings of which are given in Matthew 5:1-48. The only coals of fire that we can deal with are those of love and mercy, which we heap on the heads of our enemies. The least in the kingdom of love stands on a higher plane than the greatest in the kingdom of law. But let the wicked remember Romans 2:5. The psalm ends in a gladder strain, Psalms 140:13. There is an inner sanctuary where we shall be safe! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 140

1  David prays to be delivered from Saul and Doeg
8  He prays against them
12  He comforts himself by confidence in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 140:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician a Psalm of David Deliver me Yahweh from men evil from men violent Preserve me
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד חַלְּצֵ֣נִי יְ֭הוָה מֵאָדָ֣ם רָ֑ע מֵאִ֖ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵֽנִי

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
מִזְמ֥וֹר  a  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְדָוִֽד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
חַלְּצֵ֣נִי  Deliver  me 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: חָלַץ 
Sense: to remove, draw out, draw off, take off, withdraw, equip (for war), arm for war, rescue, be rescued.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֵאָדָ֣ם  from  men 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
רָ֑ע  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
מֵאִ֖ישׁ  from  men 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
חֲמָסִ֣ים  violent 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חָמָס  
Sense: violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice.
תִּנְצְרֵֽנִי  Preserve  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: נְצוּרִים 
Sense: to guard, watch, watch over, keep.