The Meaning of Psalms 17:13 Explained

Psalms 17:13

KJV: Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

YLT: Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, Thy sword,

Darby: Arise, Jehovah, anticipate him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, thy sword;

ASV: Arise, O Jehovah, Confront him, cast him down: Deliver my soul from the wicked by thy sword;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Arise,  O LORD,  disappoint  him,  cast him down:  deliver  my soul  from the wicked,  [which is] thy sword: 

What does Psalms 17:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 17:1-15 - God's True Servants Safely Kept
This also dates from the Sauline persecutions. In the earlier verses David protests his innocence, pleads for deliverance from his foes, and ends with glad anticipation of the vision of God. The psalm may have been composed for use at eventide; two at least of its verses point in that direction, Psalms 17:3; Psalms 15:1-5.
What a comfort it is to appeal from the accusations of men to the judgment-bar of God! Yet our sufferings at their hands are God's smelting-furnace. The Hebrew word translated tried is "melted," Psalms 17:3. But we cannot be kept without constant use of God's Word, Psalms 17:4. And then how safe we are! The apple of the eye-that is, the pupil-is defended by eye lash, lid, brow, bony socket, and uplifted arm. Thy wings, see Deuteronomy 32:11.
Note the contrast between Psalms 17:14 and Psalms 16:5; Psalms 16:11. The worldly are filled with this world-I with thee. They look for the things of this life-I for the unseen and eternal. They are satisfied with children-I with thy likeness. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 17

1  David, in confidence of his integrity, craves defense of God against his enemies
10  He shows their pride, craft, and eagerness
13  He prays against them in confidence of his hope

What do the individual words in Psalms 17:13 mean?

Arise Yahweh Confront him cast him down Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword
קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה קַדְּמָ֣ה פָ֭נָיו הַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּ פַּלְּטָ֥ה נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י מֵרָשָׁ֥ע חַרְבֶּֽךָ

קוּמָ֤ה  Arise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
קַדְּמָ֣ה  Confront 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: קָדַם  
Sense: to meet, come or be in front, confront, go before.
הַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּ  cast  him  down 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּרַע  
Sense: to bend, kneel, bow, bow down, sink down to one’s knees, kneel down to rest (of animals), kneel in reverence.
פַּלְּטָ֥ה  Deliver 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: פָּלַט  
Sense: to escape, save, deliver, slip away.
נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י  my  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
מֵרָשָׁ֥ע  from  the  wicked 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
חַרְבֶּֽךָ  with  Your  sword 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.