The Meaning of Psalms 11:3 Explained

Psalms 11:3

KJV: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

YLT: When the foundations are destroyed, The righteous -- what hath he done?

Darby: If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?

ASV: If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?

Discover Psalms 11:3

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Psalms 11:3?

MEANING: What does Psalms 11:3 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Psalms 11:3 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Psalms 11:3?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If the foundations  be destroyed,  what can the righteous  do? 

What does Psalms 11:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David"s faint-hearted counselors evidently felt the very foundations of their nation were in danger of being destroyed, namely: the Mosaic Law and the institutions of Judaism. [1] They felt distressed to the point of distraction over this possibility. Many faint-hearted people behave similarly today when they see foundational elements of their society under attack.
"God sometimes "shakes things" so that His people will work on building the church and not focus on maintaining the scaffolding ( Hebrews 12:25-29; Haggai 2:6)." [2]

Context Summary

Psalms 11:1-7 - God Our Refuge And Defense
The first of these is a debate between fear and faith, and dates from Saul's persecutions. Timid friends, anxious for David's safety, urged him to flee to the mountains. Such counsels of expediency are frequently given to the servants of God, Nehemiah 6:1-19. Luther's diaries are full of such references. But unless our duty is performed, we must stand our ground; we "can do no other." We must remember that God's love is with us, and that He always exchanges glances of love with His suffering ones. Compare Psalms 11:7 with Exodus 3:7.
The opening words of the next psalm appeal for help in bad and evil days. See Micah 7:2. A double heart is literally "a heart and a heart," Psalms 12:2. Let us be true in act and speech, else we forfeit the Spirit of truth, Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9. Our sighing will make God arise, Acts 7:56. We shall be helped and kept, Psalms 12:7 and Isaiah 54:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 11

1  David encourages himself in God against his enemies
4  The providence and justice of God

What do the individual words in Psalms 11:3 mean?

If the foundations are destroyed the righteous what can do
כִּ֣י הַ֭שָּׁתוֹת יֵֽהָרֵס֑וּן צַ֝דִּ֗יק מַה־ ؟ פָּעָֽל

הַ֭שָּׁתוֹת  the  foundations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: foundation, support, stay.
יֵֽהָרֵס֑וּן  are  destroyed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: הָרַס  
Sense: to tear down, break down, overthrow, beat down, break, break through, destroy, pluck down, pull down, throw down, ruined, destroyer, utterly.
צַ֝דִּ֗יק  the  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
؟ פָּעָֽל  can  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּעַל  
Sense: to do, make.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 11:3?

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Similar Scriptures for Psalms 11:3

Psalms 82:5 [16]
2 Timothy 2:19 [9]
Isaiah 58:12 [7]
Psalms 75:3 [4]
Nehemiah 6:10-12 [3]
2 Kings 19:13-18 [3]
Acts 4:24-33 [3]
Daniel 3:15-18 [3]
John 11:8-10 [2]
2 Chronicles 32:13-15 [2]
Jeremiah 26:11-15 [2]
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Daniel 6:10-28 [2]
2 Kings 22:12-14 [1]
Acts 4:5-12 [1]
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