The Meaning of Psalms 13:4 Explained

Psalms 13:4

KJV: Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

YLT: Lest mine enemy say, 'I overcame him,' Mine adversaries joy when I am moved.

Darby: Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him! lest mine adversaries be joyful when I am moved.

ASV: Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; Lest mine adversaries rejoice when I am moved.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Lest mine enemy  say,  I have prevailed  against him; [and] those that trouble  me rejoice  when I am moved. 

What does Psalms 13:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 13:1-6 - The Bounty Of God And The Folly Of Men
The first of these psalms evidently dates from the Sauline persecutions, 1 Samuel 19:1. Four times the persecuted soul cries, How long! The psalm begins in deepest dejection, but clears as it proceeds. Prayer often proves to be the ladder from the deepest dungeon to the more radiant day. We find here depression, Psalms 13:1-2; supplication, Psalms 13:3-4; assurance, Psalms 13:5-6. Do not carry your anxieties in your heart. Remember that Christ is by your side, and leading you through all to the Kingdom. Faith begins praise for victory before the fight has reached its worst.
The creed, character, and doom of the atheist are set forth in the next psalm, and the psalm is so important as to demand repetition. See Psalms 53:1-6. The root of atheism is in the heart, Romans 1:21. Its effect on character, speech, and action is disastrous, and it ends in great fear, Psalms 14:5. The best answer to atheism is the light and liberty of the children of God, Psalms 14:7; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 13

1  David complains of delay
3  He prays for preventing grace
5  He boasts of divine mercy

What do the individual words in Psalms 13:4 mean?

lest say my enemy I have prevailed against him [Lest] those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved
פֶּן־ יֹאמַ֣ר אֹיְבִ֣י יְכָלְתִּ֑יו צָרַ֥י יָ֝גִ֗ילוּ כִּ֣י אֶמּֽוֹט

פֶּן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
יֹאמַ֣ר  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֹיְבִ֣י  my  enemy 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
יְכָלְתִּ֑יו  I  have  prevailed  against  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
צָרַ֥י  [Lest]  those  who  trouble  me 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: צַר 
Sense: narrow, tight.
יָ֝גִ֗ילוּ  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: גִּיל  
Sense: to rejoice, exult, be glad.
אֶמּֽוֹט  I  am  moved 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: to totter, shake, slip.