The Meaning of Psalms 17:4 Explained

Psalms 17:4

KJV: Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

YLT: As to doings of man, Through a word of Thy lips I have observed The paths of a destroyer;

Darby: Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept from the paths of the violent man.

ASV: As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Concerning the works  of men,  by the word  of thy lips  I have kept  [me from] the paths  of the destroyer. 

What does Psalms 17:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 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: Psalms 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 17:4 mean?

Concerning the works of men by the word of Your lips I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer
לִפְעֻלּ֣וֹת אָ֭דָם בִּדְבַ֣ר שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ אֲנִ֥י שָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אָרְח֥וֹת פָּרִֽיץ

לִפְעֻלּ֣וֹת  Concerning  the  works 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: פְּעֻלָּה  
Sense: work, recompense, reward.
אָ֭דָם  of  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
בִּדְבַ֣ר  by  the  word 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ  of  Your  lips 
Parse: Noun, fdc, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
שָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּי  have  kept  away  from 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
אָרְח֥וֹת  the  paths 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: אֹרַח  
Sense: way, path.
פָּרִֽיץ  of  the  destroyer 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פָּרִיץ 
Sense: violent one, breaker.