The Meaning of Psalms 55:10 Explained

Psalms 55:10

KJV: Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

YLT: By day and by night they go round it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness are in its midst,

Darby: Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; and iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.

ASV: Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Day  and night  they go about  it upon the walls  thereof: mischief  also and sorrow  [are] in the midst  of it. 

What does Psalms 55:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 55:1-11 - Fleeing The City's Ills
This psalm was suggested by Absalom's rebellion and Ahithophel's treachery. But it contains references which, in their full extent, are chiefly applicable to Judas' treatment of our Lord. The terrors of the unseen, the stealthy tread of the assassin, the treachery of a friend, the drawn sword under unctuous speech-such were the bitter ingredients mingled for this deeply-tried soul. But we have all known something of his disappointment and anguish, and have longed for the swift wings of a dove to escape to the bosom of God.
One of the Puritans says: "My Spouse is ascended higher than the highest heavens, and I, poor soul, am left desolate and disconsolate in this valley of tears. The weight of my weakness and my sins doth so clog and shackle me, so glue and nail me to the earth, that I cannot rise. Let Him descend and give me wings whereby I may ascend." Who will give-humility. Who will give wings-celerity. Like a dove-innocence. Fly away-aspirations to the Lord, "whom having not seen, we love." Rest-permanent security. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 55

1  David in his prayer complains of his fearful case
9  He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains
16  He comforts himself in God's preservation oh him, and confusion of his enemies

What do the individual words in Psalms 55:10 mean?

Day and night they go around it on its walls and Iniquity and trouble [are] in the midst of it
יוֹמָ֤ם וָלַ֗יְלָה יְסוֹבְבֻ֥הָ עַל־ חוֹמֹתֶ֑יהָ וְאָ֖וֶן וְעָמָ֣ל בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ

יוֹמָ֤ם  Day 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יׄומָם  
Sense: by day, in the daytime subst.
וָלַ֗יְלָה  and  night 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
יְסוֹבְבֻ֥הָ  they  go  around  it 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person feminine singular
Root: סָבַב  
Sense: to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or arou nd, surround, encircle, change direction.
חוֹמֹתֶ֑יהָ  its  walls 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.
וְאָ֖וֶן  and  Iniquity 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.
וְעָמָ֣ל  and  trouble  [are] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָמָל  
Sense: .
בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ  in  the  midst  of  it 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.