The Meaning of Psalms 55:18 Explained

Psalms 55:18

KJV: He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

YLT: He hath ransomed in peace my soul From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with me.

Darby: He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.

ASV: He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many that strove with me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He hath delivered  my soul  in peace  from the battle  [that was] against me: for there were many  with me. 

What does Psalms 55:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 55:12-23 - Friends May Forsake, But God Abideth
The streets and open spaces of the city were filled with conspirators. Violence, strife, deceit, and oppression trampled the virtuous and helpless under foot. The treachery of Ahithophel was worse than all. How different the hot anger of David from our Lord's treatment of Judas, when He washed Judas' feet, expostulated with him in the garden, and bade him pause to think to what he had come! Blessed is the soul that retires from the hubbub of the street-as David, Daniel, and all devout Israelites were wont to do-three times a day. Compare Psalms 55:17 with Daniel 6:10 and Acts 10:9. He will cover our heads in the day of battle and redeem our souls in peace, if only we will trust Him.
As the r.v. marginal rendering of Psalms 55:22 suggests, thy burden is that which God has given thee to carry. It did not come by chance nor from the evil intent of men. He cast it on thee; cast it back on Him. We cannot do our work so long as we stoop beneath the exhausting waste of anxiety and care. Hand all over to thy Father's care. Let no burdens break the Sabbath-keeping of thy heart! Nehemiah 13:19. [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 55:18 mean?

He has redeemed in peace my soul from the battle [that was] against me for many there were against me
פָּ֘דָ֤ה בְשָׁל֣וֹם נַ֭פְשִׁי מִקֲּרָב־ לִ֑י כִּֽי־ בְ֝רַבִּ֗ים הָי֥וּ עִמָּדִֽי

פָּ֘דָ֤ה  He  has  redeemed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּדָה  
Sense: to ransom, redeem, rescue, deliver.
בְשָׁל֣וֹם  in  peace 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
נַ֭פְשִׁי  my  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
מִקֲּרָב־  from  the  battle 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קְרָב  
Sense: battle, war.
לִ֑י  [that  was]  against  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
בְ֝רַבִּ֗ים  many 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
הָי֥וּ  there  were 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
עִמָּדִֽי  against  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עִמָּד  
Sense: with.