The Meaning of Psalms 59:1 Explained

Psalms 59:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.} Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.

YLT: To the Overseer. -- 'Destroy not,' by David. -- A secret treasure, in Saul's sending, and they watch the house to put him to death. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God, From my withstanders set me on high.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. 'Destroy not.' Of David. Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.} Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God; secure me on high from them that rise up against me.

ASV: Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: Set me on high from them that rise up against me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  Altaschith,  Michtam  of David;  when Saul  sent,  and they watched  the house  to kill him.  }} Deliver  me from mine enemies,  O my God:  defend  me from them that rise up  against me. 

What does Psalms 59:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 59:1-17 - "god Is My High Tower"
This is the fifth of the Michtams, or "Golden Psalms." Compare Psalms 16:1-11; Psalms 56:1-13; Psalms 57:1-11; Psalms 58:1-11. The contents correspond to the title and to 1 Samuel 19:11.
The most noticeable feature is the twice-repeated refrain of Psalms 59:9; Psalms 17:1-15. In each case David appeals to God as my strength, and describes Him as my high tower and the God of my mercy. The possessive pronoun my is very remarkable. Each of us needs mercy of a very special sort. My mercy would not help you, nor would yours help me. Note also that God's mercy prevents, that is, "goes in front," Psalms 59:10. As the mother's thought prepares beforehand for the child, so God thinks ahead for us, and leads us into the good things which He has prepared for them that love Him, 1 Corinthians 2:9; Psalms 31:19.
In the first refrain David says, "I will wait for thee;" in the second, "I will sing praises." Waiting on God leads to singing. All night Saul's emissaries might prowl around David's home, like the wild dogs of an Eastern city. But within he was singing aloud of God's mercy, and when the morning broke he was in safety. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 59

1  David prays to be delivered from his enemies
6  He complains of their cruelty
8  He trusts in god
11  He prays against them
16  He praises God

What do the individual words in Psalms 59:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician Set to do Not Destroy of David a Michtam when sent men Saul and they watched - the house in order to kill him Deliver me from my enemies my God from those who rise up against me Defend me
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ אַל־ תַּשְׁחֵת֮ לְדָוִ֪ד מִ֫כְתָּ֥ם בִּשְׁלֹ֥חַ שָׁא֑וּל וַֽיִּשְׁמְר֥וּ אֶת־ הַ֝בַּ֗יִת לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ הַצִּילֵ֖נִי מֵאֹיְבַ֥י ׀ אֱלֹהָ֑י מִּמִתְקוֹמְמַ֥י תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי

לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
אַל־  Set  to  do  Not 
Parse: Adverb
תַּשְׁחֵת֮  Destroy 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Jussive, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: (Hiphil) a command to the chief musician, or perhaps the title of a melody used for several Psalms.
לְדָוִ֪ד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
מִ֫כְתָּ֥ם  a  Michtam 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִכְתָּם  
Sense: michtam.
בִּשְׁלֹ֥חַ  when  sent  men 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
שָׁא֑וּל  Saul 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
וַֽיִּשְׁמְר֥וּ  and  they  watched 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַ֝בַּ֗יִת  the  house 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ  in  order  to  kill  him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
הַצִּילֵ֖נִי  Deliver  me 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
מֵאֹיְבַ֥י ׀  from  my  enemies 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
אֱלֹהָ֑י  my  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
מִּמִתְקוֹמְמַ֥י  from  those  who  rise  up  against  me 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי  Defend  me 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׂגַב  
Sense: to be high, be inaccessibly high.