The Meaning of Psalms 64:7 Explained

Psalms 64:7

KJV: But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

YLT: And God doth shoot them with an arrow, Sudden have been their wounds,

Darby: But God will shoot an arrow at them: suddenly are they wounded;

ASV: But God will shoot at them; With an arrow suddenly shall they be wounded.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But God  shall shoot  at them [with] an arrow;  suddenly  shall they be wounded. 

What does Psalms 64:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 64:1-10 - Deliverance From Powerful Foes
Another of the psalms dating from Saul's persecution. There are two stanzas.
Prayer for preservation, Psalms 64:1-6
Insult, sarcasm, and slander still fall to the lot of those who will live godly in this world. Very few of us are safe from poisoned arrows. Because the world is so full of evil men, who are disposed to put the worst construction on every act, we should be constantly on our guard to give no needless cause to the enemy to blaspheme, 2 Samuel 12:14. Daniel gives us an admirable illustration of this, since his enemies had no cause against him, save as it concerned the law of his God, Daniel 6:5.
Assurance of divine vindication, Psalms 64:7-10
David felt that God had undertaken to be his champion. His arrows were flying through the air thick and fast. Curses come home to roost, and the overthrow of wickedness by the floating mines set to wreck the righteous, is evidence of God's government of the world. Let the righteous look forward with quiet confidence to the time when the world shall be righted, and when the water-pots that are now filled to the brim with tears shall yield the wine of the wedding-feast. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 64

1  David prays for deliverance, complaining of his enemies
7  He promises himself to see such an evident destruction of his enemies,
10  as the righteous shall rejoice at it

What do the individual words in Psalms 64:7 mean?

But shall shoot at them God [with] an arrow suddenly they shall be wounded
וַיֹּרֵ֗ם אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים חֵ֥ץ פִּתְא֑וֹם הָ֝י֗וּ מַכּוֹתָֽם

וַיֹּרֵ֗ם  But  shall  shoot  at  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: יׄורֶה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast, pour.
אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
חֵ֥ץ  [with]  an  arrow 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵץ  
Sense: arrow.
פִּתְא֑וֹם  suddenly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: פִּתְאֹם  
Sense: suddenly, surprisingly subst.
הָ֝י֗וּ  they  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מַכּוֹתָֽם  wounded 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַכָּה  
Sense: blow, wound, slaughter.