Psalms 7:2
Psalms 7:2 in Multiple Translations
or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
Lest they tear my soul like a lion, Rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
So that he may not come rushing on my soul like a lion, wounding it, while there is no one to be my saviour.
Otherwise they will tear me apart like a lion, ripping me to pieces with no one to save me.
Least he deuoure my soule like a lion, and teare it in pieces, while there is none to helpe.
Lest he tear as a lion my soul, Rending, and there is no deliverer.
lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver.
Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
O Lord my God, in thee have I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.
If you do not do that, they will tear me into pieces like a lion does when it attacks the animals it wants to kill, and no one will save me from them.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 7:2
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 7:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יְהוָ֣ה
אֱ֭לֹהַ/י
בְּ/ךָ֣
חָסִ֑יתִי
הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥/נִי
מִ/כָּל
רֹ֝דְפַ֗/י
וְ/הַצִּילֵֽ/נִי
יְהוָ֣ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
אֱ֭לֹהַ/י
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
God
N-mp | Suff
בְּ/ךָ֣
Prep | Suff
חָסִ֑יתִי
châçâh
H2620
to seek refuge
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥/נִי
yâshaʻ
H3467
to save
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff
מִ/כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
Prep | N-ms
רֹ֝דְפַ֗/י
râdaph
H7291
to pursue
V-Qal | Suff
וְ/הַצִּילֵֽ/נִי
nâtsal
H5337
to rescue
Conj | V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 7:2
יְהוָ֣ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
אֱ֭לֹהַ/י
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
"God"
N-mp | Suff
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Definition: This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 2246 OT verses. KJV: angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 22:12; Exodus 3:11.
בְּ/ךָ֣
""
Prep | Suff
חָסִ֑יתִי
châçâh
H2620
"to seek refuge"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
To seek refuge means to flee to a safe place for protection, and it can also mean to trust in God. In the Bible, it appears in Psalms and Proverbs, where people put their hope in God. This concept is important in the Old Testament.
Definition: 1) (Qal) to seek refuge, flee for protection 1a) to put trust in (God), confide or hope in (God) (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: have hope, make refuge, (put) trust. See also: Deuteronomy 32:37; Psalms 36:8; Psalms 2:12.
הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥/נִי
yâshaʻ
H3467
"to save"
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff
Means to save or be delivered, used in the Bible to describe being freed from danger or trouble, like in battle or from moral struggles, as seen in the Psalms and Proverbs.
Definition: 1) to save, be saved, be delivered 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be liberated, be saved, be delivered 1a2) to be saved (in battle), be victorious 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to save, deliver 1b2) to save from moral troubles 1b3) to give victory to
Usage: Occurs in 198 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save(-iour), get victory. See also: Exodus 2:17; Psalms 55:17; Psalms 3:8.
מִ/כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
רֹ֝דְפַ֗/י
râdaph
H7291
"to pursue"
V-Qal | Suff
To pursue or chase after someone means to follow them with hostile intent. This can be a physical pursuit or a pursuit of someone's life or well-being, as seen in many biblical stories.
Definition: 1) to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pursue, put to flight, chase, dog, attend closely upon 1a2) to persecute, harass (fig) 1a3) to follow after, aim to secure (fig) 1a4) to run after (a bribe) (fig) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be pursued 1b2) one pursued (participle) 1c) (Piel) to pursue ardently, aim eagerly to secure, pursue 1d) (Pual) to be pursued, be chased away 1e) (Hiphil) to pursue, chase
Usage: Occurs in 135 OT verses. KJV: chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r). See also: Genesis 14:14; 2 Samuel 20:13; Psalms 7:2.
וְ/הַצִּילֵֽ/נִי
nâtsal
H5337
"to rescue"
Conj | V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff
To rescue means to snatch away or deliver from danger. It can also mean to strip or plunder, depending on the context, and appears in various forms throughout the Bible.
Definition: 1) to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder 1a)(Niphal) 1a1) to tear oneself away, deliver oneself 1a2) to be torn out or away, be delivered 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to strip off, spoil 1b2) to deliver 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to take away, snatch away 1c2) to rescue, recover 1c3) to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death) 1c4) to deliver from sin and guilt 1d) (Hophal) to be plucked out 1e) (Hithpael) to strip oneself Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsal (נְצַל "to rescue" H5338)
Usage: Occurs in 194 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, [idiom] without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, [idiom] surely, take (out). See also: Genesis 31:9; Psalms 40:14; Psalms 7:2.
Study Notes — Psalms 7:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 7:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 7:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 7:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 7:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 7:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 7:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 7:2
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 7:2
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 7:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 7:2
- Sermons on Psalms 7:2
Context — I Take Refuge in You
1O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,
2or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands, 4if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 50:22 | Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: |
| 2 | Isaiah 38:13 | I composed myself until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me. |
| 3 | 2 Timothy 4:17 | But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 33:20 | Concerning Gad he said: “Blessed is he who enlarges the domain of Gad! He lies down like a lion and tears off an arm or a head. |
| 5 | 2 Samuel 14:6 | And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. |
| 6 | Proverbs 19:12 | A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. |
| 7 | 1 Peter 5:8 | Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. |
| 8 | Psalms 22:13 | They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul. |
| 9 | Hosea 13:7–8 | So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path. Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart. |
| 10 | Psalms 35:15 | But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing. |
Psalms 7:2 Summary
In Psalms 7:2, the psalmist is saying that if God doesn't help him, his enemies will completely destroy him, like a lion tearing apart its prey. This is a desperate cry for help, and it shows how much the psalmist trusts in God's power and goodness to save him. Just like the psalmist, we can trust in God's promise to never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6), and to be our rock and refuge in times of trouble (Psalms 46:1). We can also remember that God is our protector and rescuer, as seen in Psalms 121:7-8, where it says that God will keep us from all harm and watch over our lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be 'shredded like a lion' in Psalms 7:2?
This phrase is a metaphor for being utterly destroyed and devoured by one's enemies, much like a lion would tear apart its prey, as seen in 1 Peter 5:8 where Satan is described as a roaring lion seeking to devour believers.
Why does the psalmist ask God to rescue him from his pursuers?
The psalmist is asking for God's protection because he knows that without it, he will be overwhelmed and destroyed by his enemies, as stated in Psalms 7:2, and this is a common theme throughout the Psalms, such as in Psalms 138:7 where David asks God to stretch out His hand and save him from his enemies.
Is the psalmist saying that God is not capable of rescuing him if he has done something wrong?
No, the psalmist is not questioning God's ability to rescue him, but rather acknowledging his own sinfulness and the consequences of his actions, as seen in the following verses, Psalms 7:3-4, where he asks God to judge him according to his righteousness and pleads for mercy if he has done wrong.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the Psalm?
This verse is a cry for help and a expression of the psalmist's fear of being destroyed by his enemies, and it sets the tone for the rest of the Psalm, which is a prayer for God's protection, judgment, and deliverance, as seen in Psalms 7:6-9 where the psalmist asks God to rise up and judge his enemies.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I feel like I am being 'shredded' by my enemies, and how can I apply the psalmist's cry for help to my own situation?
- How does the image of a lion tearing apart its prey make me think about the power and ferocity of my spiritual enemies, and what can I do to protect myself from their attacks?
- In what ways can I, like the psalmist, acknowledge my own sinfulness and weaknesses, and ask God to rescue me from my own destructive tendencies?
- How can I trust in God's power and goodness, even when I feel like I am being overwhelmed by my circumstances, and what Bible verses can I use to remind myself of His faithfulness?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 7:2
Lest he tear my soul like a lion,.... That is, one of his persecutors, the chief of them; it may be Saul, whom the psalmist compares to a lion for his majesty and greatness, the lion being the king
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 7:2
Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. Lest he tear my soul.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 7:2
Lest he, i.e. mine enemy, as it is expressed, , even Saul, or any of his followers, tear my soul out of my body; or destroy me and my life, as . Like a lion; to which he compares him both for power and cruelty, and withal intimates his own inability to oppose or escape his rage without God’ s almighty help. While there is none to deliver; whilst I have no considerable force to defend myself, but am forced to flee to mountains, and caves, and woods for my safety.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 7:2
Psalms 7:2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending [it] in pieces, while [there is] none to deliver.Ver. 2. Lest he tear my soul like a lion] i.e. Put me to a cruel and tormenting death; exercising against me both cruelty and also craft, by taking me at such a time as there is none to deliver me.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 7:2
(2) Lest he tear.—The poet turns from the thought of his enemies generally to the one who has just made himself conspicuous. Such a change from plural to singular often occurs in the Psalms. (Comp. Psalms 41:5-6.) Rending it in pieces.—The LXX., followed by the Vulg. (so too the Syriac), take the verb in its primitive sense of “snatch away,” and translate, “there being none to redeem or deliver.” So Milton: “Tearing, and no rescue nigh.” Notice the comparison of human enemies to beasts of prey—a reminiscence of the lion and the bear of his youth, so constantly present to David. (Comp. Psalms 3:7; 1 Samuel 17:37.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 7:2
Verse 2. Lest he tear my soul like a lion] These words seem to answer well to Saul. As the lion is king in the forest; so was Saul king over the land. As the lion, in his fierceness, seizes at once, and tears his prey in pieces; so David expected to be seized and suddenly destroyed by Saul. He had already, in his rage, thrown his javelin at him, intending to have pierced him to the wall with it. As from the power of the lion no beast in the forest could deliver any thing; so David knew that Saul's power was irresistible, and that none of his friends or well-wishers could save or deliver him out of such hands. "Lest he tear my soul (my life) like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver." All this answers to Saul, and to none else.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 7:2
2. His enemies are many, but one is conspicuous above all for merciless ferocity. Cush, or perhaps Saul himself, is meant (1 Samuel 20:1). For the simile cp. Psalms 10:9, Psalms 17:12, Psalms 22:13; Psalms 22:21. my soul] My life: me regarded as a living individual.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 7:2
Lest he - Lest “Cush” should do this. See the title, and the introduction to the psalm, Section 2. Tear my soul like a lion - Tear or rend my “life” - that is, “me” - like a lion.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 7:2
2. Tear… rending—Different words of kindred import, describing the habits of wild beasts in lacerating, crushing, and separating part from part, their prey. David compares his enemies to lions for their power and ferocity.
Sermons on Psalms 7:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Lion by Harriet N. Cook | Harriet N. Cook delves into the symbolism of the lion in the Bible, highlighting its strength, boldness, and predatory nature as described in various verses. The lion is portrayed |
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Immense Is the Reward by Clement of Rome | Clement of Rome speaks about the blessed and wonderful gifts of God, such as life in immortality, righteousness, truth, faith, and self-control, which are within our understanding |
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Divine Mercy to Mourning Penitents by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the divine mercy extended to mourning penitents, using the example of Ephraim's repentance and God's compassionate response. The sermon highlights the |
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God's Remedy for Man's Malady by James Smith | James Smith preaches about the sinful nature of mankind, infected with a dreadful disease that affects every aspect of the soul, leading to enmity with God and condemnation. Howeve |
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The Importance of Right Spirit by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the different types of people who may feel discouraged in life. He mentions those who are captive to their work, family responsibilities, or |
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Paul Before Agrippa - Part 3 by Joshua Daniel | This sermon emphasizes the importance of standing on a firm foundation in Christ, contrasting the uncertainty of walking on thin ice with the assurance and support found in Jesus. |
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Have You Learned the Secret? by James Jennings by James Malachi Jennings | This sermon focuses on Paul's contentment in Christ, highlighting the secret he learned that allowed him to be content in all circumstances. Paul's reliance on Christ's strength, h |