Psalms 18:40

Psa 18:40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

Ver. 40. Thou hast given me the necks of mine enemies] sc. To chop them off at my pleasure; or to cut the throats.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Psa 18:40-42. Thou hast given me the necks, &c. — That I might put my yoke upon their necks, or bring them into subjection. But Houbigant and some others render the clause, more agreeably to the Hebrew, As for my enemies, thou givest, or hast given, me their back: that is, hast made them turn their backs and flee from me. For the word ערŠ, gnoreph, here rendered neck, signifies the back part of the neck, and therefore is put for the back, as the LXX. translate it, and as it is rendered Exo 23:27; Jos 7:8; Jos 7:12, and elsewhere. That I might destroy them that hate me — That I might have opportunity to destroy them. They cried unto the Lord — He speaks of his Israelitish enemies, who in their distresses prayed to God for help against him. I did beat them small as dust — These are hyperbolical expressions, signifying that his enemies had been perfectly subdued, and deprived of all power to make any further resistance. I did cast them out as dirt, &c. — As the mire in the streets I trampled them down. — Chandler.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

41. (Psa 18:40). And my enemies—thou hast given to me the back—and my haters—I will destroy them. Each clause begins with an absolute nominative which might be rendered, as to my enemies, as to my haters. The remainder of the first clause is highly idiomatic in its form, and scarcely admits of an exact translation. The word translated back properly means the back of the neck, but is frequently used in such connections. The meaning of the whole phrase is, thou hast given me their back, i.e. made them to turn it towards me by putting them to flight. This is also a Mosaic form of speech. See Exo 23:27, and compare Jos 7:8, 2Ch 29:6. Psa 21:13 (12).

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18:40 Placing a foot on the necks of the enemy represents total victory (see Josh 10:23-26).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Thou hast given them into mine hands to be slain.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

given me the necks--literally, "backs of the necks"; made them retreat (Exo 23:27; Jos 7:8).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 40. The necks of mine enemies] Thou hast made me a complete conqueror. Treading on the neck of an enemy was the triumph of the conqueror, and the utmost disgrace of the vanquished.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(40) Thou hast also given.—Literally, and as to mine enemies, thou gavest to me the back, which either means “turned to flight so that only their backs were visible” (Jer_18:17 and Psa_21:12), or alludes to the common symbolism of defeat—trampling on an enemy’s neck.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

40. Yea mine enemies hast thou made to turn their backs unto me,

And as for them that hated me, I cut them off.

The first line means that his enemies were put to flight before him Exo_23:27), not (as the A.V. seems to imply) that he planted his foot on their necks in token of triumph (Jos_10:24).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

They cried, but there was none to save them,.... It is in Sa2 22:42; "they looked"; that is, they looked round about, here and there, to see if there were any near at hand to help and deliver them; they cried in their distress, and because of the anguish of their spirits, and for help and assistance, but in vain; they cried, as Jarchi thinks, to their idols, as Jonah's mariners cried everyone to their god; and, if so, it is no wonder there was none to save; for such are gods that cannot save: but it follows,

even unto the Lord, but he answered them not; as Saul, for instance, Sa1 28:6; so God deals with wicked men, often by way of righteous retaliation; see Pro 1:28.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies - Their necks to tread upon, as the result of victory; or their necks to be subject to me, as the neck of the ox is to his owner. The phrase is sometimes used in this latter sense to denote subjection (compare Jer 27:12); but it is more commonly, when applied to war, used in the former sense, as denoting complete triumph or conquest. It was not uncommon to trample on the necks of those who were overcome in battle. See Jos 10:24; Eze 21:2; Gen 49:8. The word used here - ערף ‛ôreph - means properly neck, nape, the back of the neck; and hence, to give the neck means sometimes to turn the back, as in flight; and the phrase would admit of that meaning here. So Gesenius (Lexicon) understands it. So also DeWette: “Thou turnest my enemies to flight.” It seems to me, however, that the more probable interpretation is that of complete subjection - as when the conqueror places his foot on the necks of his foes. This is confirmed by the next member of the sentence, where the psalmist speaks of the complete destruction of those who hated him.

That I might destroy them that hate me - That have pursued and persecuted me in this manner. The idea is that of utterly overcoming them; of putting an end to their power, and to their ability to injure him.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Either,

1. That I might smite or behead them. Or,

2. That I might put my yoke upon their necks, or bring them into subjection. Or rather thus, Thou hast made them turn their backs to me, i.e. flee away from me; for so this very phrase is used and rendered, Exo 23:27; Jos 7:8,12, and elsewhere. So far are they mistaken, that say this Hebrew word oreph is only used for the neck, and not for the back. That I might destroy them; that I might have opportunity to destroy them.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

40. Given me the necks of mine enemies—To “turn the neck” in battle is to be put to flight. See Jos_7:8, where “backs” should read necks, so elsewhere. To put the foot upon the neck of an enemy denotes his complete and abject submission. Jos_10:24. See note on Psa_110:1

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; i.e. "thou hast made them turn their backs upon me in flight". (comp. Ex 23 Ex 27, where the same expression is used) That I might destroy them that hate me. David must not be supposed to speak from personal animosity. He expresses himself as the king of God"s people, bound to do his utmost to protect them, and to deliver them from the enemies who "hate" him only because he is the leader and champion of his countrymen. The neighbouring nations in David"s time seem to have been bent on the total extirpation of the Hebrew people.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

You gave me the back of my enemies' necks

This represents God giving David victory over his enemies. AT: "You gave me victory over my enemies" (See: Metonymy)

You gave me the back of my enemies' necks

This represents God giving David victory over his enemies. Possible images are 1) David could cut his enemies' heads off at the neck or 2) David could put his foot down on his enemies' necks or 3) David could see his enemies' backs when they ran away from him. (See: Metonymy)

I annihilated those who hated me

"I defeated those who hated me" or "I destroyed completely those who hated me"

but he did not answer them

This means Yahweh did not provide any help. AT: "but he did not help them" (See: Idiom)

I beat them into fine pieces like dust before the wind

The psalmists enemies are compared to dust to show how defeated they are. (See: Simile)

I threw them out like mud in the streets

The psalmist's enemies are compared to mud in the streets to show how defeated they are. (See: Simile)

translationWords

cry

save

Yahweh

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.