Bible Strands
2 Samuel 22:48
the God who avenges me and brings down nations beneath me,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David addresses the LORD within a song of praise, positioned immediately after a declaration of God's exaltation and just before a description of rescue from violent men. The declaration occurs at a moment of military deliverance.
The words — נְקָמֹת (ne.ka.Mot) carries the literal sense vengeance<s>, and מוֹרִיד (mo.Rid) means bringing down. These terms specify God's active function as the agent of retribution and the one who lowers hostile groups.
The thread — The text of Psalms 94:1 explicitly names the LORD the God of vengeance. The motif of God subduing hostile groups appears in Psalms 144:2, which states He subdues peoples, and 1 Samuel 25:30, which records a promise that the LORD will appoint a ruler over Israel.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that political and military outcomes are governed by divine retribution rather than human merit. It requires the reader to attribute national subjugation and personal deliverance directly to God's action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
Cross-references
- Psalms 94:1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
- Psalms 144:2 He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
- 1 Samuel 25:30 When the LORD has done for my lord all the good He promised, and when He has appointed you ruler over Israel,
- 1 Samuel 25:39 On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.
- 2 Samuel 18:19 Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”
- 2 Samuel 18:31 Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!”
- Psalms 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.