Bible Strands
Psalms 118:11
They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist declares personal deliverance after describing how hostile forces encircled him, a pattern established in the preceding and following verses. The words — The text uses סְבָב֑וּ/נִי (se.va.Vu./ni), meaning "they surrounded me," and אֲמִילַֽם ('a.mi.La/m), meaning "I fended them off." The thread — The motif of being encircled by enemies appears in Psalms 88:17, 1 Samuel 23:26, and Psalms 22:12. Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge that survival against overwhelming odds depends on invoking the authority of Yahweh rather than personal strength.
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
They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
Cross-references
- Psalms 88:17 All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side.
- 1 Samuel 23:26 Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
- Psalms 22:12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
- 1 Chronicles 19:10 When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.