Bible Strands
Psalms 141:9
Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, and from the lures of evildoers.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, requesting preservation during an active conspiracy by evildoers who are preparing ambushes against him. This plea sits between his declaration of fixed trust in God and his prayer that the wicked fall into their own nets.
The words — The Hebrew verb שָמְרֵ֗/נִי (sha.me.Re./ni) literally means "keep me," and the noun פַ֭ח (fach) translates to "trap" or "snare." These terms specify the psalmist's request for divine preservation against deliberate, concealed danger.
The thread — The trap imagery appears in Psalms 140:5, where proud opponents spread cords along a path and set out lures, and in Psalms 119:110, which states the wicked set a snare but the psalmist does not stray from God's precepts. Luke 20:20 records spies watching closely and hoping to catch Jesus in His words.
Why it lands — The text demands a reader acknowledge human vulnerability to deliberate schemes and respond by fixing attention on God rather than the threat. It requires active reliance on divine preservation without assuming personal immunity from ambush.
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
Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
Cross-references
- Psalms 119:110 The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from Your precepts.
- Psalms 140:5 The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah
- Luke 20:20 So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.
- Proverbs 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
- Psalms 38:12 Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.
- Psalms 142:3 Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.
- Jeremiah 18:22 Let a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring raiders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.