Bible Strands
Psalms 18:33
He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me upon the heights.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist speaks of personal deliverance, describing divine empowerment during a moment of military conflict and survival.
The words — The Hebrew מְשַׁוֶּה (meshaveh) literally means "makes equal to" or "makes like," while יַעֲמִידֵֽנִי (yaʿămîḏênî) means "he causes me to stand firm."
The thread — This imagery appears in Habakkuk 3:19, where God similarly makes feet like a deer and sets the speaker on heights, and echoes Deuteronomy 32:13’s description of riding on the land’s high places.
Why it lands — The text asserts that stability and elevated position are direct divine provisions rather than human achievements, asking the reader to attribute survival and vantage to God alone.
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
He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
Cross-references
- Habakkuk 3:19 GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights! For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.
- Deuteronomy 32:13 He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him the produce of the field. He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag,
- Deuteronomy 33:29 Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword in which you boast. Your enemies will cower before you, and you shall trample their high places.”
- 2 Samuel 2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,
- 2 Samuel 22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.