Psalms 3:7

Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh directly, pleading for intervention while surrounded by countless adversaries.

The words — The imperative קוּמָה (ku.ma/h) commands God to arise, while the verb הִכִּיתָ (hi.ki.ta) declares that He has already struck the speaker's enemies.

The thread — The imagery of shattered teeth and fangs recurs in Psalms 58:6 and Job 29:17, while the motif of enemies striking the cheek appears in Job 16:10.

Why it lands — The text demands a recognition that divine action, not human strength, neutralizes hostile opposition and secures deliverance.

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

ק֘וּמָ֤הku.Ma/harise/ !יְהוָ֨ה׀Yah.wehO Yahweh הוֹשִׁ֘יעֵ֤נִיho.Shi.'E./nisave/ me אֱלֹהַ֗י'e.lo.Ha/iO God/ my כִּֽי־ki-for הִכִּ֣יתָhi.Ki.tayou have struck אֶת־'et-<obj.>כָּל־kol-all אֹיְבַ֣י'o.ye.Va/ienemies/ my לֶ֑חִיLe.chijaw שִׁנֵּ֖יshi.Nei[the] teeth of רְשָׁעִ֣יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃shi.Bar.tayou have broken

King James Version

Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Cross-references

Psalms 58:6 O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.
Job 29:17 I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.
Job 16:10 They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.
Psalms 10:12 Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless.
Psalms 59:5 O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah
Psalms 6:4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver my soul; save me because of Your loving devotion.
Psalms 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.
Psalms 12:5 “For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”
Psalms 35:23 Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!
Psalms 44:23 Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever.