Bible Strands
Psalms 57:6
They spread a net for my feet; my soul was despondent. They dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it! Selah
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist speaks to God, describing a moment of imminent capture where enemies prepared traps while his spirit was bowed down. This declaration occurs between a plea for God's glory to cover the earth and a vow of steadfast praise.
The words — The Hebrew רֶ֤שֶׁת (re.shet) denotes a woven snare, while שִׁיחָ֑ה (shi.chah) refers to a dug pit or cistern. Both terms describe physical traps laid by adversaries directly before the speaker.
The thread — The pattern of enemies falling into their own dug pits appears in Psalms 7:15 and Proverbs 28:10, while the theme of God lifting the bowed down connects to Psalms 145:14. These passages share the structural motif of malicious schemes collapsing onto their makers.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human traps against the faithful ultimately collapse under their own weight. It requires the reader to acknowledge divine reversal without romanticizing the danger or minimizing the adversaries' intent.
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 have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
Cross-references
- Psalms 145:14 The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
- Psalms 7:15 He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making.
- Proverbs 28:10 He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.
- Micah 7:2 The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net.
- Psalms 35:7 For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.
- 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
- Psalms 9:15 The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
- 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.
- Proverbs 29:5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
- 1 Samuel 23:22 Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning.