Bible Strands
Psalms 59:11
Do not kill them, or my people will forget. Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David addresses God directly, requesting a specific form of judgment against his pursuers. He makes this appeal while surrounded by foes who scheme by day and attack by night.
The words — The terms ha.ni.'E./mov (make wander about) and ve./ho.ri.De./mov (and bring down) specify forced displacement and humiliation rather than execution.
The thread — The scattering motif appears in Deuteronomy 4:27 and Deuteronomy 28:64, where God scatters Israel for covenant failure, not hostile nations. The shield designation links to Psalm 3:3, identifying God as the psalmist's protector.
Why it lands — The verse commands restraint from killing and reliance on divine timing to displace and humble opponents. It requires the reader to reject personal vengeance and submit to God's sovereign method of justice.
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
Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
Cross-references
- Psalms 3:3 But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.
- Deuteronomy 4:27 Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.
- Deuteronomy 28:64 Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.
- Luke 1:51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
- Revelation 9:6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them.
- Genesis 4:12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
- Leviticus 26:33 But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.
- Judges 1:6 As Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.
- Job 40:12 Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.
- Psalms 52:5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah