Psalms 59:14

They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God, describing hostile men who operate on relentless, predatory cycles rather than reasoned action.

The words — יֶהֱמ֥וּ (ye.he.Mu) means "they growl" or "snarl," and כַ/כָּ֗לֶב (kha./Ka.lev) literally translates to "like a dog."

The thread — This exact phrasing appears in 59:6, while the hostile dog imagery reappears in 22:16 where enemies encircle the speaker.

Why it lands — The text states that opposition returns nightly to prowl and scavenge; it demands a reader to recognize that such threats require divine intervention rather than human negotiation.

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

וְיָשׁ֣וּבוּve./ya.Shu.vuso/ they may return לָ֭עֶרֶבLa./'e.revto <the>/ evening יֶהֱמ֥וּye.he.Muthey growl כַכָּ֗לֶבkha./Ka.levlike <the>/ dog וִיס֥וֹבְבוּvi./So.vuso/ they may go around עִֽיר׃'Ir[the] city

King James Version

And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

Cross-references

Psalms 22:16 For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.
Psalms 59:6 They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.