Bible Strands
Psalms 60:8
Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker identifies as Yahweh, addressing Israel during a period of military campaign or national distress. The declaration follows a list of tribal territories claimed as divine possession and precedes a plea for guidance into Edom.
The words — The terms סִיר (sir) and נַעֲלִ֑י (naʿălî) literally denote a "washbasin" or "pot" and "my sandal." These objects function as concrete metaphors for ritual cleansing and the ancient practice of claiming conquered territory.
The thread — The subjugation of Edom and Philistia aligns with the historical accounts in 2 Samuel 8:1 and 2 Samuel 8:14, where David defeats these nations and establishes control. The repeated Philistine conflict in 2 Samuel 21:15 further grounds this poetic claim in recorded military history.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of divine sovereignty over hostile nations and territorial boundaries. It requires the reader to accept that political and military outcomes are subject to divine decree rather than human strategy 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
Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 8:1 Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines.
- 2 Samuel 8:14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
- 2 Samuel 21:15 Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted.
- 1 Chronicles 18:1 Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from the hand of the Philistines.
- 1 Chronicles 18:13 He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
- Psalms 108:9 Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
- Genesis 25:23 and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
- Numbers 24:18 Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.
- 2 Samuel 5:17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.
- Genesis 27:40 You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.”