Bible Strands
Psalms 7:16
His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist speaks to God regarding an adversary who has plotted against him, positioned immediately after describing the enemy falling into his own trap and immediately before the psalmist declares praise for divine righteousness.
The words — The Hebrew יָשׁוּב (ya.Shuv) translates literally as "it returns," operating alongside חָמָס (cha.MaS) for "violence" and יֵרֵד (ye.Red) for "it comes down," forming a direct statement that the adversary's violent actions return and descend upon his own head.
The thread — This structural pattern of plotted violence rebounding on its originator appears in Esther 9:25, where Haman's scheme rebounds on his own head, and 1 Kings 2:32, where God declares He will bring bloodshed back upon a murderer's own head.
Why it lands — The text states a concrete outcome: the adversary's own trouble and violence will fall upon him, requiring the reader to recognize that malicious actions produce their own immediate consequences without requiring external intervention.
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
His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
Cross-references
- Esther 9:25 But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
- Psalms 37:12 The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
- 1 Kings 2:32 The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.
- 1 Samuel 24:12 May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
- 1 Samuel 26:10 David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
- 1 Samuel 28:19 Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
- 1 Samuel 31:3 When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
- Psalms 36:12 There the evildoers lie fallen, thrown down and unable to rise.
- 1 Samuel 23:9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
- Psalms 36:4 Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.