Bible Strands
Psalms 7:3
O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh directly during a crisis, invoking divine judgment before listing his specific defenses.
The words — The Hebrew יֶשׁ־ עָ֥וֶל (yesh- 'A.vel) literally means "there is unrighteousness," which the psalmist places "on his hands" to describe the location of potential guilt.
The thread — This conditional denial of personal guilt parallels David’s appeals in 1 Samuel 24:11 and 1 Samuel 26:18, where he similarly insists he carries no evil in his hands while fleeing persecution.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to verify their own conduct against the standard of justice before demanding deliverance, transferring the burden of proof entirely to God.
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
O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 24:11 See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
- 1 Samuel 26:18 And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?
- Psalms 59:3 See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.
- Joshua 22:22 “The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.
- 2 Samuel 16:7 And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!
- Job 11:14 if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,
- 1 Samuel 20:8 Therefore show kindness to your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”
- 1 Samuel 22:13 And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”
- 1 Samuel 24:9 and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
- Job 16:17 yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.