Bible Strands
Psalms 7:4
if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David addresses the LORD in a formal oath of innocence, structuring his defense as conditional clauses that will trigger a curse if his claims prove false.
The words — The Hebrew גָּמַלְתִּי (gamalti, "I have repaid") and רֵיקָם (reikam, "without cause") frame the verse’s legal contrast between how he treated a sholmi ("one at peace with me") and a tzorri ("my foe").
The thread — This pattern of reciprocal treatment surfaces in 1 Samuel 24:17, where Saul speaks to David acknowledging David’s restraint; Psalms 55:20, which condemns a companion who violates covenant; and Psalms 109:5, which describes enemies repaying love with hatred.
Why it lands — The text demands objective self-assessment by presenting innocence as a claim subject to verification, requiring the reader to measure their conduct against the standard of just treatment rather than rely on subjective assurance.
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
If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 24:17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
- Psalms 55:20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
- Psalms 109:5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
- Jeremiah 18:20 Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your wrath from them.
- Genesis 44:4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?
- 1 Samuel 19:4 Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.
- 1 Samuel 20:1 Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”
- 1 Samuel 22:14 Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house?
- 1 Samuel 24:7 With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
- 1 Samuel 24:10 Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’