Psalms 71:4

Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, requesting rescue from oppressors immediately after asking for divine refuge and before declaring God as his lifelong hope.

The words — The plea centers on פַּלְּטֵנִי (pal·lĕ·tê·nî), literally "deliver me," and מִכַּף (mi·kaf), meaning "from the grasp," paired with רָשָׁע (rā·šāʿ, "wicked") and חוֹמֵץ (ḥō·mêṣ, "ruthless").

The thread — This pattern of crying out for deliverance from violent men appears in Psalms 59:1 and 140:1, while the pursuit of the righteous is mirrored in 2 Samuel 17:1.

Why it lands — The text states a direct request for God to intervene against specific human threats, requiring the reader to acknowledge divine rescue as the necessary response to oppression.

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

אֱֽלֹהַ֗י'elo.Ha/iO God/ my פַּ֭לְּטֵנִיPa.le.te./nideliver/ me מִיַּ֣דmi./Yadfrom/ [the] hand of רָשָׁ֑עra.Sha'[the] wicked מִכַּ֖ףmi./Kaffrom/ [the] hand of מְעַוֵּ֣לme.'a.Vel[the] wrongdoer וְחוֹמֵץ׃ve./cho.metzand/ [the] ruthless

King James Version

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

Cross-references

Psalms 59:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me.
Psalms 140:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,
2 Samuel 17:1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
Psalms 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
Psalms 17:13 Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
2 Samuel 16:21 Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
2 Samuel 17:12 Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.
2 Samuel 17:21 After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”