A Maschil of David, when the Ziphites betrayed his hiding place to Saul. A short, urgent prayer for deliverance from treacherous enemies, trusting in Hashem's name and might.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
O God, save me by Your name, And right me by Your might.
verse value 2062
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 30 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱ֭לֹהִים) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "in·Your·name" (בְּשִׁמְךָ֣, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·in·Your·strength" (וּבִגְבוּרָתְךָ֥, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "and·in·Your·strength" (וּבִגְבוּרָתְךָ֥), "You·shall·judge·me" (תְדִינֵֽנִי). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אלהים, 347x in Psalms); "in·Your·name" (root שם, 119x in Psalms); "save·me" (root ישע, 75x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'save·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 2 words. Full calculation: אֱ֭לֹהִים [God] (86) + בְּשִׁמְךָ֣ [in·Your·name] (362) + הוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי [save·me] (451) + וּבִגְבוּרָתְךָ֥ [and·in·Your·strength] (639) + תְדִינֵֽנִי [You·shall·judge·me] (524) = 2062.
Rashi
"and with Your might, avenge me" — Heb. תדינני, Wreak my vengeance, as (Deut. 32:36): “When the Lord will avenge (ידין) His people.”
Ibn Ezra
"God, by Your name" — that I call [upon]; and the meaning is: for the sake of Your name. "And by Your might" — for the might is Yours, that You should take up my cause against the Ziphites.
Radak
"O God, by Your name" — by Your name, which I have called upon, save me. "And by Your might" — in which I have trusted, for I am one, while they are many together. "Right me" — meaning, that You take my vengeance from them.
Metzudat David
"Right me" — judge my case, to exact my vengeance.
Malbim
"O God, save me by Your name" — You will save me by virtue of Your name, that You are the Savior of those who take refuge in You; "and judge my cause" out of the hand of my enemies by virtue of "Your might" — salvation is on account of Your kindness, and judgment is on account of Your might.
O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.
verse value 1865
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 26 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱ֭לֹהִים) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "hear" (שְׁמַ֣ע, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·the·words·of·my·mouth" (לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי, 7 letters). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אלהים, 347x in Psalms); "hear" (root שמע, 76x in Psalms); "give·ear" (root אזן, 36x in Psalms). First appearance of the root אמרי ("to·the·words·of·my·mouth") in Psalms. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'my·prayer', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 2 words. Full calculation: אֱ֭לֹהִים [God] (86) + שְׁמַ֣ע [hear] (410) + תְּפִלָּתִ֑י [my·prayer] (920) + הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינָה [give·ear] (78) + לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי [to·the·words·of·my·mouth] (371) = 1865.
Ibn Ezra
"God," "my prayer" — [that is,] in the heart. "To the words of my mouth" — with the tongue, for the core [meaning] of 'tefillah' [prayer] is [related to the root of] 'vayefalel' [he judged/interceded] and 'lo pilalti' ['I had not thought,' Genesis 48:11].
Radak
"My prayer" and "the words of my mouth" — this is a doubling of the matter; or its meaning is: "my prayer" in the heart, and "the words of my mouth" with the tongue.
Malbim
"O God, hear my prayer" — and also "give ear" to the other things that I say along with the prayer.
For strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul; They have not set God before them. Selah
verse value 2502
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 45 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱלֹהִ֖ים) = 86, equal to Elohim. Verse gematria: 2502 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֤י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·violent·men" (וְֽ֭עָרִיצִים, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "and·violent·men" (וְֽ֭עָרִיצִים). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אלהים, 347x in Psalms); "for" (root כי, 216x in Psalms); "not" (root לא, 174x in Psalms). First appearance of the root זור ("strangers") in Psalms. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'my·soul', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 5 words. Full calculation: כִּ֤י [for] (30) + זָרִ֨ים [strangers] (257) + קָ֤מוּ [have·risen] (146) + עָלַ֗י [against·me] (110) + וְֽ֭עָרִיצִים [and·violent·men] (426) + בִּקְשׁ֣וּ [have·sought] (408) + נַפְשִׁ֑י [my·soul] (440) + לֹ֤א [not] (31) + שָׂ֨מוּ [have·set] (346) + אֱלֹהִ֖ים [God] (86) + לְנֶגְדָּ֣ם [before·them] (127) + סֶֽלָה [Selah] (95) = 2502.
Ibn Ezra
"For strangers" — who are not of his people. "And violent men" — these are the Ziphites.
Radak
"For strangers" — "strangers" and "violent men" is a doubling of the matter in different words. "Have risen" — against me, and sought my soul, for such is the practice. "Strangers" — foreigners, enemies of David. And "violent men" — the Ziphites. "They have not set God before them" — they did not fear Him, that He would repay them their recompense.
Metzudat David
"For strangers" — the men of Ziph are strangers to Saul and are not of his family, and yet they rose up against me to hand me over into his power. "And ruthless men" — men stronger than I seek my life, and I have no strength to stand against them. "They have not set" — for the fear of God has never been before them, and they will not hold back their hand from me out of fear of Hashem.
Malbim
"For strangers have risen up against me" — these are the Ziphites, who are strangers and are not relatives of Saul; "and a company of violent men" — these are Saul and his mighty men, who "have sought my soul" to kill me, not by justice, but simply because they are violent men. "And they have not set God before them" — they did not take to heart that God opposes them in this matter, for it is against the will of God. "Selah" concludes the matter.
Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is for me as the upholder of my soul.
verse value 1100
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 26 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱ֭לֹהִים) = 86, equal to Elohim. Verse gematria: 1100 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "for·me" (לִ֑י, 2 letters) and the longest is "God" (אֱ֭לֹהִים, 5 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "with·those·who·uphold" (בְּֽסֹמְכֵ֥י). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אלהים, 347x in Psalms); "my·soul" (root נפש, 143x in Psalms); "for·me" (root לי, 68x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: הִנֵּ֣ה [behold] (60) + אֱ֭לֹהִים [God] (86) + עֹזֵ֣ר [helping] (277) + לִ֑י [for·me] (40) + אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י [Lord] (65) + בְּֽסֹמְכֵ֥י [with·those·who·uphold] (132) + נַפְשִֽׁי [my·soul] (440) = 1100.
Ibn Ezra
"Behold" — Rabbi Moshe said: the meaning is not 'Adonai is among the upholders of my soul,' as if He were one of the upholders; rather, its meaning is that He alone counts as much as all the upholders together. But in my opinion: he prayed that Hashem would vindicate him against those who sought his harm, and would help those who support him, so that they would not inform against him.
Radak
"Helper" — and they will not be able to harm me with their slander. "Hashem" — He who is Master over all — He will be my helper. "Among those who uphold my soul" — meaning, with the help of those from Israel who support my soul.
Metzudat David
"Behold, God" — Although the strength is not in my own hand, behold, Hashem is my helper, and He will be among those who sustain my soul.
Malbim
"Behold, God is my helper" — that is, He helps me directly, in my own person; and also, "Hashem is with those who uphold my soul" — that is, David's men, his supporters and helpers; and Hashem, too, will join together with them to uphold me.
He will requite the evil to those who lie in wait for me; Destroy them in Your truth.
verse value 2703
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "the·evil" (הָ֭רַע, 3 letters) and the longest is "destroy·them" (הַצְמִיתֵֽם, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "the·evil" (הָ֭רַע), "to·my·foes" (לְשֹׁרְרָ֑י), "destroy·them" (הַצְמִיתֵֽם). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "He·will·requite" (root שוב, 72x in Psalms); "in·Your·truth" (root אמת, 32x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·my·foes', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 2 words.
Rashi
"to those who lie in wait for me" — Heb. לשררי, those who eye me, an expression of (Num. 24:17): “I see him (אשורנו), but not near.” "with Your truth" — Since You are truthful, and You said that You would wreak vengeance upon talebearers and those who pursue to kill, therefore, cut them off.
Ibn Ezra
"He will requite the evil" — What they intended to do to me, Hashem will return upon them. And the sense of "in Your truth" — for they are bent on bloodshed, go about as slanderers, and seek to kill me for no reason.
Radak
"Yashiv" [He will requite] — the ketiv [written form] is "yashuv," from the kal [simple] conjugation, an intransitive verb, whose sense refers to "the evil"; and the keri [read form] is "yashiv," from the hif'il [causative] conjugation, whose sense refers to God, may He be blessed. The meaning is the same either way. "The evil" — that they do to me, He will requite upon them, for they lie in wait for me and watch my place, where my foot will be, and they tell Saul. "In Your truth, destroy them" — for Your word is true, to make me king, while they seek to drive me from the world.
Metzudat David
"He will requite the evil" — This very evil He will turn back upon my enemies, who look upon me with evil intent. "In Your truth" — Because You are a God of truth, who repays each man according to his deeds, therefore cut them off, just as they planned against me.
Metzudat Zion
'Those who watch for me' — an expression of gazing/watching. 'Destroy them' — an expression of cutting off, as in 'every morning I will destroy' (below, Psalm 101).
Malbim
"He will requite" — He will also repay my enemies: first, in that "He will requite the evil to those who lie in wait for me," paying them according to their evil; second, "in Your truth, destroy them" — by virtue of the truth of Your promise that You promised me the kingship.
With a freewill-offering will I sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O Hashem, for it is good.
verse value 585
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 28 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֣ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 585 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֣ה, 4 letters) and the longest is "I·will·sacrifice·to·You" (אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּ֑ךְ, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "with·a·freewill·offering" (בִּנְדָבָ֥ה), "I·will·sacrifice·to·You" (אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּ֑ךְ), "I·will·give·thanks·to·Your·name" (א֤וֹדֶה־שִּׁמְךָ֖). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 688x in Psalms); "I·will·give·thanks·to·Your·name" (root ידה, 68x in Psalms); "for·it·is·good" (root טוב, 63x in Psalms). First appearance of the root נדבה ("with·a·freewill·offering") in Psalms. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'I·will·sacrifice·to·You', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 3 words. Full calculation: בִּנְדָבָ֥ה [with·a·freewill·offering] (63) + אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּ֑ךְ [I·will·sacrifice·to·You] (73) + א֤וֹדֶה־שִּׁמְךָ֖ [I·will·give·thanks·to·Your·name] (376) + יְהֹוָ֣ה [Hashem] (26) + כִּי־טֽוֹב [for·it·is·good] (47) = 585.
Ibn Ezra
"With a freewill-offering" — when You destroy them, for this I will give thanks and declare it. And the word "He delivered me" — refers back to "Your name," mentioned in the first verse.
Radak
"With a freewill-offering" — When You destroy them, I will sacrifice to You with a generous and good spirit, and then I will give thanks to Your name, for it is good, and I say:
Metzudat David
"With a freewill-offering" — With a generous and good spirit, that is, with joy of heart, I will sacrifice offerings to You. "For it is good" — For Your name is good.
Malbim
(8-9) "Freely" — "and I will sacrifice to You with a willing heart, and I will give thanks to Your name, Hashem, for it is good" — referring to when Saul and his men had surrounded David and his men to capture them, a messenger came to Saul and told him that the Philistines had raided the land, so Saul turned back from pursuing David; and through this, "You have delivered me from all trouble, and my eye has seen my desire on my enemies" — even though I saw my enemies, I did not have to fight them and shed blood; rather, You delivered me from this too. And this, to him, was the essential miracle — that he was saved without war and without bloodshed.
For He has delivered me out of all trouble; And my eye has gazed upon my enemies.
verse value 1387
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "from·all·trouble" (מִכׇּל־צָ֭רָה, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "from·all·trouble" (מִכׇּל־צָ֭רָה), "and·upon·my·enemies" (וּ֝בְאֹיְבַ֗י). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for" (root כי, 216x in Psalms); "has·seen" (root ראה, 100x in Psalms); "from·all·trouble" (root כל, 82x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'He·has·delivered·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: כִּ֣י [for] (30) + מִכׇּל־צָ֭רָה [from·all·trouble] (385) + הִצִּילָ֑נִי [He·has·delivered·me] (195) + וּ֝בְאֹיְבַ֗י [and·upon·my·enemies] (31) + רָאֲתָ֥ה [has·seen] (606) + עֵינִֽי [my·eye] (140) = 1387.
Radak
"My eye has seen" — what I desired.
Metzudat David
"For out of all etc." — For He did me a twofold kindness: He saved me from all the trouble that my enemies planned to do to me, and furthermore my eye has seen upon my enemies what it desired to see happen to them.
Ibn Ezra