Psalms 17:12

"They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth."

Key Reflection

In the Psalms, Psalm 17:12 paints a vivid picture of the psalmist's enemies constantly watching and plotting his downfall. For the original audience—likely Jewish readers in the time before the Babylonian exile—the image would have resonated with their experience of persistent and invasive oppression from foreign powers who sought to undermine their sovereignty and reduce them to subjugation. The imagery suggests a relentless pursuit, where adversaries carefully monitor every move to ensure the psalmist’s downfall, reflecting the real political and social pressures faced by communities caught in geopolitical conflicts.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Like as a lion -Margin, “The likeness of him” (that is, “of every one of them”) is “as a lion that desireth to ravin.” The meaning is plain. They were like a lion intent on securing his prey. They watched the object narrowly; they were ready to spring upon it. That is greedy of his prey - “He is craving to tear.” Prof. Alexander. - The Hebrew word rendered “is greedy,” means “to pine, to long after, to desire greatly.” The Hebrew word rendered “of his prey,” is a verb, meaning “to pluck, to tear, to rend in pieces.” The reference is to the lion that desires to seize his victim, and to rend it in pieces to devour it.

More from Psalms 17

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