Psalm 140:4

4 Protect me, Lord, from the clutches of the wicked.^[a] Keep me safe from violent men who plan to make me stumble.^[b]

Psalm 140:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 140:4

Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked
From falling into their hands, and the weight of them}; and from their laying hands on him, being men of power and authority;

preserve me from the violent man:
or men, everyone of them; (See Gill on Psalms 140:1);

who have purposed to overthrow my goings:
to supplant him; to cause him to stumble and fall, to his disgrace and reproach; and that they might take an advantage of him, and an occasion against him. Arama interprets it, to drive me out of the land of Israel; see ( 1 Samuel 26:1 1 Samuel 26:9 ) . So Christ's enemies thought to have supplanted him, and have found something against him, to accuse him of to Caesar, ( Matthew 22:15-22 ) .

Psalm 140:4 In-Context

2 who plan evil in their hearts. They stir up wars all day long.

3 They make their tongues as sharp as a snake's bite; viper's venom is under their lips. Selah

4 Protect me, Lord, from the clutches of the wicked. Keep me safe from violent men who plan to make me stumble.

5 The proud hide a trap with ropes for me; they spread a net along the path and set snares for me. Selah

6 I say to the Lord, "You are my God." Listen, Lord, to my cry for help.

Footnotes

• [a] Ps 71:4; 82:4; 97:10
• [b] Lit to trip up my steps