Psalms 118:13

13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.

Psalms 118:13 in Other Translations

KJV
13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
ESV
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.
NLT
13 My enemies did their best to kill me, but the LORD rescued me.
MSG
13 I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me.
CSB
13 You pushed me hard to make me fall, but the Lord helped me.

Psalms 118:13 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 118:13

Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall
Or "pushing, thou hast pushed me F1, that I might fall": an apostrophe to some particular enemy, as Saul was to David; who thrust sore at him to take away his life, by casting a javelin at him; speaking to his servants to kill him; sending messengers to watch his house and slay him, and by, pursuing him from place to place. And such an one was Judas to Christ, who lifted up his heel against him, and betrayed him into the hands of his enemies; or the devil in him, and by him; and who thrust sore at Christ by others; by Herod in his infancy, who sought to take away his life; and by the Scribes and Pharisees, who attempted it in different ways, and at last got him nailed to the cross; as well as Satan thrust sore at him, by his temptations in the wilderness, and when in his agonies in the garden, and when on the cross: and so the same enemy thrusts sore at the members of Christ, to cause them to fall from him, and the steadfastness of their faith in him to fail; that they may fall into temptation, and by it into sin, and that finally and totally, and into hell itself, could he obtain it;

but the Lord helped me;
helped David, so that he perished not by the hand of Saul, he sometimes feared he should; helped Christ, as man and Mediator, in the day of salvation, and raised him from the dead, and gave him glory: and he helps his people against all their enemies; holds them with his right hand; helps them to fight against them; maintains his own work of grace in them, and keeps them from a total and final falling away, by his power unto salvation. The Targum is,

``the Word of the Lord helped me.''


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (yntyxr hxr) "impellendo impulisti me", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Michaelis; "trudendo trusisti me", Cocceius.

Psalms 118:13 In-Context

11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!

Cross References 1

  • 1. ver 7; 2 Chronicles 18:31; Psalms 86:17">Psalms 86:17; Psalms 86:17">Psalms 86:17; Psalms 140:4
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.