Psalms 81:14

14 As a little thing their enemies I cause to bow, And against their adversaries I turn back My hand,

Psalms 81:14 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 81:14

I should soon have subdued their enemies
The Canaanites, and others: this he would have done in a very little time, or at once, and that easily, and without any trouble; he would quickly have humbled them, and brought them on their knees, as the word F7 signifies, to terms of peace; for when a man's ways please the Lord, he makes his enemies to be at peace with him, ( Proverbs 16:7 ) so those that hearken to the voice of Christ, and walk in his ways, he subdues their iniquities, and will bruise Satan under their feet shortly, and make them more than conquerors: through himself, over the world; the men and things of it he has overcome:

and turned my hand against their adversaries;
that troubled, distressed, and oppressed them; and it is a righteous thing with God to render tribulation to them that trouble his people; he turns his chastising hand off of them, which sometimes is heavy upon them, and presses them sore, and turns it in a way of wrath and vindictive justice against their adversaries; and so the Targum,

``and turned the stroke of my power against their adversaries;''

this is the lighting down of his arm with the indignation of his anger, which is intolerable, ( Isaiah 30:30 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F7 (eynka) "flecterem", Cocceius.

Psalms 81:14 In-Context

12 And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk in their own counsels.
13 O that My people were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.
14 As a little thing their enemies I cause to bow, And against their adversaries I turn back My hand,
15 Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him, But their time is -- to the age.
16 He causeth him to eat of the fat of wheat, And [with] honey from a rock I satisfy thee!
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.