Psalms 140:4

Authorized King James Version

Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

Word-by-Word Analysis

שָׁמְרֵ֤נִי

H8104

Keep

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc

יְהוָ֨ה׀

H3068

me O LORD

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

מִ֘ידֵ֤י

H3027

from the hands

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

רָשָׁ֗ע

H7563

of the wicked

morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person

מֵאִ֣ישׁ

H376

man

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

חֲמָסִ֣ים

H2555

me from the violent

violence; by implication, wrong; by metonymy unjust gain

תִּנְצְרֵ֑נִי

H5341

preserve

to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

חָ֝שְׁב֗וּ

H2803

who have purposed

properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e., (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a maliciou

#10

לִדְח֥וֹת

H1760

to overthrow

to push down

#11

פְּעָמָֽי׃

H6471

my goings

a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow)

Analysis

The worship and praise theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of ancient Near Eastern poetry and hymnic literature for worship shapes this text's meaning. Israel's liturgical traditions developed through centuries of temple worship and personal devotion Understanding a worldview centered on covenant relationship between God and His people helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

How does this verse's literary context within Psalms chapter 140 illuminate its theological significance, and what does this teach us about biblical interpretation?
In what ways does this verse's emphasis on divine sovereignty address questions about God's character and purposes in the modern world, and how should the church respond?
How does the worship and praise theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?