He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
Parallel translations
- WEB He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places.
- KJV He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
- BSB He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me upon the heights.
- NKJV He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places.
- NASB “He makes my feet like deer’s feet, And sets me on my high places.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God gives David sure-footedness like a deer and sets him on the heights. The Lord grants him agility and secure victory.
Overview
The image of a deer's nimble feet on rugged terrain pictures God-given stability and triumph over difficult ground. David is established in high, safe places by divine help. It teaches that the surefootedness to walk faithfully through life's heights and dangers is God's gift to his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Isa 58:14then you shall delight yourself in Yahweh; and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father:” for Yahweh’s mouth has spoken it.
- Deut 32:13He made him ride on the high places of the earth. He ate the increase of the field. He caused him to suck honey out of the rock, oil out of the flinty rock;
- Hab 3:19Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.
- 2 Sam 2:18The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.
- Isa 33:16he will dwell on high. His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. His bread will be supplied. His waters will be sure.
- Deut 33:25Your bars will be iron and brass. As your days, so your strength will be.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 22:34 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.