Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
Parallel translations
- WEB He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them.
- BSB He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
- NKJV He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
- NASB He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.
- NLT He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; great bolts of lightning flashed, and they were confused.
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 sends out his arrows and lightning to scatter and rout David's enemies. It matters because God actively overthrows the foes of his people.
Overview
David pictures God shooting arrows and flashing lightning bolts that scatter and confuse his enemies. The Lord himself fights for his servant and disperses the opposing forces. This portrayal of God routing the wicked anticipates Christ's decisive victory over every spiritual enemy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Ps 144:6Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
- Hab 3:11The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
- Josh 10:10And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
- Isa 30:30And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
- Num 24:8God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
- Deut 32:42I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.
- Deut 32:23I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.
- Ps 77:17The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
- Job 6:4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
- Zech 9:14–15And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
- Ps 21:12Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.
- Job 38:35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
- Job 40:9–12Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 18:14 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.