He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
Parallel translations
- WEB He makes my feet like deer’s 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 up 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 the surefooted agility of a deer and stations him securely on the heights. It pictures the stability and victory that come from the Lord's enabling.
Overview
In David's great song of deliverance (Ps 18 = 2 Sam 22), he credits God with the physical capability to stand firm and move swiftly in battle. 'Deer's feet' suggests both speed and sure footing on dangerous terrain, while 'high places' marks secure dominance over conquered ground. The believer's true stability is likewise a gift of grace, ultimately fulfilled in Christ who shares his victory with his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 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.
- 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;
- Deut 33:29You are happy, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency? Your enemies will submit themselves to you. You will tread on their high places.”
- 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.
- 2 Sam 22:14Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice.
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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 18:33 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.