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I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
Psalms 18:37 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. Neither will I turn again until they are consumed.
  • BSB I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.
  • NKJV I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
  • NASB ¶I pursued my enemies and overtook them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed.
  • NLT I chased my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until they were conquered.

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

With God's strength David pursues and overtakes his enemies, not relenting until they are defeated. The victory God grants is decisive and complete.

Overview

This begins a section describing total triumph over David's foes. The relentless pursuit reflects the comprehensive deliverance God gave Israel's anointed king. While framed in Old Testament warfare, it points typologically to Christ's final and complete conquest of every enemy, including death itself (1 Cor 15:25-26).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 12

  • Ps 44:5Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
  • Isa 53:10–12Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
  • Ps 9:3When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
  • Ps 3:7Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
  • Ps 35:5Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
  • Ps 118:11–12They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
  • Rev 19:19–20And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
  • Isa 63:1–6Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
  • Ps 37:20But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
  • Rev 6:2And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
  • Num 24:17–19I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
  • Ps 35:2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 18:37YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 18:37 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.