Save my soul from the sword, My only life from the power of the dog.
Parallel translations
- WEB Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.
- KJV Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
- BSB Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs.
- NKJV Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog.
- NLT Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs.
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
The psalmist prays for deliverance of his very life from deadly enemies pictured as sword and dog. It expresses how precious life is and how real the threat.
Overview
David asks God to rescue his 'soul' or life from violent destruction, using the imagery of the sword and the savage dog to portray his attackers. The plea shows that his cause is desperate and that only God can save. As a Messianic psalm, it again points to Christ surrounded by enemies, yet committing his life to the Father who alone gives deliverance and resurrection.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Ps 35:17Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.
- Zech 13:7“Awake, sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is close to me,” says Yahweh of Armies. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
- Ps 17:13Arise, Yahweh, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 22:20 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.