He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
Parallel translations
- WEB He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.
- BSB He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
- NKJV He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, For there were many against me.
- NASB He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, For they are many who are aggressive toward me.
- NLT He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me.
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
David testifies that God redeems his soul into peace despite many opponents. It affirms God's deliverance amid ongoing conflict.
Overview
Even with many arrayed against him, David trusts that God ransoms his life and grants peace from the battle. The assurance is not of an easy life but of God's keeping power within trouble. This peace points to the deeper peace Christ secures for his people through his own conflict and victory.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Matt 26:53Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
- Ps 3:6–7I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
- 1 Jn 4:4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
- Ps 57:3He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
- 2 Chr 32:7–8Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
- 2 Sam 22:1And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
- Ps 27:1–3The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
- Ps 118:10–12All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
- Acts 2:33–36Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
- 2 Sam 18:28And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
- 2 Kgs 6:16And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
- Ps 56:2Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 55:18 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.