that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes—the tongues of your dogs in the same.”
Parallel translations
- WEB That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
- KJV That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
- NKJV That your foot may crush them in blood, And the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
- NASB So that your foot may shatter them in blood, And the tongue of your dogs may have its portion from your enemies.”
- NLT You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood, and even your dogs will get their share!”
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
This vivid image depicts God's complete victory over his enemies. It declares that opposition to God and his people will be utterly overcome.
Overview
Using stark ancient battle imagery, the verse portrays such a thorough defeat of the wicked that the victors wade through it. While the language is severe, it expresses the certainty of God's righteous judgment against persistent evil. Christians read such passages in light of Christ, who bore judgment at the cross and will return to finally subdue all that opposes God's kingdom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 1 Kgs 21:19Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”
- Ps 58:10The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
- 1 Kgs 22:38And the chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria where the prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked up Ahab’s blood, according to the word that the LORD had spoken.
- Rev 19:17–21Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
- 2 Kgs 9:33–37“Throw her down!” yelled Jehu. So they threw her down, and her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
- Isa 63:1–6Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 68:23 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.