That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy 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.”
- BSB that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes—the tongues of your 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 21:19And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
- Ps 58:10The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
- 1 Kgs 22:38And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.
- Rev 19:17–21And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
- 2 Kgs 9:33–37And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.
- 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.
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.