TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 18:1–19. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The title gives us the occasion of penning this psalm; we had it before (Sa2 22:1), only here we are told that the psalm was delivered to the chief musician, or precentor, in the temple-songs. Note, The private compositions of good men, designed by them for their own use, may be serviceable to the public, that others may not only borrow light from their candle, but heat from their fire. Examples sometimes teach better than rules. And David is here called the servant of the Lord, as Moses was, not only as every good man is God's servant, but because, with his sceptre, with his sword, and with his pen, he greatly promoted the interests of God's kingdom in Israel. It was more his honour that he was a servant of the Lord than that he was king of a great kingdom; and so he himself accounted it (Psa 116:16): O Lord! truly I am thy servant. In these verses,
I.He triumphs in God and his relation to him.
The first words of the psalm, I will love thee, O Lord! my strength, are here prefixed as the scope and contents of the whole. Love to God is the first and great commandment of the law, because it is the principle of all our acceptable praise and obedience; and this use we should make of all the mercies God bestows upon us, our hearts should thereby be enlarged in love to him. This he requires and will accept; and we are very ungrateful if we grudge him so poor a return. An interest in the person loved is the lover's delight; this string therefore he touches, and on this he harps with much pleasure (Psa 18:2): "The Lord Jehovah is my God; and then he is my rock, my fortress, all that I need and can desire in my present distress." For there is that in God which is suited to all the exigencies and occasions of his people that trust in him. "He is my rock, and strength, and fortress;" that is, 1. "I have found him so in the greatest dangers and difficulties." 2. "I have chosen him to be so, disclaiming all others, and depending upon him alone to protect me." Those that truly love God may thus triumph in him as theirs, and may with confidence call upon him, Psa 18:3. This further use we should make of our deliverances, we must not only love God the better, but love prayer the better - call upon him as long as we live, especially in time of trouble, with an assurance that so we shall be saved; for thus it is written, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, Act 2:21.
II.He sets himself to magnify the deliverances God had wrought for him, that he might be the more affected in his returns of praise.
It is good for us to observe all the circumstances of a mercy, which magnify the power of God and his goodness to us in it.
1.The more imminent and threatening the danger was out of which we were delivered the greater is the mercy of the deliverance. David now remembered how the forces of his enemies poured in upon him, which he calls the floods of Belial, shoals of the children of Belial, likely to overpower him with numbers. They surrounded him, compassed him about; they surprised him, and by that means were very near seizing him; their snares prevented him, and, when without were fightings, within were fears and sorrows, Psa 18:4, Psa 18:5. His spirit was overwhelmed, and he looked upon himself as a lost man; see Psa 116:3.
2.The more earnest we have been with God for deliverance, and the more direct answer it is to our prayers, the more we are obliged to be thankful. David's deliverances were so, Psa 18:6. David was found a praying man, and God was found a prayer-hearing God. If we pray as he did, we shall speed as he did. Though distress drive us to prayer, God will not therefore be deaf to us; nay, being a God of pity, he will be the more ready to succour us.
3.The more wonderful God's appearances are in any deliverance the greater it is: such were the deliverances wrought for David, in which God's manifestation of his presence and glorious attributes is most magnificently described, Psa 18:7, etc. Little appeared of man, but much of God, in these deliverances.
(1.)He appeared a God of almighty power; for he made the earth shake and tremble, and moved even the foundations of the hills (Psa 18:7), as of old at Mount Sinai. When the men of the earth were struck with fear, then the earth might be said to tremble; when the great men of the earth were put into confusion, then the hills moved.
(2.)He showed his anger and displeasure against the enemies and persecutors of his people: He was wroth, Psa 18:7. His wrath smoked, it burned, it was fire, it was devouring fire (Psa 18:8), and coals were kindled by it. Those that by their own sins make themselves as coals (that is, fuel) to this fire will be consumed by it. He that ordains his arrows against the persecutors sends them forth when he pleases, and they are sure to hit the mark and do execution; for those arrows are lightnings, Psa 18:14.
(3.)He showed his readiness to plead his people's cause and work deliverance for them; for he rode upon a cherub and did fly, for the maintaining of right and the relieving of his distressed servants, Psa 18:10. No opposition, no obstruction, can be given to him who rides upon the wings of the wind, who rides on the heavens, for the help of his people, and, in his excellency, on the skies.
(4.)He showed his condescension, in taking cognizance of David's case: He bowed the heavens and came down (Psa 18:9), did not send an angel, but came himself, as one afflicted in the afflictions of his people.
(5.)He wrapped himself in darkness, and yet commanded light to shine out of darkness for his people, Isa 45:15. He is a God that hideth himself; for he made darkness his pavilion, Psa 18:11. his glory is invisible, his counsels are unsearchable, and his proceedings unaccountable, and so, as to us, clouds and darkness are round about him; we know not the way that he takes, even when he is coming towards us in ways of mercy; but, when his designs are secret, they are kind; for, though he hide himself, he is the God of Israel, the Saviour. And, at his brightness, the thick clouds pass (Psa 18:12), comfort returns, the face of affairs is changed, and that which was gloomy and threatening becomes serene and pleasant.
4.The greater the difficulties are that lie in the way of deliverance the more glorious the deliverance is. For the rescuing of David, the waters were to be divided till the very channels were seen; the earth was to be cloven till the very foundations of it were discovered, Psa 18:15. There were waters deep and many, waters out of which he was to be drawn (Psa 18:16), as Moses, who had his name from being drawn out of the water literally, as David was figuratively. His enemies were strong, and they hated him; had he been left to himself, they would have been too strong for him, Psa 18:17. And they were too quick for him; for they prevented him in the day of his calamity, Psa 18:18. But, in the midst of his troubles, the Lord was his stay, so that he did not sink. Note, God will not only deliver his people out of their troubles in due time, but he will sustain them and bear them up under their troubles in the mean time.
5.That which especially magnified the deliverance was that his comfort was the fruit of it and God's favour was the root and fountain of it. (1.) It was an introduction to his preferment, Psa 18:19. "He brought me forth also out of my straits into a large place, where I had room, not only to turn, but to thrive in." (2.) It was a token of God's favour to him, and that made it doubly sweet: "He delivered me because he delighted in me, not for my merit, but for his own grace and good-will." Compare this with Sa2 15:26, If he thus say, I have no delight in thee, here I am. We owe our salvation, that great deliverance, to the delight God had in the Son of David, in whom he has declared himself to be well pleased.
In singing this we must triumph in God, and trust in him: and we may apply it to Christ the Son of David. The sorrows of death surrounded him; in his distress he prayed (Heb 5:7); God made the earth to shake and tremble, and the rocks to cleave, and brought him out, in his resurrection, into a large place, because he delighted in him and in his undertaking.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
"The pains of hell compassed Me about" [Psalm 18:5]. Among those that compassed Me about to destroy Me, were pains of envy, which work death, and lead on to the hell of sin. "The snares of death prevented Me." They prevented Me, so that they wished to hurt Me first, which shall afterwards be recompensed unto them. Now they seize unto destruction such men as they have evilly persuaded by the boast of righteousness: in the name but not in the reality of which they glory against the Gentiles.
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Summary
Psalms 18:5 powerfully articulates King David's profound anguish and the existential threat he faced, depicting him as utterly surrounded by the cords of death and suddenly confronted by its inescapable traps. This vivid imagery underscores the overwhelming peril David experienced, setting the dramatic and desperate stage for the subsequent divine intervention and miraculous deliverance that forms the triumphant core of this psalm of thanksgiving and praise.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 18 stands as a magnificent psalm of thanksgiving, explicitly attributed to David, celebrating God's mighty deliverance from all his enemies, particularly from the hand of Saul. Its near-identical parallel in 2 Samuel 22 confirms its significance as David's personal song of deliverance. Psalms 18:5 functions as a critical narrative pivot within this grand composition. It plunges the reader into the depths of David's despair and near-death experience, effectively magnifying the glory and power of God's subsequent rescue. By detailing the extremity of his plight, the verse heightens the impact of David's desperate cry to God in Psalms 18:6 and the dramatic, cosmic response from the Lord that immediately follows. This structural choice emphasizes that God's salvation is most profoundly revealed when His people are at their weakest and most vulnerable, making His intervention all the more glorious.
Historical & Cultural Context
This psalm is deeply rooted in the tumultuous historical backdrop of David's life, marked by relentless pursuit from King Saul and numerous life-threatening battles against foreign adversaries. The "sorrows of hell" and "snares of death" reflect the very real and constant threats to David's physical existence during his years as a fugitive and early reign. In ancient Israelite thought, Sheol (translated "hell" in KJV) was understood as the realm of the dead, a shadowy, inescapable pit, not primarily a place of eternal punishment but a state of non-existence, extreme peril, or the grave itself. The imagery of "snares" (Hebrew: moqesh) was common, referring to traps set by hunters or enemies, signifying a sudden, inescapable capture or ambush. David's language draws on these deeply ingrained cultural fears and the harsh realities of warfare and survival to convey the utter hopelessness of his situation before God's miraculous intervention.
Key Themes
Psalms 18:5 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully conveys the theme of profound distress and despair, illustrating the universal human experience of facing seemingly insurmountable, life-threatening obstacles. The imagery of being "compassed about" by death's anguish underscores a feeling of being utterly overwhelmed and trapped. Secondly, it highlights the imminence of death, emphasizing the very real and immediate threat of physical demise or a state of complete ruin, a common experience for those facing persecution or warfare, as seen in the laments of the Psalms (e.g., Psalms 116:3). Finally, and crucially, by emphasizing the depth of the crisis, the verse serves to magnify the subsequent act of divine intervention. It meticulously sets the stage for God's glorious and evident rescue, demonstrating that even from the brink of death, God can save, thereby showcasing His sovereignty and power as the ultimate Deliverer, a theme echoed throughout the Psalms, such as in Psalms 40:2.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
The Hebrew word chebel (H2256) carries a range of meanings, including "rope," "cord," "measuring line," "noose," "band," and "throe" (especially of parturition or birth pangs), as well as "pain" or "sorrow." While translated "sorrows" in the KJV, the primary sense of "cords" or "ropes" is often implied, suggesting a binding, constricting, or inescapable force. Thus, "the cords of death" or "the pangs of the grave" might be a more accurate rendering, emphasizing being bound, seized, or experiencing the intense, agonizing throes associated with impending death or the grave. This interpretation deepens the sense of inescapable entrapment and overwhelming distress.
The Hebrew word shᵉʼôwl (H7585) refers to Hades or the world of the dead, often conceived as a subterranean retreat. It denotes the grave, the pit, or the realm where the dead reside. In this context, shᵉʼôwl does not imply a place of eternal punishment as understood in later Christian theology but rather the dominion or power of death itself, or the state of being on the verge of perishing. Therefore, "the sorrows of hell" signifies the anguish, cords, or pangs associated with facing death or being on the brink of entering the realm of the dead, emphasizing the overwhelming power and dominion of death.
The Hebrew word qâdam (H6923) is a primitive root meaning "to project (oneself)," "precede," "anticipate," or "meet." In 17th-century English, "prevented" (from Latin praevenire) meant "came before," "confronted," "met unexpectedly," or "anticipated," rather than its modern sense of "hindered" or "stopped." Thus, "the snares of death prevented me" means that the traps or dangers of death suddenly came upon David, ambushing or confronting him before he could react or escape. It conveys the sudden, overwhelming, and inescapable nature of the peril.
Verse Breakdown
"The sorrows of hell compassed me about"
This clause vividly describes a state of being completely surrounded and overwhelmed by the anguish and power of death. The imagery of "sorrows" (or more accurately, "cords" or "pangs") of Sheol suggests an inescapable, suffocating grip, as if David were already in the clutches of the grave, experiencing its agony. It conveys a profound sense of being encircled by mortal peril and despair, with no apparent way out, emphasizing the immediate and all-encompassing nature of the threat.
"the snares of death prevented me"
This second clause reinforces the first, specifying the nature of the threat. "Snares" (Hebrew: môwqêsh) implies traps, ambushes, or hidden dangers designed to capture and kill, often used for animals. The archaic English meaning of "prevented" emphasizes that these deadly traps did not just appear but suddenly came upon David, confronting him unexpectedly and leaving him no time to escape. It paints a picture of being caught unaware, utterly helpless, and on the verge of succumbing to these fatal entanglements, highlighting the suddenness and inevitability of the danger.
Literary Devices
Psalms 18:5 is rich in Imagery, painting a vivid and visceral picture of David's dire situation. The phrases "sorrows of hell" and "snares of death" evoke powerful, almost tangible, sensations of being trapped, suffocated, and overwhelmed by impending doom. Personification is evident as "hell" (Sheol) and "death" are given active, predatory roles, almost as menacing entities that "compass" (surround) and "prevent" (confront). This device imbues abstract concepts with a menacing, lifelike quality, intensifying the sense of a direct, personal threat. The language also employs Hyperbole to convey the extreme nature of David's distress; while he was not literally in Sheol, the feeling of being on the brink of death is exaggerated to emphasize the depth of his suffering and the magnitude of his rescue. Furthermore, the use of Metaphor is central, as the "sorrows" and "snares" are not literal objects but represent the overwhelming, life-threatening circumstances David faced. These devices collectively amplify the emotional impact of the verse, making David's desperate cry for help and God's subsequent deliverance all the more dramatic and profound.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalms 18:5 speaks to the universal human experience of facing overwhelming trials and the imminence of death, yet it does so within a theological framework that points to God as the ultimate Deliverer. David's raw honesty about his despair validates the human struggle, while simultaneously setting the stage for a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty over life and death. Theologically, it underscores the concept that God hears the cries of His people even from the deepest pits of distress, demonstrating His faithfulness to intervene when all human hope seems lost. This verse, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder that even when we feel utterly consumed by life's "snares" and "sorrows," our hope is firmly rooted in the God who can rescue from the very brink of the grave, proving His power and unwavering commitment to His covenant people.
Reflection and Application
Psalms 18:5 offers profound encouragement and a framework for understanding our own struggles in a fallen world. When we find ourselves "compassed about" by despair, anxiety, chronic illness, relational breakdown, or seemingly insurmountable challenges that feel like "snares of death," David's experience validates our feelings of being overwhelmed. It reminds us that expressing deep distress and vulnerability is not a sign of weakness but an honest acknowledgment of our human limitations and dependence on a higher power. More importantly, this verse serves as a prelude to David's desperate cry to God, demonstrating that even when we feel at the very brink, God is attentive to our pleas. Just as God delivered David from the "sorrows of hell" and "snares of death," He promises to deliver His people from their troubles, offering hope and rescue in various forms—whether physical healing, emotional solace, spiritual breakthrough, or ultimately, eternal life. This psalm ultimately points to the Lord as our strength and deliverer, a powerful source of comfort when facing life's greatest fears and the inevitability of death, reminding us that no situation is too dire for God's intervention.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "hell" mean in Psalms 18:5?
In Psalms 18:5, the King James Version's translation of "hell" comes from the Hebrew word Sheol (שְׁאוֹל). In the Old Testament, Sheol refers to the grave, the realm of the dead, or a state of extreme danger and near-death experience. It does not typically denote a place of eternal punishment as "hell" is often understood in modern theology. Therefore, "the sorrows of hell" signifies the anguish, cords, or pangs associated with facing death itself or being on the verge of perishing, emphasizing the power or dominion of death over a person. This understanding is crucial for grasping the context of David's profound distress and God's subsequent deliverance from mortal peril, as seen in other passages like Jonah 2:2 where Jonah cries out from the "belly of Sheol."
How does the KJV's use of "prevented" differ from its modern meaning?
The word "prevented" in Psalms 18:5 (KJV) uses an older English meaning that is significantly different from its modern usage. In the 17th century, when the King James Version was translated, "prevented" (from the Latin praevenire) meant "came before," "confronted," "met unexpectedly," or "anticipated." It did not mean "hindered" or "stopped" as it does today. So, "the snares of death prevented me" means that the traps or dangers of death suddenly came upon David, ambushed him, or confronted him, catching him off guard and surrounding him before he could react or escape. This emphasizes the sudden, inescapable, and overwhelming nature of the peril David faced, highlighting his vulnerability and the unexpectedness of the life-threatening situation.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While Psalms 18:5 vividly describes David's personal experience of being encompassed by the anguish and snares of death, it finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. David's near-death experience and subsequent deliverance powerfully foreshadow the greater reality of Christ's descent into the very depths of death and His glorious resurrection. Jesus truly entered the "sorrows of hell" (the grave, the dominion of death) when He died on the cross, taking upon Himself the full weight of sin and its consequence, which is death. The "snares of death" truly "prevented" (confronted) Him, as He willingly submitted to the power of the grave. However, unlike David, who was delivered from the threat of death, Jesus actually conquered death, rising victorious from the tomb. His resurrection demonstrates that the cords of death could not hold Him (as prophesied in Acts 2:24). Through His triumph, Christ disarmed the power of death and the devil (Hebrews 2:14-15), offering ultimate deliverance from the spiritual and physical "snares of death" to all who believe in Him. He is the one who holds the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18), ensuring that for believers, death is not a final snare but a gateway to eternal life in His presence.