Psalms 3:7

KJV

Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies [upon] the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

KJV (with Strong's)

Arise {H6965}, O LORD {H3068}; save {H3467} me, O my God {H430}: for thou hast smitten {H5221} all mine enemies {H341} upon the cheek bone {H3895}; thou hast broken {H7665} the teeth {H8127} of the ungodly {H7563}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Rise up, ADONAI! Save me, my God! For you slap all my enemies in the face, you smash the teeth of the wicked.

Berean Standard Bible

Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.

American Standard Version

Arise, O Jehovah; save me, O my God: For thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the wicked.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 3:7 is a fervent and faith-filled prayer from King David, encapsulating both an urgent plea for divine intervention and a profound declaration of God's decisive victory over his adversaries. In the midst of overwhelming opposition, David cries out, "Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God," immediately grounding this desperate appeal in the confident assurance that God has already, or will certainly, "smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly." This verse vividly portrays a believer's unwavering trust in God's sovereignty and His proven power to deliver and humiliate those who oppose His anointed.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 3 is a deeply personal lament, uniquely situated as "A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son." The psalm opens with David surrounded by a multitude of enemies who mock his faith, questioning God's ability to deliver him ([Psalm 3:1-2](/psalms/3-1-2 "Psalm 3:1-2 - David's Enemies and Their Taunts")). Despite this dire situation, David immediately pivots to an unwavering declaration of trust, affirming God as his shield, his glory, and the one who lifts his head ([Psalm 3:3](/psalms/3-3 "Psalm 3:3 - God, My Shield and Glory")). He recounts his secure rest, knowing that the Lord sustains him even amidst danger ([Psalm 3:5-6](/psalms/3-5-6 "Psalm 3:5-6 - David's Secure Sleep in God's Care")). Verse 7 marks a pivotal shift from confident repose to an active, urgent petition for God to manifest His power, a plea rooted in a prophetic certainty or retrospective acknowledgment of God's past victories. The psalm then culminates in a renewed affirmation that salvation belongs solely to the Lord and His blessing rests upon His people ([Psalm 3:8](/psalms/3-8 "Psalm 3:8 - Salvation Belongs to the LORD")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The superscription provides the critical historical backdrop: David's flight from his son Absalom's rebellion. This was a period of profound personal betrayal and national crisis, as Absalom had successfully usurped the throne and gained widespread popular support, forcing David to flee Jerusalem in shame and vulnerability ([2 Samuel 15-16](/2_samuel/15-16 "2 Samuel 15-16 - Absalom's Rebellion and David's Flight")). In this moment of extreme vulnerability, David's prayer is not merely for military victory but for divine vindication against a deeply personal and public betrayal. The vivid imagery of "smiting the cheek bone" and "breaking the teeth" are powerful ancient Near Eastern idioms. To strike the cheek was a profound public insult and a gesture of utter humiliation, stripping an individual of their honor and dignity ([Job 16:10](/job/16-10 "Job 16:10 - Job's Complaint of Being Smitten on the Cheek"), [Micah 5:1](/micah/5-1 "Micah 5:1 - Prophecy of the Ruler from Bethlehem")). Breaking teeth, especially of a predator, symbolized disarming an enemy, rendering them utterly powerless to inflict harm or "devour" their prey ([Job 29:17](/job/29-17 "Job 29:17 - Job Breaking the Jaws of the Wicked")).
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 3 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Intervention**, portraying God as the active, responsive agent who hears the cries of His people and decisively acts on behalf of His anointed, even against overwhelming odds. David's fervent cry, "Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God," is an urgent plea for God to stand up and demonstrate His mighty power against the forces arrayed against His chosen. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Trust in Adversity**, as David's petition is not born of despair but of confident expectation, rooted in God's unchanging character and His past acts of deliverance. The declaration of God having already "smitten" and "broken" reflects a faith that transcends the immediate crisis, seeing God's victory as already secured. Thirdly, it speaks to **Vindication and Justice**, portraying God as the one who will ultimately humble the proud and disarm the wicked, ensuring that evil intentions cannot prevail against His chosen. This resonates deeply with themes of God's righteous judgment and ultimate triumph over evil found throughout the entire [Book of Psalms](/psalms "The Book of Psalms - Songs of Worship and Lament").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Arise (Hebrew, _qūwmāh'_):** This word, an imperative form of the verb H6965, is a forceful command or an earnest, urgent plea for God to "stand up," "take action," or "intervene." It implies a desire for God to cease any perceived inaction and to powerfully manifest His presence and power on behalf of His suffering servant. It is not a suggestion but a desperate, yet faith-filled, cry for decisive divine intervention, echoing ancient calls for God to rise in battle.
* **Smitten (Hebrew, _nākhîtā'_):** Derived from H5221, this verb means "to strike," "to crush," or "to wound mortally." Used here in the perfect tense, it conveys a completed action, suggesting either a past historical deliverance, a prophetic certainty of future action, or a timeless truth about God's character as a vanquisher of foes. The imagery of striking the "cheek bone" (Hebrew, _lᵉchîy_, H3895) signifies a profound public humiliation and a crippling blow, rendering the enemy utterly defeated and disgraced.
* **Broken (Hebrew, _shibbarta'_):** This verb, from H7665, means "to burst," "to shatter," or "to smash." Paired with "teeth" (Hebrew, _shên_, H8127), it vividly portrays the complete disarming of the wicked (Hebrew, _râshâʻ_, H7563). Just as a dangerous predator is rendered harmless once its fangs are removed, so too are David's enemies depicted as utterly powerless to inflict further harm or "devour" him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God":** This opening clause is a fervent, dual petition that combines a call for divine action with a personal appeal for deliverance. "Arise, O LORD" (H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh_) is an urgent plea for the covenant God to stand up and act decisively, reminiscent of ancient battle cries for divine intervention, such as when the Ark set out ([Numbers 10:35](/numbers/10-35 "Numbers 10:35 - Moses' Prayer When the Ark Set Out")). "Save me, O my God" (H430, _ʼĕlôhîym_) is a direct, intimate appeal for personal rescue, emphasizing David's relationship with both the transcendent, sovereign God and his personal, faithful Protector. It signifies a desperate need for immediate rescue from overwhelming danger.
* **"for thou hast smitten all mine enemies [upon] the cheek bone":** The conjunction "for" (כִּי, _kî_) introduces the foundational reason for David's confidence and his bold plea. He appeals to God based on past (or prophetically certain) acts of deliverance. "Smiting upon the cheek bone" is a powerful image of public humiliation and utter defeat. It is not merely a physical blow but a blow to honor, dignity, and power, rendering the enemy disgraced and incapable of further aggression or effective opposition.
* **"thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly":** This second declaration reinforces the first, using another vivid metaphor for complete incapacitation. The "ungodly" (H7563, _râshâʻîm_) are those who are morally wrong, actively bad, and defy God and His ways. Their "teeth" (H8127, _shên_) symbolize their ability to harm, devour, or oppress. By breaking their teeth, God renders them utterly harmless, unable to execute their malicious intentions against David or God's people, ensuring their predatory power is nullified.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Imagery**, particularly **Metaphor** and **Anthropomorphism**. The plea "Arise, O LORD" uses **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human action (standing up, taking a posture of readiness for battle) to God, thereby conveying His active, dynamic intervention on behalf of His people. The latter part of the verse employs powerful **Metaphors** of physical violence to represent spiritual and military defeat: "smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone" and "broken the teeth of the ungodly." These are not literal descriptions of God's physical actions but vivid, visceral ways to communicate the totality of the enemies' humiliation and incapacitation, stripping them of their honor and their power to harm. The **Parallelism** between "smitten...the cheek bone" and "broken the teeth" reinforces the theme of complete victory and the disarming of adversaries through divine power. This use of **Hyperbole** further emphasizes the absolute and overwhelming nature of God's triumph over all opposition.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 3:7 profoundly articulates the biblical truth that God is not a passive observer but an active, sovereign deliverer who hears the cries of His people and intervenes decisively on their behalf. David's audacious confidence stems from a deep theological understanding of God's character as both mighty in power (H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh_) and intimately faithful to His covenant promises as his personal God (H430, _ʼĕlôhîym_). The vivid imagery of disarming enemies speaks to God's ultimate control over all forces of evil, assuring believers that no opposition, no matter how formidable, can ultimately thwart His purposes or overcome His protection of the righteous. This verse serves as a profound reminder that even in the darkest moments of betrayal and vulnerability, our hope rests not in our own strength or circumstances, but in the unfailing, active power of God to bring about salvation and vindication.

* [Exodus 14:14](/exodus/14-14 "Exodus 14:14 - The LORD will fight for you")
* [Psalm 58:6](/psalms/58-6 "Psalm 58:6 - Break their teeth, O God")
* [Isaiah 41:11-12](/isaiah/41-11-12 "Isaiah 41:11-12 - Those who contend with you will perish")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 3:7 provides a timeless and powerful model for how believers can navigate periods of intense adversity, betrayal, and public opposition. It teaches us to bring our most desperate pleas before God with bold confidence, recognizing His sovereign power to intervene decisively. Like David, we are called to move beyond the immediate pain and apparent defeat, anchoring our hope in God's proven track record of deliverance and His ultimate, certain victory over all forms of evil. This verse encourages us to pray not just for relief from our circumstances, but for God's active manifestation of justice and His powerful intervention, trusting that He will disarm those who seek to harm us or undermine His kingdom. It reminds us that even when our enemies seem to be "many" and their accusations loud, our God is infinitely greater, capable of rendering them powerless and bringing about our salvation. This fosters a resilient faith that sees beyond present struggles to the certainty of God's ultimate triumph.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life or the world do you need God to "Arise" and intervene decisively?**
* **How does remembering God's past acts of deliverance, both in Scripture and in your own life, strengthen your faith in current struggles?**
* **What "teeth" or sources of harm—whether spiritual, relational, or systemic—in your life or the world do you need God to break?**
* **How can the confident expectation expressed in this psalm transform the way you pray during times of adversity and opposition?**

### FAQ
**Why does David say "thou hast smitten" and "thou hast broken" if he is still asking God to "Arise" and "save me"?**

Answer: This apparent tension highlights a profound aspect of biblical faith known as the "prophetic perfect" or "faith perfect." The use of the perfect tense ("hast smitten," "hast broken") can be interpreted in several complementary ways, all pointing to David's deep and unwavering confidence in God. Firstly, it can be a **prophetic perfect**, where a future event is spoken of as if it has already happened, indicating absolute certainty of God's intervention and victory. David is so sure of God's deliverance that he speaks of it as a done deal, a divinely decreed reality. Secondly, it could refer to God's **past acts of deliverance** in David's life (e.g., against Goliath, [1 Samuel 17:49-50](/1_samuel/17-49-50 "1 Samuel 17:49-50 - David Defeats Goliath"), or Saul, [1 Samuel 23:14](/1_samuel/23-14 "1 Samuel 23:14 - David Eludes Saul")), which serve as a foundational basis for his current plea. He reminds God (and himself) of God's consistent character as a faithful deliverer. Thirdly, it reflects a **statement of profound faith**: David's trust is so complete that he declares God's victory even before it is visibly manifested, seeing it already accomplished in the divine plan. Thus, his urgent plea to "Arise" is not a sign of doubt, but an earnest call for the *manifestation* of a victory he already believes God has secured.

**What is the significance of "smiting upon the cheek bone" and "breaking the teeth"?**

Answer: These are powerful, culturally specific metaphors from the ancient Near East, conveying complete defeat, humiliation, and incapacitation. "Smiting upon the cheek bone" (or jaw) was a grave insult and a sign of utter humiliation and public disgrace. It was an act designed to strip an opponent of their dignity, honor, and ability to retaliate, rendering them utterly defeated. Examples of such humiliation can be seen in [Job 16:10](/job/16-10 "Job 16:10 - Job's Complaint of Being Smitten on the Cheek") or [Lamentations 3:30](/lamentations/3-30 "Lamentations 3:30 - He gives his cheek to him who strikes him"). "Breaking the teeth" is another vivid image, symbolizing the complete disarming and rendering harmless of a predator. Just as a wild animal's ability to attack, devour, and inflict harm is removed when its teeth are broken, so too are the wicked (the "ungodly") rendered utterly powerless to execute their malicious intentions. Together, these images convey God's absolute power to defeat, humiliate, and incapacitate all who rise against His anointed, ensuring their inability to cause further harm or achieve their destructive aims.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 3:7, with its fervent cry for deliverance and confident declaration of God's victory over enemies, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's experience of betrayal by his own son, Absalom, foreshadows the ultimate betrayal of Jesus by Judas and His rejection by His own people. Just as David cried, "Arise, O LORD; save me," Jesus, in His perfect humanity, cried out to the Father in Gethsemane and on the cross, trusting in God's ultimate deliverance from the power of death and sin. The imagery of God "smiting the cheek bone" and "breaking the teeth of the ungodly" finds its profound spiritual reality in Christ's triumphant work on the cross and His glorious resurrection. Through His crucifixion, Jesus bore the full weight of sin and judgment, and through His resurrection, He utterly disarmed the powers of darkness, rendering Satan and his forces powerless to condemn or ultimately harm those who are in Christ ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumphing over them in Him")). The "broken teeth" of the ungodly signify the decisive defeat of all spiritual adversaries who sought to "devour" humanity, a victory secured by the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who laid down His life and took it up again. Believers now share in this Christ-won victory, knowing that because Christ has arisen, they too are saved, and their ultimate enemies—sin, death, and the grave—have been decisively defeated ([1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54-57 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 58:6

¶ Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

Job 29:17

And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

Job 16:10

They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

Psalms 59:5

Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

Psalms 10:12

¶ Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

Psalms 6:4

Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.

Psalms 7:6

Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me [to] the judgment [that] thou hast commanded.