Psalms 54:5

KJV

He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

KJV (with Strong's)

He shall reward {H7725}{H8686)}{H8675)}{H7725}{H8799)} evil {H7451} unto mine enemies {H8324}{H8802)}: cut them off {H6789}{H8685)} in thy truth {H571}.

Complete Jewish Bible

May he repay the evil to those who are lying in wait for me. In your faithfulness, destroy them!

Berean Standard Bible

He will reward my enemies with evil. In Your faithfulness, destroy them.

American Standard Version

He will requite the evil unto mine enemies: Destroy thou them in thy truth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 54:5 is a fervent prayer from King David, expressing profound trust in God's righteous judgment and unwavering character amidst intense personal peril. It encapsulates a powerful petition for divine intervention and vindication against his adversaries, grounded in the certainty that God will justly recompense evil and decisively remove those who oppose His truth and His anointed. This verse serves as a testament to David's reliance on God's sovereignty and faithfulness as the ultimate source of justice and deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 54 is a psalm of lament and trust, typical of David's prayers during times of distress. It opens with an urgent plea for God to save and vindicate him ([Psalms 54:1](/psalms/54-1 "Psalms 54:1 - David's Prayer for Deliverance")). David describes his enemies as "strangers" and "oppressors" who do not set God before them ([Psalms 54:3](/psalms/54-3 "Psalms 54:3 - David's Enemies")). The psalm moves from a cry for help to an expression of confidence in God's presence and support ([Psalms 54:4](/psalms/54-4 "Psalms 54:4 - God as David's Helper")). Verse 5, the focus of this commentary, is a confident declaration of God's impending judgment, leading into a vow of thanksgiving and freewill offerings upon deliverance ([Psalms 54:6-7](/psalms/54-6 "Psalms 54:6-7 - Vow of Thanksgiving")). This structure highlights David's journey from desperation to assured hope in God's intervention.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The superscription to Psalms 54 explicitly links it to a specific historical event: "when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?" This refers to the period when David was a fugitive from King Saul, who relentlessly pursued him out of jealousy and fear of losing his throne. The Ziphites, inhabitants of a region in Judah, betrayed David's hiding place to Saul on two occasions, as recorded in [1 Samuel 23:19-24](/1_samuel/23-19 "1 Samuel 23:19-24 - The Ziphites Betray David") and [1 Samuel 26:1-5](/1_samuel/26-1 "1 Samuel 26:1-5 - The Ziphites Again Betray David"). David's enemies were not merely personal foes but those who actively sought to thwart God's divine plan for him as the anointed king of Israel. In a culture where personal vengeance was common, David's prayer to God for justice, rather than taking matters into his own hands, demonstrates remarkable faith and adherence to divine prerogative.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Justice**, asserting God's role as the ultimate judge who will not allow evil to go unpunished. David's confidence is rooted in God's moral order, not human retribution. Secondly, the phrase "in thy truth" introduces the crucial theme of **God's Unwavering Faithfulness (Hebrew: *'emeth*)**. God's judgment is not arbitrary but is always consistent with His righteous character and His covenant promises. This ensures that justice is perfectly balanced and deserved. Lastly, the verse exemplifies **Reliance on God for Vindication**, a recurring motif in Davidic psalms. Instead of seeking personal revenge, David commits his cause to the Lord, trusting that vengeance belongs to God alone, as later echoed in the New Testament's instruction in [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance Belongs to God"). This reliance highlights a deep spiritual maturity and trust in God's sovereign control over all circumstances.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Reward (Hebrew, _shalam'_):** This verb means "to be complete, sound, full," and in the Hiphil stem, "to repay, recompense, make good, restore." It implies a full and just payment or requital. In the context of judgment, it signifies that God will fully and perfectly settle accounts with the wicked, ensuring that their actions receive their due consequence. It's not merely punishment but a complete restoration of moral balance.
* **Cut them off (Hebrew, _tsamath'_):** This verb means "to destroy, cut off, put an end to, exterminate." It conveys a decisive and complete removal or annihilation. In this context, it speaks to God's definitive action to eliminate the threat posed by David's enemies, not just to hinder them, but to utterly remove their power and influence to cause harm, thereby securing deliverance for His servant.
* **Truth (Hebrew, _'emeth'_):** This noun signifies "firmness, faithfulness, truth, reliability." It is a fundamental attribute of God's character, denoting His unwavering consistency, integrity, and adherence to His promises. The phrase "in thy truth" means that God's judgment is not capricious but is executed in perfect alignment with His righteous nature, His covenant fidelity, and the objective reality of His moral standards. It is the bedrock upon which David's plea for justice rests, guaranteeing that the outcome will be just and righteous.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He shall reward evil unto mine enemies":** This clause expresses David's confident declaration that God, as the righteous Judge, will justly repay his adversaries for the evil they have committed. It is a statement of faith in God's active intervention in human affairs to uphold justice. The "evil" refers to the malicious intent and actions of David's pursuers, who sought his life and opposed God's will. David anticipates a divine recompense that is perfectly proportionate to their wickedness.
* **"cut them off in thy truth":** This second clause specifies the nature and basis of God's judgment. "Cut them off" signifies a decisive and complete end to the power and influence of David's enemies, removing their ability to cause further harm. The crucial phrase "in thy truth" clarifies that this judgment is not an arbitrary act of vengeance but is rooted in God's unwavering faithfulness, integrity, and righteous character. It means God acts according to His own consistent nature and moral standards, ensuring that the judgment is not only powerful but also perfectly just and deserved.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 54:5 employs several potent literary devices. The verse functions as a **Petition** within a broader **Lament Psalm**, where David appeals directly to God for intervention. It also contains elements of **Declarative Trust**, as David confidently asserts what God "shall" do, rather than merely asking. The phrase "reward evil unto mine enemies" uses **Retribution Theology**, a common biblical concept where actions (evil) incur proportionate consequences (reward/recompense) from a divine judge. The specific action "cut them off" is a vivid **Metaphor** for the complete destruction or removal of a threat, evoking a sense of decisive, irreversible action. Furthermore, the phrase "in thy truth" utilizes **Metonymy**, where "truth" (an attribute of God) stands for God's entire righteous character and His covenant faithfulness, serving as the foundation and justification for His judgment. This imbues the verse with theological depth, grounding the plea for justice in God's immutable nature.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 54:5 resonates deeply with the biblical understanding of God's active role in upholding justice and His unwavering commitment to His own character. It affirms that God is not a passive observer but an engaged sovereign who sees injustice and will ultimately bring about righteous recompense. This divine justice is not arbitrary but is inextricably linked to God's *'emeth*, His truth and faithfulness, which guarantees that His judgments are always just and consistent with His holy nature. For believers, this provides immense comfort and a framework for responding to persecution: rather than seeking personal vengeance, we are called to entrust our cause to the Lord, knowing that He is the ultimate vindicator. This perspective underpins the call to love enemies and leave judgment to God, trusting in His perfect timing and method for setting all things right.

* [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance is Mine")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Do Not Avenge Yourselves")
* [2 Thessalonians 1:6](/2_thessalonians/1-6 "2 Thessalonians 1:6 - God's Righteous Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 54:5 offers a profound model for believers facing injustice, betrayal, or persecution. In a world where wrongs often seem to go unpunished and evil appears to triumph, David's prayer reminds us that our ultimate hope and vindication rest not in human systems or personal retaliation, but in the sovereign justice of God. This verse calls us to cultivate a deep trust in God's character, believing that He sees every hidden act of malice and will, in His perfect timing and according to His perfect truth, bring about righteous recompense. It challenges us to surrender our desire for immediate revenge, transforming it into a prayer for God's holy justice to prevail. By committing our cause to Him, we align ourselves with His divine prerogative and find peace in His unwavering faithfulness, knowing that He is fully capable of defending His own and fulfilling His purposes, even through the decisive removal of those who oppose His truth.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does trusting God's justice, as expressed in Psalms 54:5, free you from the burden of seeking personal revenge?**
* **In what specific situations in your life do you need to surrender the desire for personal vindication and instead pray for God's truth to prevail?**
* **How does understanding God's "truth" (*'emeth*) as the basis for His judgment strengthen your confidence in His actions, even when they are not immediately apparent?**

### FAQ
**Is Psalms 54:5 a prayer for personal revenge?**

Answer: No, Psalms 54:5 is not a prayer for personal revenge in the sense of vindictive retaliation. While it expresses a desire for the enemies to be "cut off," this is framed within the context of God's righteous judgment and "in thy truth." David is appealing to God as the ultimate Judge, trusting Him to execute justice according to His perfect character and moral law. It reflects a deep theological understanding that vengeance belongs to God alone ([Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance is Mine")), and that His actions are always just, unlike potentially flawed human retribution. David commits his cause to the Lord, rather than taking matters into his own hands, demonstrating faith in divine sovereignty.

**How does God's "truth" relate to His judgment in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "cut them off in thy truth" is foundational. God's "truth" (Hebrew: *'emeth*) refers to His unwavering faithfulness, reliability, and integrity. It means that God's judgment is not arbitrary or capricious but is perfectly consistent with His holy nature and His covenant promises. His actions are always righteous, just, and aligned with the objective reality of His moral standards. Therefore, when David prays for his enemies to be cut off "in thy truth," he is asking God to act in accordance with His own just character, ensuring that the judgment is not only powerful but also perfectly deserved and righteous. It guarantees the moral rectitude of the divine intervention.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 54:5, a plea for divine justice against David's enemies, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While David's enemies were specific human adversaries, the New Testament reveals that humanity's true enemies are sin, death, and the devil ([Hebrews 2:14](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14 - Christ's Victory Over Death")). Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, did not pray for His enemies to be cut off in the same manner, but rather prayed for their forgiveness even as they crucified Him ([Luke 23:34](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Jesus' Prayer for Forgiveness")). Yet, His death on the cross was God's ultimate act of "rewarding evil" by decisively judging sin in the flesh, bringing about atonement and breaking the power of these spiritual adversaries ([Romans 8:3](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3 - God Condemned Sin in the Flesh")). Through His resurrection and ascension, Christ definitively "cut off" the power of death and hell, triumphing over all principalities and powers ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities")). The "truth" in which God acts is perfectly embodied in Jesus, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life")). Ultimately, the final recompense of evil and the complete cutting off of all who oppose God's truth will occur at Christ's glorious return, when He will judge the living and the dead and establish His eternal kingdom of righteousness ([Revelation 20:11-15](/revelation/20-11 "Revelation 20:11-15 - The Great White Throne Judgment")). Thus, David's prayer for justice is perfectly answered in the redemptive and eschatological work of 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 143:12

And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I [am] thy servant.

Psalms 89:49

Lord, where [are] thy former lovingkindnesses, [which] thou swarest unto David in thy truth?

Psalms 27:11

Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Psalms 94:23

And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; [yea], the LORD our God shall cut them off.

Psalms 31:23

O love the LORD, all ye his saints: [for] the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

Psalms 137:8

O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy [shall he be], that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

2 Timothy 4:14

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: