Psalms 55:9

KJV

¶ Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

KJV (with Strong's)

Destroy {H1104}{H8761)}, O Lord {H136}, and divide {H6385}{H8761)} their tongues {H3956}: for I have seen {H7200}{H8804)} violence {H2555} and strife {H7379} in the city {H5892}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Confuse, Adonai, confound their speech! For I see violence and fighting in the city.

Berean Standard Bible

O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.

American Standard Version

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 55:9 is an impassioned imprecatory prayer from David, expressing profound distress and a fervent plea for divine intervention against his adversaries. Witnessing pervasive "violence and strife" in the city, David calls upon the Lord to "destroy" his enemies and "divide their tongues," seeking a supernatural disruption of their unity and plans, believing that God alone can bring decisive judgment upon the wickedness he observes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 55 is a deeply personal lament, characterized by David's raw anguish and sense of betrayal. The psalm opens with a desperate cry for God's attention (vv. 1-2), detailing his overwhelming fear and inner turmoil (vv. 4-5). David expresses a longing to escape the chaos (vv. 6-8) before shifting to a direct appeal for divine judgment in verse 9. This verse marks a transition into the imprecatory section, where David specifically targets the deceitful and violent nature of his enemies, culminating in his lament over the betrayal by a trusted friend (vv. 12-14). The psalm ultimately moves from intense lament and imprecation to an affirmation of trust in God's deliverance (vv. 16-23).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the psalm does not explicitly name the historical event, many scholars connect it to the rebellion of Absalom against King David, as detailed in [2 Samuel 15](/2_samuel/15 "2 Samuel 15 - Absalom's Rebellion Begins") through [2 Samuel 17](/2_samuel/17 "2 Samuel 17 - Ahithophel's Counsel and Demise"). This period was marked by profound internal strife, with David's own son leading a revolt and his trusted counselor, Ahithophel, joining the conspirators. The "city" mentioned in the verse is almost certainly Jerusalem, the capital and seat of David's kingdom, which had become a hotbed of treachery and conflict. Culturally, kings in ancient Israel were seen as God's anointed, and an attack on the king was often viewed as an attack on God's established order, justifying a plea for divine justice.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the psalm and broader biblical narrative. It underscores the theme of **Divine Justice**, portraying God as the ultimate arbiter who will not indefinitely tolerate wickedness, especially when it manifests as societal "violence and strife." David's plea reflects a deep conviction that God is righteous and will intervene to uphold justice, echoing similar sentiments found in [Psalm 7:11](/psalms/7-11 "Psalm 7:11 - God is a Righteous Judge"). The verse also highlights the **Consequences of Wickedness**, showing how sin and betrayal lead to tangible societal breakdown. Furthermore, it exemplifies **The Cry of the Oppressed**, demonstrating that it is permissible and even necessary for believers to bring their deepest hurts and desires for righteous intervention before God, even using strong, emotional language. Finally, the prayer for "divided tongues" speaks to **God's Sovereignty in Thwarting Evil**, revealing David's belief that God can supernaturally sow discord among conspirators, turning their own plans against them, a concept also seen in [Proverbs 21:30](/proverbs/21-30 "Proverbs 21:30 - No Wisdom Against the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Destroy (Hebrew, _balla'_):** This verb means "to swallow," "to consume," or "to utterly destroy." It conveys a desire for swift, decisive, and complete judgment, indicating that David seeks not merely a setback for his enemies but their utter undoing and removal from their position of power and influence. It implies a divine act of overwhelming defeat.
* **Divide their tongues (Hebrew, _palag leshonam'_):** This vivid phrase directly echoes the narrative of the [Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:7](/genesis/11-7 "Genesis 11:7 - The Confusion of Languages at Babel"), where God confused humanity's language to thwart their unified rebellion. David is asking for a similar divine intervention: a supernatural confusion among his enemies that would disrupt their communication, plans, and unity, leading to their internal collapse and downfall. It’s a prayer for disarray and mutual suspicion among those who conspire against him.
* **Violence and strife (Hebrew, _ḥāmās wərīḇ'_):** These two words describe the pervasive moral decay and social chaos David observes. _Ḥāmās_ (violence) denotes injustice, cruelty, and lawlessness, often involving physical harm or oppression. _Rīḇ_ (strife) refers to contention, quarrel, and conflict, indicating a state of societal discord and unrest. Together, they paint a picture of a city consumed by ethical corruption and open conflict, justifying David's plea for divine intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Destroy, O Lord":** This is a direct, urgent address to God, emphasizing David's complete reliance on divine power rather than human strength or personal vengeance. It is a plea for God to actively intervene and bring about the downfall of his adversaries.
* **"and divide their tongues":** This clause specifies the nature of the desired divine action. David asks God to sow discord and confusion among his enemies, disrupting their unity and communication, thereby causing their plans to unravel from within. This is a prayer for strategic divine intervention that targets the very source of their power—their ability to conspire and act in concert.
* **"for I have seen violence and strife in the city":** This final clause provides the justification for David's imprecatory prayer. His plea is not arbitrary but arises from a direct observation of the widespread moral corruption, injustice, and social unrest plaguing Jerusalem. The "violence and strife" serve as evidence of the enemies' wickedness and the urgent need for God's righteous judgment to restore order and peace.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Imprecation** is the overarching device, as David directly calls upon God to bring judgment and destruction upon his enemies. The phrase "divide their tongues" functions as a potent **allusion** to the Tower of Babel narrative, leveraging a well-known biblical event to convey David's specific desire for divine confusion and disunity among his adversaries. This also acts as a **metaphor** for the internal collapse of their plans. The strong, emotional language, particularly "Destroy," can be seen as a form of **intensification**, reflecting the depth of David's anguish and the severity of the threat he perceives. The verse also implicitly uses **cause and effect**, where the "violence and strife" observed in the city are presented as the cause for David's urgent plea for divine judgment as the desired effect.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 55:9 offers profound theological insights into the nature of God, human suffering, and the appropriate response to injustice. It affirms God's character as a righteous judge who is actively involved in the affairs of humanity, capable of discerning and punishing wickedness. David's prayer, though intense, demonstrates a profound trust that ultimate justice belongs to God and that He will indeed act against those who sow chaos and oppression. It also highlights the devastating impact of sin and betrayal on society, transforming a city into a place of "violence and strife." The psalmist models a transparent faith that brings even the most raw and painful emotions before the Almighty, trusting God to handle vengeance and defend the oppressed.

* [Genesis 11:7](/genesis/11-7 "Genesis 11:7 - Confusion of Languages at Babel")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is the Lord's")
* [Psalm 7:15-16](/psalms/7-15 "Psalm 7:15-16 - The Wicked Fall into Their Own Pit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 55:9 provides a powerful, if challenging, model for how believers can engage with God in times of extreme distress and injustice. It teaches us that authentic prayer does not shy away from expressing our deepest hurts, frustrations, and even desires for God's righteous judgment against evil. Instead of taking vengeance into our own hands, David commits the situation to God, demonstrating a profound trust in His perfect justice and sovereignty. This encourages us to surrender our desire for immediate retribution, knowing that God is the ultimate judge who will bring about justice in His perfect timing and way. Furthermore, David's lament over "violence and strife in the city" serves as a poignant reminder of the societal impact of sin and injustice. This verse can inspire us to intercede for our own communities, asking God to dismantle the sources of discord, confusion, and oppression, and to bring His peace and righteousness to bear on our world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I reconcile David's imprecatory prayer with the New Testament call to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us?**
* **In what ways do I tend to take justice into my own hands, rather than entrusting it to God?**
* **What "violence and strife" do I observe in my own city or community, and how can I pray for divine intervention to address these issues?**
* **How does this psalm encourage me to be more honest and transparent with God in my prayers, even when my emotions are raw?**

### FAQ
**Is it appropriate for believers to pray imprecatory prayers like David's today?**

Answer: While seemingly harsh, imprecatory prayers like Psalms 55:9 are a legitimate expression of raw human emotion and a profound trust in God's justice. They are not prayers for personal vengeance, but rather appeals to God, the righteous Judge, to uphold His justice and right the wrongs committed by the wicked. They acknowledge that vengeance belongs to the Lord ([Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is the Lord's")) and express a longing for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. For believers today, such prayers can serve as a model for bringing our deepest hurts and frustrations over injustice before God, trusting that He will act in His perfect timing and way, ultimately bringing about His righteous judgment and establishing His peace.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 55:9 is a plea for the destruction of enemies and the division of their tongues, its ultimate fulfillment and transformation are found in Christ. Jesus himself was the ultimate target of "violence and strife," experiencing betrayal and unjust condemnation at the hands of those who conspired against Him ([Matthew 26:47-50](/matthew/26-47 "Matthew 26:47-50 - Judas's Betrayal")). Yet, instead of calling down judgment, He prayed for His persecutors ([Luke 23:34](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Jesus Prays for His Executioners")). The "division of tongues" that David prayed for among his enemies finds a surprising reversal at Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit unifies diverse languages, enabling the proclamation of the Gospel to all nations and building a unified body of believers in Christ ([Acts 2:4-8](/acts/2-4 "Acts 2:4-8 - Pentecost and the Gift of Tongues")). Ultimately, Jesus is the one who will decisively "destroy" all evil and bring an end to "violence and strife." He is the righteous King who will return not to sow division among His own, but to establish a kingdom of perfect peace and justice, where there will be no more crying or pain ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Crying or Pain")). Thus, David's longing for divine intervention against chaos points forward to Christ's ultimate victory over sin and death, and the establishment of His eternal, peaceful reign.

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

Jeremiah 6:7

As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually [is] grief and wounds.

Genesis 11:7

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

Genesis 11:9

Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

2 Samuel 15:31

¶ And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

John 7:45

¶ Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

John 7:53

And every man went unto his own house.

Matthew 23:37

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!