Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending [it] in pieces, while [there is] none to deliver.
Lest he tear {H2963} my soul {H5315} like a lion {H738}, rending it in pieces {H6561}, while there is none to deliver {H5337}.
otherwise, they will maul me like a lion and tear me apart, with no rescuer present.
or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
Lest they tear my soul like a lion, Rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
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Psalms 50:22
Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear [you] in pieces, and [there be] none to deliver. -
Isaiah 38:13
I reckoned till morning, [that], as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me. -
2 Timothy 4:17
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. -
Judges 18:28
And [there was] no deliverer, because it [was] far from Zidon, and they had no business with [any] man; and it was in the valley that [lieth] by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein. -
Deuteronomy 33:20
And of Gad he said, Blessed [be] he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head. -
Psalms 35:15
But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not: -
2 Samuel 14:6
And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and [there was] none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.
Psalm 7:2 is a desperate plea from David, expressing intense fear and urgent need for divine intervention. It immediately follows his declaration of trust in God (Psalm 7:1), highlighting the severity of the threat he perceives.
Context
This verse is part of a prayer (a shiggaion, as noted in the superscription) attributed to David concerning Cush the Benjamite. While Cush's identity is not definitively known, the Psalm suggests he was a powerful and malicious adversary. David feels utterly vulnerable, as if a wild beast is about to destroy him. The imagery of a lion tearing apart its prey vividly conveys the merciless nature of his enemy and the complete devastation David fears without God's protection. This plea underscores the ancient world's understanding of dangers, where wild animals posed a constant threat, making the metaphor deeply resonant with his audience's experience of extreme peril.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "tear" (טָרַף - taraf) used here implies a violent act of rending, tearing apart, or devouring, much like a predator consumes its prey. The term "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh) in Hebrew often refers not just to the spiritual essence but to the entire being, the life, the person itself. So, "tear my soul" signifies the complete annihilation of his life and existence, not just a spiritual attack. This makes the threat all the more terrifying and the plea for deliverance more desperate.
Practical Application
Psalm 7:2 offers a profound insight into the human condition when facing overwhelming adversity. It reminds us that: