Psalms 7:3

O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

O LORD {H3068} my God {H430}, if I have done {H6213} this; if there be {H3426} iniquity {H5766} in my hands {H3709};

ADONAI my God, if I have caused this, if there is guilt on my hands,

O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,

O Jehovah my God, if I have done this; If there be iniquity in my hands;

Psalms 7:3 is a fervent declaration of innocence by King David, directly addressing God amidst accusations. This verse forms part of a prayer where David appeals to God as his righteous judge, seeking vindication from his enemies.

Context

Psalm 7 is a Shiggaion of David, which likely refers to a passionate or wandering song. The superscription attributes it to "Cush the Benjamite," an otherwise unknown adversary who apparently leveled serious false accusations against David. In this psalm, David pours out his heart to God, asserting his blamelessness concerning these specific charges and asking God to intervene and judge righteously. Verse 3 sets the foundation for his plea, laying out a conditional statement that challenges the veracity of the accusations made against him.

Key Themes

  • Plea of Innocence: David emphatically denies the wrongdoing he is accused of, appealing directly to God, who knows the secrets of the heart. This reflects a deep trust in divine omniscience and justice.
  • Appeal to Divine Justice: By calling upon "O LORD my God," David places his case before the ultimate arbiter, confident that God will discern truth from falsehood. This is a recurring theme in the Psalms, where the righteous seek God's vindication against their oppressors.
  • Integrity of Action: The phrase "iniquity in my hands" directly addresses the morality of his deeds. David claims his actions have been free from the specific evil attributed to him, demonstrating a desire to live with integrity before God and man.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "iniquity" here is 'awon (עָוֹן), which carries the sense of perversity, guilt, or punishment for sin. It often implies a distortion or twisting of what is right. David's use of "in my hands" (בְּכַפַּי - b'khappay) refers to his actions or conduct, emphasizing that his deeds are free from such perversity. This is not a claim of sinless perfection, but a specific denial of the charges laid against him, asserting his innocence regarding the particular accusations of Cush.

Related Scriptures

David's appeal for divine judgment echoes similar prayers found throughout the Psalms. His trust in God as the righteous judge is foundational, as seen in Psalm 35:1, where he prays, "Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me." This posture of surrendering one's case to God's ultimate authority is also reflected in the New Testament, where Christ, when reviled, "committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" in 1 Peter 2:23.

Practical Application

Psalms 7:3 offers comfort and guidance for believers facing false accusations or misunderstanding. It teaches us to:

  • Bring our burdens to God: Like David, we can confidently lay our struggles and the injustices we face before God, knowing He sees and knows all.
  • Uphold personal integrity: While we cannot control others' perceptions, we can strive to live with clean hands and a pure heart, trusting God for vindication.
  • Rest in God's perfect justice: This verse reminds us that ultimately, God is the supreme judge. We can trust His timing and His methods for setting things right, even when human justice fails.

This verse encourages us to maintain our walk with God, even when facing adversity, and to seek His divine perspective on our circumstances.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Samuel 24:11

    Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that [there is] neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

  • Psalms 59:3

    For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not [for] my transgression, nor [for] my sin, O LORD.

  • 1 Samuel 26:18

    And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine hand?

  • 1 Samuel 26:19

    Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if [they be] the children of men, cursed [be] they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

  • 2 Samuel 16:7

    And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

  • 2 Samuel 16:8

    The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou [art taken] in thy mischief, because thou [art] a bloody man.

  • Joshua 22:22

    The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if [it be] in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back