Psalms 86:14

O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent [men] have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

O God {H430}, the proud {H2086} are risen {H6965}{H8804)} against me, and the assemblies {H5712} of violent {H6184} men have sought {H1245}{H8765)} after my soul {H5315}; and have not set {H7760}{H8804)} thee before them.

God, arrogant men are rising against me, a gang of brutes is seeking my life, and to you they pay no attention.

The arrogant rise against me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, with no regard for You.

O God, the proud are risen up against me, And a company of violent men have sought after my soul, And have not set thee before them.

Commentary

Psalm 86:14 is a heartfelt plea from David, crying out to God for deliverance from powerful and ungodly adversaries. It vividly describes the nature of the opposition he faces and, more importantly, identifies the root cause of their malevolence.

Context

This verse is part of a deeply personal prayer of supplication (a prayer asking for help) found in Psalm 86. Throughout the psalm, David expresses his dependence on God's mercy and faithfulness, contrasting his own humility and devotion with the arrogance and hostility of his enemies. He is in a desperate situation, appealing to God's character as a loving and compassionate deliverer. The psalm is a poignant example of a righteous individual seeking refuge and vindication in God's presence during times of severe distress.

Key Themes

  • The Nature of Opposition: David's enemies are characterized by two distinct, yet often linked, traits: "the proud" (Hebrew: ge'im) and "violent men" (Hebrew: aritsim). These are individuals who are arrogant, haughty, and tyrannical, often acting without regard for others or divine law. Their organization into "assemblies" suggests a concerted effort to harm David.
  • A Threat to Life: The phrase "have sought after my soul" indicates that their intentions are not merely to annoy or inconvenience, but to inflict grave harm, potentially even death. This highlights the severity of the danger David perceives.
  • The Root of Ungodliness: The most profound accusation against his enemies is that they "have not set thee before them." This signifies a complete disregard for God's presence, His authority, His laws, and His judgment. Their pride and violence stem from this fundamental spiritual blindness and lack of reverence, a common biblical theme for the wicked (see Psalm 10:4, "God is not in all his thoughts").
  • David's Trust in God: In the face of such formidable and godless opposition, David's only recourse is to appeal directly to God, demonstrating his unwavering faith in divine justice and intervention.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "proud," ge'im (ื’ึตึผืึดื™ื), often denotes those who are insolent, haughty, and act with a sense of self-importance, often in defiance of God.
  • "Violent [men]," aritsim (ืขึธืจึดื™ืฆึดื™ื), refers to ruthless, oppressive, or tyrannical individuals. It conveys a sense of terror or dread they inspire.
  • "Have not set thee before them" (ื•ึฐืœึนื ืฉึธื‚ืžื•ึผืšึธ ืœึฐื ึถื’ึฐื“ึธึผื) is a powerful idiom. It means they do not acknowledge God's presence, authority, or accountability. They live as if God does not exist, or as if His commands and judgments are irrelevant to them. This is the ultimate spiritual rebellion.

Practical Application

Psalm 86:14 resonates deeply with believers today. We, too, may face opposition from those who are proud, violent, or simply disregard God's truth. This verse reminds us:

  • The Source of Evil: Much of the world's conflict and suffering arises from humanity's failure to acknowledge God and His rightful place as sovereign. When God is not "set before" individuals or societies, pride and violence often fill the void.
  • Facing Opposition: When confronted by those who are hostile and without reverence for God, our response should mirror David's: turn to God in earnest prayer. He is our ultimate refuge and vindicator.
  • A Call to Self-Examination: The verse implicitly challenges us to always "set God before" ourselves. This means living with an awareness of His presence, obeying His commands, and seeking His will in all things, contrasting with the destructive path of David's enemies. The Bible consistently teaches that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 54:3

    For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

  • Psalms 14:4

    ยถ Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

  • Matthew 26:3

    Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

  • Matthew 26:4

    And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill [him].

  • Matthew 27:1

    ยถ When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

  • Matthew 27:2

    And when they had bound him, they led [him] away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

  • Psalms 36:1

    ยถ To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, [that there is] no fear of God before his eyes.