Psalms 140:5
The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text emphasizes the deliberate, hidden nature of the attack, not just open opposition. It's the methodical, "by the wayside" placement of snares and nets that reveals the calculated treachery, designed to catch the unsuspecting walker off guard.
David is crying out to God because he's being relentlessly pursued by arrogant enemies. These adversaries aren't just confronting him openly; they're actively setting traps and ambushes, like hunters trying to ensnare wild game, plotting his downfall along familiar paths. This verse reveals the insidious nature of their attacks, hinting at the treacherous schemes unfolding just out of sight.
Have you ever felt like people were setting traps for you, not with obvious attacks, but with hidden schemes?
This verse paints a vivid picture of enemies who are not just openly hostile, but cunning and deceptive. The psalmist uses imagery of hunters to describe their methods:
These 'proud' or 'arrogant' individuals (as other translations render it) use their perceived superiority and power to plot destruction, not through direct confrontation, but through subtle, treacherous means. It's a picture of spiritual warfare, where deception is a primary weapon.
Why does the Bible so often link pride and arrogance with destructive schemes against God's people?
The word for 'arrogant' here points to those who are haughty, insolent, and filled with self-importance. Their pride isn't just an attitude; it fuels their actions.
Understand the original words
ge'eh · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Individuals characterized by pride and self-exaltation. In Scripture, arrogance is seen as a root of sin, as it elevates human perspective above the sovereignty and wisdom of God.
pach · Hebrew Noun
A device used to ensnare or bring someone to ruin. Metaphorically, it refers to the schemes, temptations, or obstacles that wicked people place in the path of the righteous to cause them to stumble or fall into sin.
The imagery of snares and nets vividly reflects the treacherous political landscape David navigated during Saul's reign, where open conflict was often combined with cunning plots and ambushes.
c. 1025-1015 BC— this verse
David's Flight from Saul
Saul, driven by jealousy and fear, relentlessly pursued David, seeking to kill him. David often had to hide and evade Saul's forces, facing constant danger.
c. 1015 BC
David as a Fugitive
David lived in wilderness areas, hiding in caves and strongholds, often relying on the loyalty of a few followers. He faced betrayal and the constant threat of capture by Saul's army.
c. 1010 BC
David Spares Saul's Life
On at least two occasions (in the cave at En Gedi and in Saul's camp), David had the opportunity to kill Saul but refused, showing respect for God's anointed king.
c. 1010 BC
Saul's Assassination Attempts
Saul and his officials, including figures like Doeg the Edomite, actively plotted against David, sending troops to track him down and set traps.
This passage uses the same imagery of a hidden snare and net to describe the wicked's unjust persecution, reinforcing the theme of deceptive plots.
Psalms 57:6Here, the Psalmist again speaks of nets and traps, highlighting the persistent and pervasive danger posed by enemies who seek to ensnare him.
Psalms 119:110This verse expresses a similar feeling of being ensnared by the wicked, showing how those who follow God often face hidden dangers designed to lead them astray.
Proverbs 26:27This proverb directly warns that digging a pit for others will result in their own downfall, mirroring the Psalmist's plight where the snares of the wicked become their own undoing.
Jeremiah 18:22This passage shows a similar plea to God for deliverance from enemies who have set snares, demonstrating that this experience of treacherous plots was a recurring theme in the history of God's people.
pulpitPsalms 140:5: "The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah."
Verse 5. - The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords. An instance of the figure hendiadys. What is meant is a snare composed of cords. Such snares, when laid for animals, were "hidden" in long grass, or low shrubs, or rough ground. They have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me (comp. Psalm 31:4; Psalm 35:7; Psalm 57:6; Psalm 119:10; Psalm 1…
clarkePsalms 140:5: "The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah."
Have hid a snare for me - They hunted David as they would a dangerous wild beast: one while striving to pierce him with the spear; another to entangle him in their snares, so as to take and sacrifice him before the people, on pretense of his being an enemy to the state. Selah - This is the truth.
The text emphasizes the deliberate, hidden nature of the attack, not just open opposition. It's the methodical, "by the wayside" placement of snares and nets that reveals the calculated treachery, designed to catch the unsuspecting walker off guard.
David is crying out to God because he's being relentlessly pursued by arrogant enemies. These adversaries aren't just confronting him openly; they're actively setting traps and ambushes, like hunters trying to ensnare wild game, plotting his downfall along familiar paths. This verse reveals the insidious nature of their attacks, hinting at the treacherous schemes unfolding just out of sight.
David is crying out to God because he's being relentlessly pursued by arrogant enemies. These adversaries aren't just confronting him openly; they're actively setting traps and ambushes, like hunters trying to ensnare wild game, plotting his downfall along familiar paths. This verse reveals the insidious nature of their attacks, hinting at the treacherous schemes unfolding just out of sight.
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David, as the psalmist, recognized that this wasn't just a personal conflict, but a spiritual one, where the 'proud' were acting against God's anointed.
What does that mysterious word 'Selah' at the end of the verse really mean for us today?
The word 'Selah' appears frequently in the Psalms, and while its exact meaning is debated, its placement here is significant. It acts as a musical or liturgical pause, inviting reflection.
In essence, 'Selah' asks us to stop, consider the danger, and then turn our trust and hope to God, the ultimate protector.
"The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah" — The text emphasizes the deliberate, hidden nature of the attack, not just open opposition. It's the methodical, "by the wayside" placement of snares and nets that reveals the calculated treachery,…
