from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David isn't just saying his enemies are all around him; he's describing them as "deadly enemies who surround me," highlighting that their hatred is aimed at his very life or "soul." This isn't just a physical threat, but a deep-seated animosity that seeks his ultimate destruction.
from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is in dire straits, surrounded by enemies who are actively plotting his destruction. He's just declared his own innocence and faithfulness to God, and now he's pleading for divine protection, comparing his vulnerability to the pupil of an eye and seeking refuge under God's wings. This verse describes the relentless and life-threatening nature of these adversaries who are actively trying to destroy him.
The Psalmist isn't just facing physical threats; his enemies are attacking his very inner being. What does it mean to have enemies who besiege your soul?
David describes his adversaries not just as people who want to harm him physically, but as those who 'besiege my soul.' This language conveys a deep, existential threat.
A Total War
When we face overwhelming opposition, it can feel like our inner world is under siege. Our thoughts, our emotions, our faith – all can feel threatened.
In the face of such dire threats, David turns to God's 'marvellous lovingkindness.' What makes God's kindness so remarkable, especially in our darkest moments?
David's prayer is not just a plea for help but an appeal to the unique character of God. He asks God to 'make marvellous' His lovingkindnesses.
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The Extraordinary Nature of God's Love
God's lovingkindness is 'marvellous' because it is powerful, personal, and actively involved in saving those who trust Him, even when they are surrounded by deadly foes.
Understand the original words
rasha' · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Individuals characterized by moral corruption, hostility toward God, and opposition to His people. They are often defined by their rejection of divine law and their harmful actions toward the righteous.
oyeb · Hebrew Noun
Opponents or adversaries who desire the ruin or destruction of the righteous. They are characterized by their enmity against both God and those who walk in His ways.
cheleb · Hebrew Noun/Verb
A state of being closed off to compassion or empathy. Biblically, a "closed heart" indicates spiritual hardness, pride, and an inability to perceive or respond to divine truth or the plight of others.
ge'uth · Hebrew Noun/Adverb
Speech characterized by excessive pride, haughtiness, or a boastful attitude toward God and others. It represents a spirit that elevates self above divine authority and truth.
This psalm vividly reflects the deep personal peril David faced, not just from political enemies like Saul, but from those who sought his very life, highlighting the constant danger that surrounded him.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's Flight from Saul
David, while still a fugitive from King Saul, experienced numerous instances of being hunted and threatened by enemies who sought his life.
c. 1000 BC
David's Exile and Wilderness Wanderings
David lived as an outlaw, constantly on the move and surrounded by those who wished him harm, including Saul's forces and other hostile groups.
c. 1000 BC
David's Encounters with Philistines and other Tribes
Beyond Saul's pursuit, David and his men often faced conflict with surrounding nations and tribes, further increasing his sense of being surrounded by enemies.
c. 970 BC
David's Reign and Internal Strife
Even after becoming king, David faced rebellions and conflicts, such as Absalom's revolt, where he was again forced to flee and felt threatened by those close to him.
This passage echoes the feeling of being surrounded and threatened by enemies, painting a vivid picture of overwhelming danger just as Psalm 17:9 does.
Psalms 27:12Here, David faces 'false witnesses' and 'enemies who breathe violence,' which directly parallels the 'wicked who do me violence' and 'deadly enemies' described in Psalm 17:9.
Psalms 142:7This verse describes the psalmist being hemmed in by his foes, much like the enemies who 'compass me about' in Psalm 17:9, highlighting a similar desperate situation.
Luke 19:43Jesus speaks of enemies surrounding Jerusalem, preparing for its destruction, which mirrors the 'deadly enemies who surround me' in Psalm 17:9, showing this experience of being besieged is ancient.
calvinPsalms 17:7-9: "Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them."
- Make marvellous thy mercies, O thou preserver of those who trust [in thee, [359] ] from those that exalt themselves against thy right hand. 8. Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye [360] hide me in the shadow of thy wings. 9. From the face of the ungodly, who go about to destroy me; and of mine enemies, who besiege [or enco…
clarkePsalms 17:9: "From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about."
From my deadly enemies, who compass me about - This is a metaphor taken from huntsmen, who spread themselves around a large track of forest, driving in the deer from every part of the circumference, till they are forced into the nets or traps which they have set for them in some particular narrow passage. The metaphor is carried on in the following verses.
David isn't just saying his enemies are all around him; he's describing them as "deadly enemies who surround me," highlighting that their hatred is aimed at his very life or "soul." This isn't just a physical threat, but a deep-seated animosity that seeks his ultimate destruction.
David is in dire straits, surrounded by enemies who are actively plotting his destruction. He's just declared his own innocence and faithfulness to God, and now he's pleading for divine protection, comparing his vulnerability to the pupil of an eye and seeking refuge under God's wings. This verse describes the relentless and life-threatening nature of these adversaries who are actively trying to destroy him.
David is in dire straits, surrounded by enemies who are actively plotting his destruction. He's just declared his own innocence and faithfulness to God, and now he's pleading for divine protection, comparing his vulnerability to the pupil of an eye and seeking refuge under God's wings. This verse describes the relentless and life-threatening nature of these adversaries who are actively trying to destroy him.
"from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly." — David isn't just saying his enemies are all around him; he's describing them as "deadly enemies who surround me," highlighting that their hatred is aimed at his very life or "soul." This isn't just a…
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Last reviewed October 2026