The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me;
English Standard Version (ESV)
David isn't just describing being surrounded by danger; he's showing how that danger felt like a literal trap closing in, a hunter's net of "cords of death." And beyond that, it was the sheer overwhelming force of wicked people, like destructive floods, that truly brought him to a place of fear.
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me;
English Standard Version (ESV)
David recounts a time of extreme peril, feeling utterly surrounded by the threat of death and overwhelmed by destructive forces. This imagery of being caught in death's "cords" and swept away by "torrents" sets the stage for his declaration of calling on the Lord. Immediately following, he will describe how God heard his cry and delivered him from these overwhelming dangers.
Imagine being trapped, with no escape in sight. David uses vivid imagery to describe a moment of absolute peril.
David describes being surrounded by "the cords of death." This isn't just a figure of speech; it paints a picture of being utterly entangled and unable to break free.
Beyond being trapped, David felt an overwhelming force threatening to drown him. What does this 'flood' represent?
David continues the picture of his desperate situation by describing "the torrents of destruction." This image speaks to a force that is not just trapping him but actively trying to sweep him away entirely.
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Understand the original words
mavet · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the end of physical life, often personified in the Old Testament as an enemy or a power that seeks to overwhelm the living.
The 'cords of death' and 'torrents of destruction' David describes are not abstract metaphors but vivid imagery drawn from his harrowing experiences as a fugitive, constantly hunted by King Saul and facing life-threatening dangers.
c. 1020–1010 BC— this verse
Saul Hunts David
King Saul, driven by jealousy, relentlessly pursued David, forcing him to live as a fugitive in the wilderness. This period was marked by constant danger, narrow escapes, and intense fear for David's life.
c. 1010 BC
David Spares Saul
During his pursuit, David had opportunities to kill Saul but chose not to, demonstrating his respect for God's anointed king. This event highlighted David's precarious situation and his reliance on God.
c. 1010 BC
David Flees to Gath
Fearing Saul's continued pursuit, David sought refuge among the Philistines, a dangerous move that required him to feign madness to survive.
c. 1002 BC
David Anointed King of Judah
After Saul's death, David was recognized as king over the tribe of Judah, but the kingdom remained divided, leading to further conflict.
c. 992 BC
David Becomes King of All Israel
David finally united all the tribes of Israel under his rule, establishing Jerusalem as his capital. This marked the beginning of a more stable, though not conflict-free, reign.
This passage is the prose account of the very event described poetically in Psalm 18, showing the 'breakers of death' and 'torrents of wickedness' surrounding David.
Jonah 2:3Jonah describes a similar experience of being surrounded by danger, crying out from the depths, and being encompassed by the sea, mirroring David's imagery of being overwhelmed.
Acts 2:24Peter quotes this very psalm, explaining that Jesus experienced the 'pangs of death' and was raised by God, directly linking David's near-death experience to Christ's resurrection.
Luke 22:44This verse depicts Jesus in such deep anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane that His sweat was like blood, illustrating a profound spiritual struggle that aligns with the intense pressure David felt.
calvinPsalms 18:3-6: "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."
- I will call upon the praised Jehovah, and I shall be saved from mine enemies. 4. The cords [390] of death had compassed me about; the torrents of wickedness [391] had made me afraid. 5. The cords of the grave [392] had compassed me about; the snares of death had prevented me. 6. In my distress I called upon Jehovah, and cried to my God: and he heard my voice from his temple, and my…
clarkePsalms 18:4: "The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid."
The sorrows of death compassed me - חבלי מות chebley maveth, the cables or cords of death. He was almost taken in those nets or stratagems by which, if he had been entangled, he would have lost his life. The stratagems to which he refers were those that were intended for his destruction; hence called the cables or cords of death. The floods of ungodly men - Troops of wicked men were rushing upon him…
David isn't just describing being surrounded by danger; he's showing how that danger felt like a literal trap closing in, a hunter's net of "cords of death." And beyond that, it was the sheer overwhelming force of wicked people, like destructive floods, that truly brought him to a place of fear.
David recounts a time of extreme peril, feeling utterly surrounded by the threat of death and overwhelmed by destructive forces. This imagery of being caught in death's "cords" and swept away by "torrents" sets the stage for his declaration of calling on the Lord. Immediately following, he will describe how God heard his cry and delivered him from these overwhelming dangers.
David recounts a time of extreme peril, feeling utterly surrounded by the threat of death and overwhelmed by destructive forces. This imagery of being caught in death's "cords" and swept away by "torrents" sets the stage for his declaration of calling on the Lord. Immediately following, he will describe how God heard his cry and delivered him from these overwhelming dangers.
"The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me;" — David isn't just describing being surrounded by danger; he's showing how that danger felt like a literal trap closing in, a hunter's net of "cords of death." And beyond that, it was the sheer overwhe…
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Last reviewed October 2026