the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse reveals a striking poetic choice: "snares of death" is presented not as something David was caught in, but something that "confronted" him. This implies the danger was immediate and actively pressing in, yet still external, hinting at the possibility of escape rather than complete entrapment.
the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David describes an overwhelming sense of being trapped and facing imminent death, feeling as though the grave and death itself have ensnared him. This isn't a literal description of physical entrapment but a poetic expression of the extreme peril and despair he faced, leading him to cry out to God. He's painting a picture of how dire his situation was before God's intervention, emphasizing the magnitude of the danger he was in.
Imagine being caught in something unseen, tightening its grip with every struggle. This verse paints a terrifying picture of nearing death.
The imagery of "cords of Sheol" and "snares of death" speaks to the overwhelming and inescapable nature of life-threatening peril.
David isn't just describing a bad day; he's conveying the absolute extremity of his situation, where all escape routes seemed blocked and his life was hanging by a thread.
When you're caught in death's grip, where do you turn? This passage points to a desperate cry that finds an unexpected answer.
While David vividly describes the terror of being caught by death, the context of Psalm 18 reveals the crucial element: his prayer.
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This highlights a profound theological truth: even when we feel most trapped by life's dangers, God hears the cries of those who turn to Him and can break through our most desperate situations.
Understand the original words
sheol · Hebrew Noun
The place of the dead in Hebrew thought, the underworld, or the grave. It represents the realm of gloom and shadow where the deceased reside, often depicted as a place of entrapment.
Psalms 18:5 vividly expresses the terror and hopelessness David felt during his many life-threatening conflicts, portraying his enemies and the threat of death as inescapable 'cords' and 'snares'.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's Reign as King
David, a celebrated warrior and psalmist, established the United Kingdom of Israel. His reign, though marked by military success, was also filled with intense personal danger and struggles against enemies.
Throughout David's Life
Numerous Battles and Rebellions
David faced constant threats from Philistines, Syrians, Ammonites, and internal revolts, including those led by his own son Absalom, often finding himself in desperate situations.
After Period of Intense Struggle
Compilation of Psalms
Psalms like this one were likely compiled and attributed to David, reflecting his deep spiritual experiences and reliance on God during times of extreme peril and deliverance.
This passage speaks of being surrounded by troubles and fears, much like David describes being entangled by the 'cords of Sheol' and 'snares of death.'
Jonah 2:3Jonah's experience of being in the 'belly of the fish' and the 'deep' parallels David's feeling of being surrounded by death and the grave's darkness.
2 Samuel 22:5This is the prose parallel to Psalm 18, offering a direct comparison of David's language describing his near-death experience before God's deliverance.
Romans 8:35Paul’s rhetorical question about what can separate us from God's love echoes the overwhelming forces of death and affliction David faced, highlighting that even these cannot overcome God's people.
1 Corinthians 15:55This verse directly contrasts the 'sting of death' and 'victory over death,' showing how the ultimate 'snares of death' are overcome through Christ, a victory David experienced in his own deliverance.
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 18:5: "The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me."
The sorrows of hell - חבלי שאול chebley sheol, the cables or cords of the grave. Is not this a reference to the cords or ropes with which they lowered the corpse into the grave? or the bandages by which the dead were swathed? He was as good as dead. The snares of death prevented me - I was just on the point of dropping into the pit which they had digged for me. In short, I was all but a dead man; and nothi…
This verse reveals a striking poetic choice: "snares of death" is presented not as something David was caught in, but something that "confronted" him. This implies the danger was immediate and actively pressing in, yet still external, hinting at the possibility of escape rather than complete entrapment.
David describes an overwhelming sense of being trapped and facing imminent death, feeling as though the grave and death itself have ensnared him. This isn't a literal description of physical entrapment but a poetic expression of the extreme peril and despair he faced, leading him to cry out to God. He's painting a picture of how dire his situation was before God's intervention, emphasizing the magnitude of the danger he was in.
David describes an overwhelming sense of being trapped and facing imminent death, feeling as though the grave and death itself have ensnared him. This isn't a literal description of physical entrapment but a poetic expression of the extreme peril and despair he faced, leading him to cry out to God. He's painting a picture of how dire his situation was before God's intervention, emphasizing the magnitude of the danger he was in.
"the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me." — This verse reveals a striking poetic choice: "snares of death" is presented not as something David was caught in, but something that "confronted" him. This implies the danger was immediate and acti…
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Last reviewed October 2026