Psalms 27:12
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The enemies aren't just cruel; they "breathe out violence," suggesting their hostility is an ever-present, almost physical force aimed at destruction. This isn't a passing mood but a pervasive, life-consuming intent directed against the psalmist.
David is pleading for protection from those who wish him harm, desperately asking God not to let his enemies have their way with him. This plea comes in the wake of asking God to teach him His ways, recognizing that his adversaries are not only violent but also spreading lies and accusations against him. He fears being handed over to their malicious intentions, which are fueled by false testimony and outright cruelty.
Understand the original words
tsar · Hebrew Noun
Refers to those who oppose or act as opponents, often in a legal or hostile sense, seeking the believer's downfall.
ed sheqer · Hebrew Noun phrase
Individuals who lie under oath or bear false testimony to harm another, reflecting the breaking of God’s commandment against bearing false witness and signaling pervasive injustice.
chamas · Hebrew Noun
Often translated as 'cruelty' or 'wrong,' it signifies destructive behavior, oppression, and physical aggression that violates God's peace (shalom).
This psalm reflects the deep distress of someone facing relentless, slanderous opposition. The imagery of 'false witnesses' and those who 'breathe out violence' points to a period of intense personal danger, likely mirroring David's own experiences while fleeing from King Saul, who accused him and plotted against his life.
c. 1020 BC
Saul Anoints David
David is anointed king by Samuel while still a youth, setting him on a path that would eventually bring him into conflict with King Saul.
c. 1020-1010 BC
David's Rise and Saul's Jealousy
David gains popularity as a warrior, particularly after defeating Goliath. King Saul becomes increasingly jealous and fearful of David, viewing him as a threat to his throne.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
Saul Seeks David's Life
Saul makes multiple attempts to kill David, even attempting to spear him during a music session. David is forced to flee and becomes a fugitive.
c. 1010-1005 BC
David as a Fugitive
David lives in hiding, sometimes with his followers, constantly evading Saul's pursuit. During this time, Saul's courtiers, like Doeg the Edomite, actively sought to harm David.
This passage describes Saul (later Paul) 'breathing out threats and murder' against the disciples, mirroring the intense, violent intent of the adversaries in Psalms 27:12.
Psalms 35:11This verse directly parallels Psalms 27:12 by speaking of 'false witnesses' rising up and accusing the psalmist of things he does not know, highlighting the theme of malicious accusation.
1 Samuel 24:9This reference shows David confronting Saul after sparing his life, where Saul accuses David of seeking to overthrow him, demonstrating a real-life scenario of 'false witnesses' and perceived 'violence' against a leader.
Proverbs 6:19This proverb lists 'a false witness who breathes out lies' as one of the things the Lord hates, reinforcing the spiritual gravity of the 'false witnesses' and their 'cruelty' mentioned in the psalm.
Matthew 26:59-61During Jesus' trial, false witnesses were brought forward to testify against him, illustrating the fulfillment of the psalmist's plea against adversaries who 'breathe out violence' through deceitful testimony.
cambridgePsalms 27:12: "Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty."
12 . enemies ] R.V., adversaries, as in Psalm 27:2 . false witnesses ] Slanderous calumniators are meant, rather than actual witnesses in court. Cp. Psalm 35:11 ; Proverbs 6:19 . such as breathe out cruelty ] Bent on injuring him by their talk. For the phrase cp. Acts 9:1 .
clarkePsalms 27:12: "Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty."
Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies - To their soul בנפש benephesh; their whole soul thirsts for my destruction. Let them not be gratified. They have suborned witnesses against me, but they are false witnesses: unmask their wickedness, and confound their counsels.
The enemies aren't just cruel; they "breathe out violence," suggesting their hostility is an ever-present, almost physical force aimed at destruction. This isn't a passing mood but a pervasive, life-consuming intent directed against the psalmist.
David is pleading for protection from those who wish him harm, desperately asking God not to let his enemies have their way with him. This plea comes in the wake of asking God to teach him His ways, recognizing that his adversaries are not only violent but also spreading lies and accusations against him. He fears being handed over to their malicious intentions, which are fueled by false testimony and outright cruelty.
David is pleading for protection from those who wish him harm, desperately asking God not to let his enemies have their way with him. This plea comes in the wake of asking God to teach him His ways, recognizing that his adversaries are not only violent but also spreading lies and accusations against him. He fears being handed over to their malicious intentions, which are fueled by false testimony and outright cruelty.
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c. 1005 BC
Death of Saul
Saul and his son Jonathan are killed in battle against the Philistines, ending David's period of persecution and paving the way for his eventual ascension to the throne.
"Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence." — The enemies aren't just cruel; they "breathe out violence," suggesting their hostility is an ever-present, almost physical force aimed at destruction. This isn't a passing mood but a pervasive, life-…
