How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The enemies are described not just as weak, but as actively dangerous, like a wall that's about to collapse and crush anyone nearby. This isn't just about their impending fall, but the inherent destructiveness that will consume them as they try to destroy the Psalmist.
How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is responding to a relentless assault from his enemies who are plotting his downfall. They are intensely focused on bringing him down, viewing him as weak and on the verge of collapse, like a wall about to fall or a fence ready to crumble. This immediate context highlights David's perspective on the intensity and apparent futility of their attacks, setting the stage for his profound trust in God's deliverance.
Ever feel like everyone's ganging up on you, trying to knock you down? David felt it too. See how he describes his attackers and his own surprising resilience.
The Relentless Onslaught
David opens this psalm with a powerful, almost exasperated question: "How long will you attack a man?" He's not just asking about the duration, but the sheer ferocity of the assault. His enemies aren't just disagreeing with him; they're trying to "batter him," to break him down completely.
A Man Alone
Notice how he emphasizes "a man." This isn't just anyone; it's David, a single individual against a multitude. He's highlighting the unfairness of the attack. They're acting like he's no match for them, an easy target.
The Unstable Enemy
But here’s the twist: David doesn't describe himself as the one about to fall. Instead, he turns the focus to his attackers, comparing them to:
David sees their violence not as a sign of his weakness, but as evidence of their own inherent instability and impending doom. Their aggressive attacks reveal their own crumbling foundations.
Ask a follow-up
Why do people persist in trying to destroy others? David reveals the hidden truth: their strength is an illusion, and their plans are doomed to fail.
Attacking a Man, Not a Monster
The enemies of David are "imagining mischief" and seeking to "batter" him. This isn't just idle gossip; it's a deliberate, malicious intent to cause ruin. Yet, David's sharp observation is that they are attacking "a man"—someone made in God's image, someone God is with. Their focus is on the physical act of destruction, missing the spiritual reality.
The 'How Long?' Question
David's repeated question, "How long?" isn't just frustration. It's a challenge to their efforts. It implies that their campaign is ultimately futile. He's questioning the persistence and effectiveness of their violence. How long can they keep this up before their own structure collapses?
The Inevitable Collapse
The metaphors of the "leaning wall" and "tottering fence" powerfully convey the enemies' own instability. They appear formidable, perhaps even threatening, but their foundation is weak. Their schemes, built on malice and pressure, are destined to fall apart, not necessarily because David is strong in himself, but because God is his true defense.
The active form of the verbs suggests they are actively trying to break him, but the imagery suggests they are the ones about to break. Their attempts to batter him are like leaning on a wall that's already about to fall – the pressure they exert hastens its own destruction.
The Psalmist is crying out from a position of extreme vulnerability, likening himself to a damaged structure on the verge of collapse. This imagery powerfully conveys the intensity of the attacks he faced, likely during the tumultuous period of Absalom's rebellion, where he was a man besieged by his own people.
c. 1000 BC
David's Reign as King
David, established as king of Israel, faced numerous internal and external threats throughout his reign. This period was marked by political intrigue and attempts on his life.
c. 990 BC— this verse
Absalom's Rebellion
David's son Absalom incited a widespread rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. This event saw many of David's former allies and advisors turn against him, creating a deeply hostile environment.
c. 990 BC
David's Flight from Jerusalem
David was forced to abandon his capital and many of his possessions, becoming a vulnerable figure pursued by his own son and a faction of the people.
c. 990 BC
The Battle of the Wood of Ephraim
The rebellion culminated in a decisive battle where Absalom's forces were defeated, and Absalom himself was killed, leading to the restoration of David to his throne.
This passage directly illustrates the intense plotting and strategizing against David ('a man') by his enemies, mirroring the 'imagining mischief' described in Psalm 62:3.
Isaiah 30:13This verse uses the imagery of a 'breach in a high wall, bulging out' to describe sudden and complete destruction, which powerfully echoes the 'leaning wall, a tottering fence' metaphor for the enemies' inevitable downfall.
Jeremiah 6:14This verse describes prophets falsely claiming peace and security, similar to how Psalm 62:3's enemies might offer outward pleasantries while plotting destruction ('bless with their mouth, and curse inwardly').
Psalm 55:12-14This psalm expresses David's personal anguish over betrayal by a close companion, reflecting the deep hurt and shock of being attacked by those who should be trusted, aligning with the tone of Psalm 62:3.
poolePsalms 62:3: "How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence."
Ye, mine enemies, to whom now he turneth his speech. Against a man, i.e. against me, a man like yourselves, whom common humanity obligeth you to pity; a single man, who is no fit match for you; a poor, contemptible, miserable, and impotent creature, as the word man is oft used, as Psalm 9:20 82:7 , &c., a dead dog , or a flea , or a partridge , as…
barnesPsalms 62:3: "How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence."
How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? - The original word here rendered "imagine mischief," from התת hâthath, occurs only in this place. It means, according to Gesenius (Lexicon), to break in upon; to set upon; to assail: "How long will ye break in upon a man?" that is, set upon him. So the Septuagint, and the Latin Vulgate. It does n…
The enemies are described not just as weak, but as actively dangerous, like a wall that's about to collapse and crush anyone nearby. This isn't just about their impending fall, but the inherent destructiveness that will consume them as they try to destroy the Psalmist.
David is responding to a relentless assault from his enemies who are plotting his downfall. They are intensely focused on bringing him down, viewing him as weak and on the verge of collapse, like a wall about to fall or a fence ready to crumble. This immediate context highlights David's perspective on the intensity and apparent futility of their attacks, setting the stage for his profound trust in God's deliverance.
David is responding to a relentless assault from his enemies who are plotting his downfall. They are intensely focused on bringing him down, viewing him as weak and on the verge of collapse, like a wall about to fall or a fence ready to crumble. This immediate context highlights David's perspective on the intensity and apparent futility of their attacks, setting the stage for his profound trust in God's deliverance.
"How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?" — The enemies are described not just as weak, but as actively dangerous, like a wall that's about to collapse and crush anyone nearby. This isn't just about their impending fall, but the inherent des…
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Last reviewed October 2026