they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights an incredibly vivid and grim picture: enemies won't just die, they'll be "poured out" by the sword, an idiom suggesting a complete and utter spilling of their life, leaving their bodies unburied and left to the jackals. This isn't just death, but a profound indignity and a complete absence of God's protection, which is a stark contrast to David's own trust in Him.
they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage marks the climax of Psalm 63, where the psalmist, David, contrasts the ultimate fate of his enemies with his own steadfast faith. After describing his desperate thirst and longing for God in the wilderness, he turns to pronounce judgment on those who sought his life, foreseeing their violent end and ignominious burial. This declaration of divine retribution sets the stage for his own ultimate rejoicing in God's deliverance and the vindication of all who trust in Him.
When God's enemies face destruction, it's not random. The text uses a unique idiom that reveals divine agents at work.
The phrase 'they shall be given over to the power of the sword' (or 'pour him out to the hand of the sword') isn't just a poetic way of saying people will die in battle. It suggests that unseen forces, acting as God's ministers of justice, are actively delivering individuals or groups to their execution.
Think of it like this: God doesn't always wield the sword Himself, but He can commission it, or rather, the entities that carry it out, to do His bidding. This idiom highlights that even in violent conflict, there's a divine hand orchestrating the outcome, holding the wicked accountable.
The ultimate fate of God's enemies isn't just death, but a specific kind of humiliation that speaks volumes about their end.
The latter part of the verse, 'they shall be a portion for jackals,' paints a vivid picture of utter disgrace. In ancient cultures, proper burial was crucial – it signified honor, belonging, and the hope of remembrance.
To be left unburied, to become food for wild animals like jackals (often called 'foxes' in older translations, but jackals fit the scavenger role better here), was the deepest possible shame. It meant their bodies would be left exposed, torn apart, and completely forgotten. This wasn't just a physical end; it was a statement about their separation from God and His people, a final indignity reserved for those who opposed Him.
Understand the original words
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chereb · Hebrew Noun
A weapon used in battle or for execution. In a metaphorical sense, it signifies divine judgment, warfare, or the consequences of violent opposition against the righteous.
shu'al · Hebrew Noun
A scavenger of the desert, often representing shame, disgrace, or a violent and ignoble end. Being a "portion for jackals" signifies an unburied, dishonorable death, serving as a warning of divine retribution.
This psalm vividly describes the fate of David's enemies, particularly during his intense persecution by King Saul. The imagery of falling by the sword and becoming prey for jackals speaks to the ignominious end awaiting those who oppose God's anointed, a fate fulfilled for Saul and his followers.
c. 1025-1015 BC— this verse
Saul Pursues David
King Saul, jealous of David's popularity, relentlessly pursued him across the wilderness of Judah, forcing David and his men to hide in caves and remote areas.
c. 1015 BC
Battle of Mount Gilboa
The Philistines defeated Israel, and King Saul, along with his sons, died in battle. This event marked a turning point, ending Saul's reign and paving the way for David's eventual kingship.
c. 1015-1005 BC
David Reigns in Hebron
Following Saul's death, David was anointed king over Judah, establishing his capital in Hebron. This period was marked by ongoing conflict with remaining Saulide loyalists.
c. 1005 BC
David Reigns Over All Israel
David finally united the tribes and became king over all Israel, establishing Jerusalem as his capital. The enemies mentioned in the psalm would have faced David's growing power.
This passage describes the gruesome fate of Saul and his sons, whose unburied bodies were left to the Philistines and later exposed, mirroring the ignominious end described for David's enemies in Psalm 63.
Jeremiah 18:21Here, Jeremiah invokes a similar imagery of enemies being 'given over to the sword,' highlighting the divine judgment that awaits those who plot against God's people.
Ezekiel 35:5This prophecy against Mount Seir uses strong language of divine retribution, stating they would be given over to the edge of the sword, echoing the fate of those who oppose God's chosen.
Luke 12:20Jesus' parable of the rich fool uses the concept of life being 'required' of someone unexpectedly, which aligns with the sudden and complete destruction of David's enemies as depicted here.
Revelation 19:17-21This apocalyptic vision describes the ultimate judgment of God's enemies, whose bodies become prey for birds and beasts, fulfilling the imagery of ignominious disposal for those who fight against God.
poolePsalms 63:10: "They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes."
They shall fall by the sword, i.e. die in battle, as David foretold, 1 Samuel 26:10 , and as was accomplished in Saul and his followers, who were David’s greatest enemies, 1 Samuel 31 . They shall be a portion for foxes; their carcasses shall be unburied upon the earth, and thereby become a prey to wild and ravenous creatures, and especially to foxes, which were in those parts in great abundance and which did and d…
calvinPsalms 63:9-11: "But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth."
And they, whilst they seek my soul to destroy it, shall go into the lowest parts of the earth. 10. They shall cast him out [435] to the edge of the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. 11. But the king [436] , shall rejoice in God; and every one who swears by him shall glory: for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
And they, whilst they seek, etc. Here we find Da…
The verse highlights an incredibly vivid and grim picture: enemies won't just die, they'll be "poured out" by the sword, an idiom suggesting a complete and utter spilling of their life, leaving their bodies unburied and left to the jackals. This isn't just death, but a profound indignity and a complete absence of God's protection, which is a stark contrast to David's own trust in Him.
This passage marks the climax of Psalm 63, where the psalmist, David, contrasts the ultimate fate of his enemies with his own steadfast faith. After describing his desperate thirst and longing for God in the wilderness, he turns to pronounce judgment on those who sought his life, foreseeing their violent end and ignominious burial. This declaration of divine retribution sets the stage for his own ultimate rejoicing in God's deliverance and the vindication of all who trust in Him.
This passage marks the climax of Psalm 63, where the psalmist, David, contrasts the ultimate fate of his enemies with his own steadfast faith. After describing his desperate thirst and longing for God in the wilderness, he turns to pronounce judgment on those who sought his life, foreseeing their violent end and ignominious burial. This declaration of divine retribution sets the stage for his own ultimate rejoicing in God's deliverance and the vindication of all who trust in Him.
"they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals." — The verse highlights an incredibly vivid and grim picture: enemies won't just die, they'll be "poured out" by the sword, an idiom suggesting a complete and utter spilling of their life, leaving their…
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Last reviewed October 2026