King James Version

What Does Psalms 18:48 Mean?

Psalms 18:48 in the King James Version says “He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me ...” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. violent: Heb. man of violence”

Psalms 18:48 · KJV

Salvation

Context

46

The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47

It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. avengeth: Heb. giveth avengements for subdueth: or, destroyeth

48

He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. violent: Heb. man of violence

49

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. give: or, confess

50

Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

Read Psalms 18 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God delivered David from enemies, exalted him above adversaries, and rescued him from violent men. The Hebrew 'palat' (deliver), 'rum' (exalt), and 'natsal' (rescue) are three distinct salvation terms showing comprehensive deliverance. The 'violent man' ('chamac'—violent/ruthless) may specifically reference Saul. This demonstrates God's multifaceted salvation—rescue, elevation, and protection. It anticipates Christ's complete salvation addressing all human need.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Summarizes David's entire experience from shepherd to king, encompassing deliverance from bears and lions, Goliath, Saul, foreign armies, and Absalom's rebellion.

Reflection Questions

  1. How have you experienced God's comprehensive deliverance in multiple dimensions?
  2. What aspects of Christ's salvation address your specific needs?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 9 words
מְפַלְּטִ֗י1 of 9

“He delivereth”

H6403

to slip out, i.e., escape; causatively, to deliver

מֵאֹ֫יְבָ֥י2 of 9

“me from mine enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

אַ֣ף3 of 9
H637

meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though

מִן4 of 9
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

קָ֭מַי5 of 9

“above those that rise up”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

תְּרוֹמְמֵ֑נִי6 of 9

“yea thou liftest me up”

H7311

to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)

מֵאִ֥ישׁ7 of 9

“man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

חָ֝מָ֗ס8 of 9

“me from the violent”

H2555

violence; by implication, wrong; by metonymy unjust gain

תַּצִּילֵֽנִי׃9 of 9

“against me thou hast delivered”

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 18:48 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Psalms 18:48 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 140:1Psalms 86:14Psalms 140:11Psalms 140:4Psalms 7:16Psalms 59:1-2

Test Your Knowledge

Psalms 18 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterPsalms Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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