The Meaning of Psalms 56:6 Explained

Psalms 56:6

KJV: They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

YLT: They assemble, they hide, they watch my heels, When they have expected my soul.

Darby: They gather themselves together, they hide themselves; they mark my steps, because they wait for my soul.

ASV: They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps, Even as they have waited for my soul.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They gather themselves together,  they hide  {08675;06845:08686} themselves, they mark  my steps,  when they wait  for my soul. 

What does Psalms 56:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 56:1-13 - "what Can Man Do Unto Me?"
This psalm was composed under the same circumstances as Psalms 34:1-22. See 1 Samuel 21:1-15. What a strange medley is here shown-David feigning madness and composing psalms! Commenting on Psalms 56:3, one says that Isaiah's resolve is still better: "I will trust and not be afraid," Isaiah 12:2. Note, the magnificent refrain at the close of each of the first two strophes, Psalms 56:4; Psalms 56:10. The psalmist asks: "What can flesh do?" "Nothing," is the Apostle Paul's emphatic answer. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers can hurt a man who makes God his stronghold, Romans 8:31.
Let us use the last verse for our life-prayer. Live as one on whom God's vows rest. Thank Him that by His Cross and Passion He has delivered thy soul from death. Could He have done so much at such cost, and then fail? Surely He must deliver our feet from falling, Psalms 116:8, or all the past will have been in vain. Whenever the shadows gather, and past sins threaten, and the enemies of your soul seek to overthrow, plead this prayer: Thou hast"¦ wilt not Thou? [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 56

1  David, praying to God in confidence of his word, complains of his enemies,
9  He professes his confidence in God's word, and promises to praise him

What do the individual words in Psalms 56:6 mean?

They gather together - they hide they my steps mark when they lie in wait for my life
יָג֤וּרוּ ׀ יצפינו [יִצְפּ֗וֹנוּ] (הֵ֭מָּה) עֲקֵבַ֣י יִשְׁמֹ֑רוּ כַּ֝אֲשֶׁ֗ר קִוּ֥וּ נַפְשִֽׁי

יָג֤וּרוּ ׀  They  gather  together 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: גּוּר 
Sense: to sojourn, abide, dwell in, dwell with, remain, inhabit, be a stranger, be continuing, surely.
יצפינו  - 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
[יִצְפּ֗וֹנוּ]  they  hide 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: צָפַן 
Sense: to hide, treasure, treasure or store up.
עֲקֵבַ֣י  my  steps 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: עָקֵב  
Sense: heel, rear, footprint, hinder part, hoof, rear of a troop, footstep.
יִשְׁמֹ֑רוּ  mark 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
קִוּ֥וּ  they  lie  in  wait  for 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָוָה 
Sense: to wait, look for, hope, expect.
נַפְשִֽׁי  my  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.