The Meaning of Psalms 59:11 Explained

Psalms 59:11

KJV: Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

YLT: Slay them not, lest my people forget, Shake them by Thy strength, And bring them down, O Lord our shield.

Darby: Slay them not, lest my people forget; by thy power make them wander, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.

ASV: Slay them not, lest my people forget: Scatter them by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Slay  them not, lest my people  forget:  scatter  them by thy power;  and bring them down,  O Lord  our shield. 

What does Psalms 59:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 59:1-17 - "god Is My High Tower"
This is the fifth of the Michtams, or "Golden Psalms." Compare Psalms 16:1-11; Psalms 56:1-13; Psalms 57:1-11; Psalms 58:1-11. The contents correspond to the title and to 1 Samuel 19:11.
The most noticeable feature is the twice-repeated refrain of Psalms 59:9; Psalms 17:1-15. In each case David appeals to God as my strength, and describes Him as my high tower and the God of my mercy. The possessive pronoun my is very remarkable. Each of us needs mercy of a very special sort. My mercy would not help you, nor would yours help me. Note also that God's mercy prevents, that is, "goes in front," Psalms 59:10. As the mother's thought prepares beforehand for the child, so God thinks ahead for us, and leads us into the good things which He has prepared for them that love Him, 1 Corinthians 2:9; Psalms 31:19.
In the first refrain David says, "I will wait for thee;" in the second, "I will sing praises." Waiting on God leads to singing. All night Saul's emissaries might prowl around David's home, like the wild dogs of an Eastern city. But within he was singing aloud of God's mercy, and when the morning broke he was in safety. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 59

1  David prays to be delivered from his enemies
6  He complains of their cruelty
8  He trusts in god
11  He prays against them
16  He praises God

What do the individual words in Psalms 59:11 mean?

Not do slay them lest forget my people Scatter them by Your power and bring them down our shield Lord
אַל־ תַּהַרְגֵ֤ם ׀ פֶּֽן־ יִשְׁכְּח֬וּ עַמִּ֗י הֲנִיעֵ֣מוֹ בְ֭חֵילְךָ וְהוֹרִידֵ֑מוֹ מָֽגִנֵּ֣נוּ אֲדֹנָֽי

תַּהַרְגֵ֤ם ׀  do  slay  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: הָרַג  
Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
פֶּֽן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
יִשְׁכְּח֬וּ  forget 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּשַׁח 
Sense: to forget, ignore, wither.
עַמִּ֗י  my  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הֲנִיעֵ֣מוֹ  Scatter  them 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: נוּעַ  
Sense: to quiver, totter, shake, reel, stagger, wander, move, sift, make move, wave, waver, tremble.
בְ֭חֵילְךָ  by  Your  power 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
וְהוֹרִידֵ֑מוֹ  and  bring  them  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
מָֽגִנֵּ֣נוּ  our  shield 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, first person common plural
Root: מָגֵן 
Sense: shield, buckler.
אֲדֹנָֽי  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.