The Meaning of Psalms 17:11 Explained

Psalms 17:11

KJV: They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

YLT: Our steps now have compassed him;' Their eyes they set to turn aside in the land.

Darby: They have now encompassed us in our steps; their eyes have they set, bowing down to the earth.

ASV: They have now compassed us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They have now compassed  us in our steps:  they have set  their eyes  bowing down  to the earth; 

What does Psalms 17:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 17:1-15 - God's True Servants Safely Kept
This also dates from the Sauline persecutions. In the earlier verses David protests his innocence, pleads for deliverance from his foes, and ends with glad anticipation of the vision of God. The psalm may have been composed for use at eventide; two at least of its verses point in that direction, Psalms 17:3; Psalms 15:1-5.
What a comfort it is to appeal from the accusations of men to the judgment-bar of God! Yet our sufferings at their hands are God's smelting-furnace. The Hebrew word translated tried is "melted," Psalms 17:3. But we cannot be kept without constant use of God's Word, Psalms 17:4. And then how safe we are! The apple of the eye-that is, the pupil-is defended by eye lash, lid, brow, bony socket, and uplifted arm. Thy wings, see Deuteronomy 32:11.
Note the contrast between Psalms 17:14 and Psalms 16:5; Psalms 16:11. The worldly are filled with this world-I with thee. They look for the things of this life-I for the unseen and eternal. They are satisfied with children-I with thy likeness. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 17

1  David, in confidence of his integrity, craves defense of God against his enemies
10  He shows their pride, craft, and eagerness
13  He prays against them in confidence of his hope

What do the individual words in Psalms 17:11 mean?

In our steps now - they have surrounded us their eyes they have set crouching down to the earth
אַ֭שֻּׁרֵינוּ עַתָּ֣ה [סבבוני] (סְבָב֑וּנוּ) עֵינֵיהֶ֥ם יָ֝שִׁ֗יתוּ לִנְט֥וֹת בָּאָֽרֶץ

אַ֭שֻּׁרֵינוּ  In  our  steps 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אָשֻׁר 
Sense: step, going.
עַתָּ֣ה  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
[סבבוני]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural, first person common singular
(סְבָב֑וּנוּ)  they  have  surrounded  us 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural, first person common plural
Root: סָבַב  
Sense: to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or arou nd, surround, encircle, change direction.
עֵינֵיהֶ֥ם  their  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, third person masculine plural
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
יָ֝שִׁ֗יתוּ  they  have  set 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שִׁית  
Sense: to put, set.
לִנְט֥וֹת  crouching  down 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
בָּאָֽרֶץ  to  the  earth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.