The Meaning of Psalms 57:3 Explained

Psalms 57:3

KJV: He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

YLT: He sendeth from the heaven, and saveth me, He reproached -- who is panting after me. Selah. God sendeth forth His kindness and His truth.

Darby: He will send from the heavens and save me; he hath covered with reproach him that would swallow me up. Selah. God hath sent forth his loving-kindness and his truth.

ASV: He will send from heaven, and save me, When he that would swallow me up reproacheth; Selah God will send forth his lovingkindness and his truth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He shall send  from heaven,  and save  me [from] the reproach  of him that would swallow me up.  Selah.  God  shall send forth  his mercy  and his truth. 

What does Psalms 57:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 57:1-11 - "in The Shadow Of Thy Wings"
This is one of the choicest psalms. It dates from Adullam or Engedi. It consists of two sections, each of which ends with the same refrain, Psalms 57:5; Psalms 57:11.
First strophe, Psalms 57:1-5
The fugitive among rocky fastnesses hears the roar of the wild beast, but lies quietly in his hiding-place. God's angels will shut lions' mouths. "As the wings of a mother-bird intercept the danger that menaces her nestlings, so the loving care of God protects His people. Is there not here a trace of words uttered earlier by David's ancestor? Ruth 2:12; Deuteronomy 32:11.
Second strophe, Psalms 57:6-11
Before we can awake and sing, we must be conscious that we are touching bedrock. If we are without assurance of salvation, we shall be songless and joyless. In this short psalm the singer has sung himself clear into the blue heaven. He awakes the dawn with His notes. God's mercy and truth-or faithfulness-like guardian angels in the meanwhile keep watch. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 57

1  David in prayer fleeing unto God, complains of his dangerous case
7  He encourages himself to praise God

What do the individual words in Psalms 57:3 mean?

He shall send from heaven and save me He reproaches the one who would swallow me up Selah Shall send forth God His mercy and His truth
יִשְׁלַ֤ח מִשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ וְֽיוֹשִׁיעֵ֗נִי חֵרֵ֣ף שֹׁאֲפִ֣י סֶ֑לָה יִשְׁלַ֥ח אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים חַסְדּ֥וֹ וַאֲמִתּֽוֹ

יִשְׁלַ֤ח  He  shall  send 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
מִשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀  from  heaven 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וְֽיוֹשִׁיעֵ֗נִי  and  save  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
חֵרֵ֣ף  He  reproaches 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרַף 
Sense: to reproach, taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardise, rail, upbraid.
שֹׁאֲפִ֣י  the  one  who  would  swallow  me  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שָׁאַף 
Sense: to gasp, pant, pant after, long for, breathe heavily.
סֶ֑לָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.
יִשְׁלַ֥ח  Shall  send  forth 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
חַסְדּ֥וֹ  His  mercy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
וַאֲמִתּֽוֹ  and  His  truth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֱמֶת  
Sense: firmness, faithfulness, truth.