Short answer: Psalm 140 is a lament in which David cries out for deliverance from evil and violent men. He describes his enemies as those who plan evil in their hearts, who sharpen their tongues like serpents, and who set traps for his feet. The psalm moves from petition to confidence as David declares that the Lord maintains the cause of the afflicted and executes justice for the needy. It ends with a declaration that the righteous will give thanks to God's name.
The setting of the psalm
Psalm 140 is a lament in which David cries out for deliverance from evil and violent men. The psalm begins with a urgent plea: 'Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men!' The enemies are described as those who plan evil in their hearts and stir up war continually.
David describes his enemies in vivid terms. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; under their lips is the venom of vipers. The imagery of serpent venom conveys the poisonous, destructive nature of their words. They have set traps and snares for his feet — hidden dangers that he cannot see.
Despite the danger, David expresses confidence that the Lord is his God. He declares, 'You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!' The Lord God is the strength of his salvation, and he covers his head in the day of battle. The protection is personal and comprehensive.
David prays that the mischief of his enemies' lips would overwhelm them and that burning coals would fall on them. He declares that the Lord maintains the cause of the afflicted and executes justice for the needy. The wicked will not stand in the presence of God's judgment.
For Christians, this psalm gives voice to the cry for justice in the face of evil. The serpent-tongued enemies remind us of the serpent of old, but Christ has crushed the serpent's head. The confidence that God maintains the cause of the afflicted is fulfilled in the gospel, where God vindicates the humble through Christ.
The themes of Psalm 140 have encouraged believers throughout the centuries. The psalm's message of trust in God, dependence on his provision, and hope in his deliverance speaks to the deepest needs of the human heart. Whether read in times of joy or seasons of suffering, this psalm continues to nourish faith and inspire worship.
The language of Psalm 140 is both simple and profound. The psalmist uses ordinary words to express extraordinary truths about God's character and his relationship with his people. This accessibility is one of the reasons the Psalms have been the prayer book and hymnal of God's people for millennia.
Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man: those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet. The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me.
Psalm 140:1-5 (World English Bible)
Key words and their meaning
The Hebrew word for 'deliver' (chalatz) in verse 1 means to draw out, to rescue, or to snatch away. David urgently needs to be snatched from the grip of evil men. The verb conveys urgency and danger.
The word 'serpent' (nachash) in verse 3 describes a snake, and the venom of vipers is under the enemies' lips. Paul quotes this verse in Romans 3:13 to describe the universal sinfulness of humanity.
The word 'maintains' (asah) in verse 12 means to do, to make, or to execute. The Lord maintains or executes the cause of the afflicted. God actively works on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves.
I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh. Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud.
Psalm 140:6-8 (World English Bible)
What the psalm claims
First, God delivers his people from evil. The cry for deliverance is heard and answered by the Lord.
Second, the Lord maintains the cause of the afflicted. God is the defender of those who cannot defend themselves.
Third, the wicked will not stand in God's presence. God's justice will ultimately prevail.
The psalm's message is as relevant today as when it was first written. The challenges of living faithfully in a fallen world have not changed, and the resources of God's grace remain the same. This psalm equips believers to face those challenges with confidence in God's steadfast love and faithfulness.
As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise. An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him. I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy. Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
Psalm 140:9-13 (World English Bible)
Where readers disagree
The identity of the enemies has been discussed. Some see specific historical enemies of David, while others understand them as representative of all who oppose God's people.
The imprecatory language against the enemies has been discussed. These prayers for judgment are cries for God's justice, not personal vengeance.
The structure of the psalm as moving from lament to confidence has been discussed. This pattern is common in the Psalms and teaches us to pray through our distress to trust.
Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man: those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet. The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me.
Psalm 140:1-5 (World English Bible)
How this psalm connects to the gospel
The themes of Psalm 140 find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament frequently draws on the Psalms to explain who Jesus is and what he accomplished. The psalm's language of deliverance, kingship, and steadfast love all point toward the gospel.
In Jesus, believers see the perfect fulfillment of everything this psalm celebrates. The deliverance the psalmist experienced was a foreshadowing of the greater deliverance Christ would accomplish. The kingship celebrated in the psalm points to Christ's eternal reign. The steadfast love described in the psalm is fully revealed in Jesus's sacrificial death and resurrection.
For Christians, reading this psalm is an opportunity to see God's faithfulness across the entire biblical story. The same God who heard the psalmist's cry also hears the prayers of his people today. The same deliverance finds its ultimate expression in the salvation Christ offers. The psalm invites believers to trust in this faithful God and to make his praise known to all generations.
The New Testament writers understood the Psalms as a prophetic witness to Christ. Jesus himself told his disciples that everything written about him in the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). When the apostles preached about Jesus, they regularly quoted the Psalms to demonstrate that his suffering, death, resurrection, and exaltation were all part of God's redemptive plan.
Psalm 140 participates in this prophetic witness. Whether through its language of kingship, its descriptions of suffering and deliverance, or its celebration of God's steadfast love, this psalm contributes to the biblical portrait of the Messiah. Reading it in light of Christ does not diminish its original meaning but reveals its deepest significance.
I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh. Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud.
Psalm 140:6-8 (World English Bible)
Biblical fidelity check
Psalm 140 is theologically sound and consistent with the broader biblical witness. Its themes of God's steadfast love, faithfulness, and righteousness are central to biblical theology. The psalm contributes to the Psalter's comprehensive portrait of God's relationship with his people. While each psalm reflects its original historical context, its truths are enduring and applicable to believers today. The New Testament affirms and deepens the themes found in this psalm, particularly through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main message of Psalm 140?
The main message of Psalm 140 is deliver me, o lord, from evil men. The psalm teaches that God is worthy of trust and praise. It calls believers to respond to God's character with faith, obedience, and worship.
How does Psalm 140 point to Christ?
Psalm 140, like all Scripture, ultimately points to Jesus Christ. The themes of God's deliverance, steadfast love, and kingship find their fullest expression in Christ. The New Testament frequently quotes the Psalms to explain Christ's person and work. As Jesus himself said, the Scriptures bear witness to him (John 5:39).
How does Psalm 140 apply to Christians today?
Psalm 140 applies to believers today by providing language for prayer, praise, and lament. It teaches about God's character and how believers should respond to him. The psalm's truths are timeless, addressing the universal human experiences of joy, suffering, hope, and trust.
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