תהלים 9:3

Hebrew Modern Translation

בשוב אויבי אחור יכשלו ויאבדו מפניך׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Aleppo Codex
[9:4] אחור יכשלו ויאבדו מפניך

Biblia Hebrica Stuttgartensia (1967/77)
[9:4] בְּשׁוּב־אוֹיְבַ֥י אָחֹ֑ור יִכָּשְׁל֥וּ וְ֝יֹאבְד֗וּ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ ׃

Westminster Leningrad Codex
[9:4] בְּשׁוּב־אוֹיְבַי אָחוֹר יִכָּשְׁלוּ וְיֹאבְדוּ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ ׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they shall: Psalms 68:1, Psalms 68:2, Psalms 76:7, Psalms 80:16, Isaiah 64:3, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Revelation 6:12-17, Revelation 20:11

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 6:35 - cause Job 22:29 - men Psalms 18:37 - General Psalms 21:12 - Therefore Psalms 40:14 - driven Psalms 142:7 - my soul

Gill's Notes on the Bible

When mine enemies are turned back,.... As the Philistines were, when Goliath their champion was dead; and as the men that came to apprehend Christ, David's antitype, went backwards and fell to the ground, through the superior power of Christ; and as sin, Satan, and the world, and at last antichrist, are made to retreat from the Lord's people, who are more than conquerors over them through Christ that has loved them. "They shall fall and perish at thy presence"; they shall stumble at one thing or another which divine Providence will throw in their way to hinder them from executing their designs, and so fall before them they meant to destroy, and perish at the presence of God as wax melteth before the fire; see Psalms 27:2; so antichrist shall be consumed with the breath of Christ's mouth, and the brightness of his coming, 2 Thessalonians 2:8; and this is the ground and foundation of the psalmist's joy, and rejoicing, and singing praise to God as it will be the reason of the joy of saints in the latter day, Revelation 18:22.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

When mine enemies are turned back - Who these enemies were, the psalmist does not say. It is clear, however, as was remarked in the introduction, that the psalm was composed:

(a) in view of a victory which had been achieved over some formidable enemies; and

(b) in view of some dangers still impending from a similar source.

The literal meaning of the passage here is, “In the turning of my enemies back;” that is, in their retreat, defeat, overthrow. So far as the Hebrew form of expression is concerned, this may either refer to what had been done, or to what would be; and may imply either that they had been turned back, or that the psalmist hoped and believed that they would be; for in either case the fact would show the divine perfections, and give occasion for gratitude and praise. The verbs with which this is connected - “they shall fall and perish” - are indeed in the Hebrew, as in our version, in the future tense; but this does not necessarily determine the question whether the psalmist refers to what had occurred or what would occur. His attitude is this: he contemplates his enemies as mighty and formidable; he sees the danger which exists when such enemies surround one; he looks at the interposition of God, and he sees that whenever it occurs it would be followed by this consequence, that they would stumble and fall before him. But while this verse does not determine the question whether he refers to what has been, or to what would be, the subsequent verses Psalms 9:4-6 seem to settle it, where he speaks as if this were already done, and as if God had interposed in a remarkable manner in defeating his foes. I regard this, therefore, as a reflection on what had occurred, and as expressing what was then actually a ground of praise and thanksgiving.

They shall fall and perish - A general statement in view of what had occurred, meaning that this would always be the case.

At thy presence - Before thee; that is, when thou dost manifest thyself. This was the reason why they would stumble and fall, and is equivalent to saying, that “whenever mine enemies are turned back, the reason why they stumble and fall is “thy presence.” It is the interposition of thy power. It is not to be traced to the prowess of man that they thus turn back, and that they fall and perish; it is to be traced to the fact that thou art present - that thou dost interpose.” It is thus an acknowledgment of God as the author of the victory in all cases.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 9:3. When mine enemies are turned back — It is a sure sign of a nearly approaching complete conquest over sin, when, by resistance to its influences, it begins to lose its power. That is the time to follow on to know the Lord.