Psalms 18:47

47 God, that givest vengeances to me, and makest subject peoples under me; (O God, who givest vengeance to me, and makest the nations subject under me;)

Psalms 18:47 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 18:47

[It is] God that avengeth me
Or "gives vengeance unto me", or "for me" ^F20: vengeance only belongs to God, and he repays it for and in behalf of his people. Private revenge is not to be exercised by any; public vengeance on delinquents may be exercised by the civil magistrate, to whom God gives power and authority to exercise it, ( Romans 13:4 ) ; as he did to David, as king of Israel; though the phrase rather seems to design the victories which he obtained over his enemies, which were punishments to them, vengeances inflicted on them; and owing to God; so the acceptable year of the Messiah's coming, and the time of his people redeemed by him, is called the day of vengeance of our God, both on his and their enemies, ( Isaiah 61:2 ) ( 63:4 ) ;

and subdueth the people under me;
the Edomites, Moabites, and others, as in ( 2 Samuel 8:1 2 Samuel 8:2 2 Samuel 8:5 2 Samuel 8:14 ) , or the Gentiles under Christ; (See Gill on Psalms 18:39);

---

FOOTNOTES:

F20 (yl twmqn Ntwnh) "qui dat ultiones mihi", Pagninus, Gejerus; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Musculus, Cocceius, Michaelis.

Psalms 18:47 In-Context

45 alien sons waxed eld; and (went) crooked from thy paths. (The courage of the sons of foreigners, or of strangers, faded away; and they slunk out of their strongholds together.)

46 The Lord liveth, and my God be blessed; and the God of mine health be enhanced (let the God of my salvation be exalted!).

47 God, that givest vengeances to me, and makest subject peoples under me; (O God, who givest vengeance to me, and makest the nations subject under me;)

48 thou art my deliverer from my wrathful enemies. And thou shalt enhance me from them, that rise against me; thou shalt deliver me from a wicked man. (thou art my deliverer from all my enemies. And thou hast raised me up over those who rose up against me; thou hast rescued me from violent men.)

49 Therefore, Lord, I shall acknowledge to thee among nations; and I shall say psalm to thy name. (And so, Lord, I shall praise thee before the nations; and I shall sing to thy name.)