Psalms 37:15
What does Psalms 37:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Psalms 37:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Psalms 37:15 means
This verse delivers the divine judgment and reversal of fortune upon the violent wicked. In a powerful act of poetic justice, their own destructive intentions are turned back upon themselves. "Their sword shall enter into their own heart" indicates that the very harm they intended for others will ultimately destroy them. Similarly, "their bows shall be broken" signifies the complete disabling of their weapons and the utter failure of their aggressive plans. This is a promise of God's intervention, ensuring that the evil designed for the righteous will instead consume the perpetrators, leaving them powerless and undone.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Their sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Their sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But their swords will be turned into their hearts, and their bows will be broken.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Their sword doth enter into their own heart, And their bows are shivered.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I became as a man that heareth not: and that hath no reproofs in his mouth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Context
Immediately following the detailed description of the wicked's violent preparations in verse 14, this verse reveals God's swift and just retribution. It shows that their weapons and schemes will not succeed but will ironically become their own undoing. This dramatic reversal of fortune provides immense comfort to the righteous, reinforcing the psalm's central message of God's protective care, which is further explored in the subsequent verses.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 37:38
And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.
- Esther 7:9
Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made for Mordecai, who spake good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him thereon.
- Matthew 27:4
saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.
- 1 Samuel 2:4
The bows of the mighty men are broken; And they that stumbled are girded with strength.
- Jeremiah 51:56
for the destroyer is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, their bows are broken in pieces; for Jehovah is a God of recompenses, he will surely requite.
- Hosea 2:18
And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of the heavens, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the land, and will make them to lie down safely.
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