Psalms 118:12 (DBY)

Passage

They encompassed me like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of Jehovah have I destroyed them.

Nearby Context

Psalms 118:10 All nations encompassed me; but in the name of Jehovah have I destroyed them.

Psalms 118:11 They encompassed me, yea, encompassed me; but in the name of Jehovah have I destroyed them.

Psalms 118:12 They encompassed me like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of Jehovah have I destroyed them.

Psalms 118:13 Thou hast thrust hard at me that I might fall; but Jehovah helped me.

Psalms 118:14 My strength and song is Jah, and he is become my salvation.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "encompassed", "like", "bees", "quenched", "fire", "thorns", "name", and "jehovah". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "encompassed" and "like", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "They encompassed me yea encompassed me but..." into verse 13's "Thou hast thrust hard at me that...", so "encompassed" and "like" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "encompassed" and "like" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.