Psalms 18:38 (DBY)

Passage

I crushed them, and they were not able to rise: they fell under my feet.

Nearby Context

Psalms 18:36 Thou didst enlarge my steps under me, and mine ankles have not wavered.

Psalms 18:37 I pursued mine enemies, and overtook them; and I turned not again till they were consumed.

Psalms 18:38 I crushed them, and they were not able to rise: they fell under my feet.

Psalms 18:39 And thou girdedst me with strength to battle; thou didst subdue under me those that rose up against me.

Psalms 18:40 And mine enemies didst thou make to turn their backs unto me, and those that hated me I destroyed.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "crushed", "able", "rise", "fell", "under", and "feet". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "crushed" and "able", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 37's "I pursued mine enemies and overtook them..." into verse 39's "And thou girdedst me with strength to...", so "crushed" and "able" 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 "crushed" and "able" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.