Psalms 18:38 (LSB)

Passage

I crushed them, so that they were not able to rise; They fell under my feet.

Nearby Context

Psalms 18:36 You enlarge my steps under me, And my ankles have not given way.

Psalms 18:37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed.

Psalms 18:38 I crushed them, so that they were not able to rise; They fell under my feet.

Psalms 18:39 For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

Psalms 18:40 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, And I destroyed those who hated me.

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 my enemies and overtook them..." into verse 39's "For You have girded me with strength...", 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.