Psalm 143

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground: He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
forכִּ֥יkiH3588A
for

כִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

he has pursuedרָ֘דַ֤ףra-DAFH7291
to pursue

רָדַף (ra.daph) 1) to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pursue, put to flight, chase, dog, attend closely upon 1a2) to persecute, harass (fig) 1a3) to follow after, aim to secure (fig) 1a4) to run after (a bribe) (fig) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be pursued 1b2) one pursued (participle) 1c) (Piel) to pursue ardently, aim eagerly to secure, pursue 1d) (Pual) to be pursued, be chased away 1e) (Hiphil) to pursue, chase

an enemyאוֹיֵ֨ב׀'o-YEVH0341
enemy

אֹיֵב (o.yev) 1) (Qal) enemy 1a) personal 1b) national

self myנַפְשִׁ֗יnaf-SHIH5315G
soul

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain

he has crushedדִּכָּ֣אdi-KA'H1792
to crush

דָּכָא (da.kah) 1) to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be crushed 1a2) to be contrite (fig.) 1b) (Piel) to crush 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be crushed, be shattered 1c2) to be made contrite 1d) (Hithpael) to allow oneself to be crushed

to the groundלָ֭אָרֶץLA-'a-retzH0776H
earth: soil

אֲרַע (a.ra) : soil earth, world, ground Aramaic of e.rets (אֶ֫רֶץ ": soil" H0776H)

life myחַיָּתִ֑יchai-ya-TIH2416C
living thing

חַיָּה (chay.yah) 1) living thing, animal 1a) animal 1b) life 1c) appetite 1d) revival, renewal Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)

he has caused to dwell meהוֹשִׁיבַ֥נִיho-shi-VA-niH3427
to dwell

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

in dark placesבְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗יםve-ma-cha-sha-KIMH4285
darkness

חֲשׁוֹךְ (cha.shokh) darkness Aramaic of mach.shakh (מַחְשָׁךְ "darkness" H4285)

like dead [people] ofכְּמֵתֵ֥יke-me-TEIH4191
to die

מוּת (mut) 1) to die, kill, have one executed 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to die 1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death 1a3) to die, perish (of a nation) 1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct) 1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch 1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be killed, be put to death 1d1a) to die prematurely

antiquityעוֹלָֽם׃o-LAMH5769J
forever: enduring

עוֹלָם (o.lam) : enduring/eternal 1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world 1a) ancient time, long time (of past) 1b) (of future) 1b1) for ever, always 1b2) continuous existence, perpetual 1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.