Deep Dive

Psalms 28:4

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Repay them according to their deeds and for their works of evil. Repay them for what their hands have done; bring back on them what they deserve.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 4

The former part of this psalm is the prayer of a saint militan and now in distress (Psa 28:1-3), to which is added the doom of God's implacable enemies (Psa 28:4, Psa 28:5). The latter part of the psalm is the thanksgiving of a saint triumphant, and delivered out of his distresses (Psa 28:6-8), to which is added a prophetical prayer for all God's faithful loyal subjects (Psa 28:9). So that it is hard to say which of these two conditions David was in when he penned it. Some think he was now in trouble seeking God, but at the same time preparing to praise him for his deliverance, and by faith giving him thanks for it, before it was wrought. Others think he was now in triumph, but remembered, and recorded for his own and others' benefit, the prayers he made when he was in affliction, that the mercy might relish the better, when it appeared to be an answer to them. A psalm of David.

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 4

נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) פֹּעַל (pôʻal, H6467) — an act or work (concretely) רֹעַ (rôaʻ, H7455) — badness (as marring), physically or morally מַעֲלָל (maʻălâl, H4611) — an act (good or bad) מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… גְּמוּל (gᵉmûwl, H1576) — treatment, i.e. an act (of good or ill); by implication, service or requital

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

II Timothy 4:14rank 6

Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

Revelation of John 22:12rank 6

“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.

Revelation of John 18:6rank 5

Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.

Ezekiel 38:10rank 3

This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.

Psalms 5:10rank 3

Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own devices. Drive them out for their many transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.

Ezra 9:13rank 3

After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this),

Psalms 103:10rank 3

He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.

Romans 11:22rank 3

Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Psalms 21:10rank 2

You will wipe their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from the sons of men.

Psalms 62:12rank 2

and loving devotion to You, O Lord. For You will repay each man according to his deeds.

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