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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 81:14 how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/81-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/19_Psa_081_014.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 81:14 - Sing for Joy to God, Our Strength" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/81-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/81-14.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/81.htm">Chapter 81</a> > Verse 14</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad14.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/81-13.htm" title="Psalm 81:13">◄</a> Psalm 81:14 <a href="/psalms/81-15.htm" title="Psalm 81:15">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/81.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/81.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/81.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/81.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/81.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/81.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/81.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn My hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/81.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“I would quickly subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/81.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220I would quickly subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/81.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“I would quickly subdue their enemies, And turn My hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/81.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />I would quickly subdue their enemies And I would turn My hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/81.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Then I would quickly subdue <i>and</i> humble their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/81.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/81.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/81.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn my hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/81.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />I, the LORD, would quickly defeat your enemies with my mighty power. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/81.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />I should soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/81.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />I would quickly defeat their enemies. I would turn my power against their foes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/81.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />I would quickly defeat their enemies and conquer all their foes. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/81.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Then I would quickly subdue their enemies. I would turn against their foes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/81.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/81.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and attack their adversaries." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/81.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/81.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/81.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/81.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />As a little thing I cause their enemies to bow, "" And I turn back My hand against their adversaries,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/81.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> As a little thing their enemies I cause to bow, And against their adversaries I turn back My hand,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/81.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Shortly I shall humble their enemies, and against their adversaries I will turn back my hand.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/81.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />I should soon have humbled their enemies, and laid my hand on them that troubled them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/81.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 80:15>I would have humbled their enemies, as if it were nothing, and I would have sent my hand upon those who troubled them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/81.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />In a moment I would humble their foes, and turn back my hand against their oppressors. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/81.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/81.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />I would soon have destroyed their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/81.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />I would have shortly destroyed their enemies and would have turned my hand against those who hated them.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/81.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn My hand against their adversaries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/81.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />I should have put down their enemies very quickly, and should have laid my hand upon those that afflicted them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/81-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=10305" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/81.htm">Sing for Joy to God, Our Strength</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">13</span>If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways, <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4592.htm" title="4592: kim·‘aṭ (Prep-k:: Adj-ms) -- A little, fewness, a few. Or miat; from ma'at; a little or few.">how soon</a> <a href="/hebrew/3665.htm" title="3665: ’aḵ·nî·a‘ (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs) -- To be humble. A primitive root; properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish.">I would subdue</a> <a href="/hebrew/341.htm" title="341: ’ō·wy·ḇê·hem (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc:: 3mp) -- Hating, an adversary. Or owyeb; active participle of 'ayab; hating; an adversary.">their enemies</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: ’ā·šîḇ (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">and turn</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: yā·ḏî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">My hand</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: wə·‘al (Conj-w:: Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">against</a> <a href="/hebrew/6862.htm" title="6862: ṣā·rê·hem (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent. Or tsar; from tsarar; narrow; a tight place; also a pebble; an opponent.">their foes!</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/48-18.htm">Isaiah 48:18</a></span><br />If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-29.htm">Deuteronomy 32:29</a></span><br />If only they were wise, they would understand it; they would comprehend their fate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-15.htm">Isaiah 30:15</a></span><br />For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-7.htm">Isaiah 55:7</a></span><br />Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-23.htm">Jeremiah 7:23</a></span><br />but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/26-13.htm">Jeremiah 26:13</a></span><br />So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, so that He might relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/7-14.htm">2 Chronicles 7:14</a></span><br />and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/26-3.htm">Leviticus 26:3-8</a></span><br />If you follow My statutes and carefully keep My commandments, / I will give you rains in their season, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit. / Your threshing will continue until the grape harvest, and the grape harvest will continue until sowing time; you will have your fill of food to eat and will dwell securely in your land. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-1.htm">Deuteronomy 28:1-7</a></span><br />“Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. / And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God: / You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/1-23.htm">Proverbs 1:23</a></span><br />If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-30.htm">Ezekiel 18:30-32</a></span><br />Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37</a></span><br />O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/19-42.htm">Luke 19:42</a></span><br />and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/3-19.htm">Acts 3:19</a></span><br />Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-4.htm">Romans 2:4</a></span><br />Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.</p><p class="hdg">I should</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/14-9.htm">Numbers 14:9,45</a></b></br> Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they <i>are</i> bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD <i>is</i> with us: fear them not… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/23-13.htm">Joshua 23:13</a></b></br> Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out <i>any of</i> these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/2-20.htm">Judges 2:20-23</a></b></br> And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; … </p><p class="hdg">turned</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/1-8.htm">Amos 1:8</a></b></br> And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/zechariah/13-7.htm">Zechariah 13:7</a></b></br> Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man <i>that is</i> my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/78-66.htm">Adversaries</a> <a href="/psalms/81-9.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/psalms/80-19.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/psalms/80-6.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/psalms/74-23.htm">Foes</a> <a href="/psalms/80-17.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/psalms/80-6.htm">Haters</a> <a href="/psalms/73-1.htm">Little</a> <a href="/psalms/78-65.htm">Overcome</a> <a href="/psalms/79-8.htm">Quickly</a> <a href="/psalms/68-31.htm">Soon</a> <a href="/psalms/74-8.htm">Subdue</a> <a href="/psalms/78-31.htm">Subdued</a> <a href="/psalms/80-19.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/psalms/81-6.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/psalms/76-5.htm">War</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/89-23.htm">Adversaries</a> <a href="/psalms/86-1.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/psalms/82-3.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/psalms/83-2.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/psalms/83-2.htm">Foes</a> <a href="/psalms/82-4.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/psalms/81-15.htm">Haters</a> <a href="/psalms/105-12.htm">Little</a> <a href="/psalms/83-17.htm">Overcome</a> <a href="/psalms/90-10.htm">Quickly</a> <a href="/psalms/90-10.htm">Soon</a> <a href="/isaiah/25-5.htm">Subdue</a> <a href="/psalms/106-42.htm">Subdued</a> <a href="/psalms/85-3.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/psalms/84-9.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/psalms/83-2.htm">War</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 81</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/81-1.htm">An exhortation to a solemn praising of God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/81-4.htm">God challenges that duty by reason of his benefits</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/81-8.htm">God, exhorting to obedience, complains of their disobedience, which proves their own hurt.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The context of <a href="/psalms/81.htm">Psalm 81</a> is a call for Israel to return to faithfulness. Historically, Israel faced numerous enemies, including the Canaanites, Philistines, and later, the Assyrians and Babylonians. God's promise to subdue enemies is consistent with His covenant with Israel, where obedience would lead to protection and victory (<a href="/deuteronomy/28-7.htm">Deuteronomy 28:7</a>). This also foreshadows the ultimate victory over spiritual enemies through Christ, who subdues sin and death (<a href="/1_corinthians/15-25.htm">1 Corinthians 15:25-26</a>).<p><b>and turn My hand against their foes!</b><br>The imagery of God's hand signifies His power and intervention. In biblical times, the hand was often a symbol of strength and action. God's turning His hand against Israel's foes indicates a direct and decisive action to protect and deliver His people. This reflects the divine warrior motif found throughout the Old Testament, where God fights on behalf of Israel (<a href="/exodus/15-3.htm">Exodus 15:3</a>). It also points to the eschatological hope where God will ultimately defeat all evil, as seen in <a href="/revelation/19-11.htm">Revelation 19:11-21</a>, where Christ returns as the conquering King.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The speaker in this verse, expressing His willingness to act on behalf of His people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The implied audience of the Psalm, representing God's chosen people who are being addressed.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/enemies/foes.htm">Enemies/Foes</a></b><br>Those who oppose or threaten Israel, whom God promises to subdue.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/psalmist.htm">Psalmist</a></b><br>Traditionally attributed to Asaph, who is conveying God's message to the people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/h/historical_context.htm">Historical Context</a></b><br>Reflects a time when Israel faced external threats and needed divine intervention.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_readiness_to_act.htm">God's Readiness to Act</a></b><br>God is always ready to intervene on behalf of His people when they turn to Him in obedience and faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a></b><br>The promise of subduing enemies is contingent upon Israel's obedience, highlighting the importance of aligning our lives with God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_protection.htm">Divine Protection</a></b><br>Believers can trust in God's protection against spiritual and physical adversaries when they remain faithful to Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_enemies.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Enemies</a></b><br>God has ultimate control over all adversaries, and His power is sufficient to overcome any opposition we face.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance_and_faithfulness.htm">Call to Repentance and Faithfulness</a></b><br>This verse serves as a reminder to repent from disobedience and return to a faithful relationship with God to experience His deliverance.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_81.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 81</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_an_executive_pastor_do.htm">What does making enemies a footstool signify?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_zechariah_10_11_literal_or_hyperbole.htm">Zechariah 10:11: Can the idea of passing through a 'sea of distress' and subduing its waves be taken literally, or is it a mythological hyperbole?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_psalm_81_13-14_with_defeats.htm">In Psalm 81:13-14, how can we reconcile God's promise to subdue Israel's enemies with historical records of Israel's defeats?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_verify_psalm_55_12-14's_betrayal.htm">How can we confirm the historical or archaeological authenticity of the betrayal described in Psalm 55:12-14?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/81.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">I should soon have subdued (</span>rather, <span class="accented">I should won subdue</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>their enemies.</span> Israel is still surrounded by enemies, anxious for his destruction. God could subdue them and sweep them away in a moment, if he pleased; and would do so, if Israel would repent and return to him. The appeal is to the living Israel - the Israel of the psalmist's time, which is given one more chance of triumph over its enemies. <span class="cmt_word">And turned my hand against their adversaries.</span> Logically, the two clauses should have been inverted, since the subjugation of Israel's enemies would be the effect of God's hand being turned against them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/81-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">how soon</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֭מְעַט</span> <span class="translit">(kim·‘aṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4592.htm">Strong's 4592: </a> </span><span class="str2">A little, fewness, a few</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I would subdue</span><br /><span class="heb">אַכְנִ֑יעַ</span> <span class="translit">(’aḵ·nî·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3665.htm">Strong's 3665: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bend the knee, to humiliate, vanquish</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their enemies</span><br /><span class="heb">אוֹיְבֵיהֶ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·wy·ḇê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_341.htm">Strong's 341: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hating, an adversary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and turn</span><br /><span class="heb">אָשִׁ֥יב</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·šîḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">My hand</span><br /><span class="heb">יָדִֽי׃</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḏî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">against</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעַ֥ל</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘al)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their foes.</span><br /><span class="heb">צָ֝רֵיהֶ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(ṣā·rê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6862.htm">Strong's 6862: </a> </span><span class="str2">Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/81-14.htm">Psalm 81:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/81-14.htm">Psalm 81:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/81-14.htm">Psalm 81:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/81-14.htm">Psalm 81:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/81-14.htm">Psalm 81:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/81-14.htm">Psalm 81:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/81-14.htm">Psalm 81:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/81-14.htm">Psalm 81:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/81-14.htm">Psalm 81:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/81-14.htm">Psalm 81:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/81-14.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 81:14 I would soon subdue their enemies (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/81-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 81:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 81:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/81-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 81:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 81:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>