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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 18:42 I ground them as dust in the face of the wind; I trampled them like mud in the streets.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/18-42.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/19_Psa_018_042.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 18:42 - The LORD is My Rock" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="I ground them as dust in the face of the wind; I trampled them like mud in the streets." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></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/18-42.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/18-42.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/18.htm">Chapter 18</a> > Verse 42</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="/ad1.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/18-41.htm" title="Psalm 18:41">◄</a> Psalm 18:42 <a href="/psalms/18-43.htm" title="Psalm 18:43">►</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="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/18.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/18.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />I beat them as fine as windblown dust; I trampled them like mud in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />I ground them as fine as dust in the wind. I swept them into the gutter like dirt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />I ground them as dust in the face of the wind; I trampled them like mud in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind; I cast them out like dirt in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I beat them fine like the dust before the wind; I emptied them out like the mud of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind; I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind; I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind; I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind; I emptied them out as the dirt of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I pulverize them like dust before the wind; I trample them like mud in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I pulverize them like dust before the wind; I trample them like mud in the streets. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />I ground them to dust blown by the wind, and I poured them out like mud in the streets. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />I beat them into a powder as fine as the dust blown by the wind. I threw them out as though they were dirt on the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />I crush them, so that they become like dust which the wind blows away. I trample on them like mud in the streets. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />I ground them like wind-swept dust; I emptied them out like dirt in the street.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />I ground them as dust in the face of the wind; I trampled them like mud in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />I grind them as fine windblown dust; I beat them underfoot like clay in the streets. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then I ground them as fine as the dust on the surface of a path. Like the mud in the streets, I trampled them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I cast them out as the dirt in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And I beat them as dust before wind, "" I empty them out as mire of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And I beat them as dust before wind, As mire of the streets I empty them out.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And I will beat them in pieces as dust upon the face of the wind: I will pour them out as the mire of the streets.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And I shall beat them as small as the dust before the wind; I shall bring them to nought, like the dirt in the streets. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 17:43>And I will crush them into dust before the face of the wind, so that I will obliterate them like the mud in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />I ground them to dust before the wind; I left them like mud in the streets. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />I beat them fine, like dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then I will beat them small as the dust before the wind; I will tread over them as the mire of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />I shall pulverize them like the dust upon the face of the wind; like mud of the street I shall tread upon them.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />I will grind them as the mud of the streets: and I will beat them small as dust before the wind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/18-42.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=1784" 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/18.htm">The LORD is My Rock</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">41</span>They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer. <span class="reftext">42</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7833.htm" title="7833: wə·’eš·ḥā·qêm (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf-1cs:: 3mp) -- To rub away, beat fine, pulverize. A primitive root; to comminate.">I ground them</a> <a href="/hebrew/6083.htm" title="6083: kə·‘ā·p̄ār (Prep-k:: N-ms) -- Dry earth, dust. From aphar; dust; hence, clay, earth, mud.">as dust</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">in</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: pə·nê- (N-mpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">the face of</a> <a href="/hebrew/7307.htm" title="7307: rū·aḥ (N-cs) -- Breath, wind, spirit. From ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath.">the wind;</a> <a href="/hebrew/7324.htm" title="7324: ’ă·rî·qêm (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs:: 3mp) -- Arm, cast out, draw out, make empty, pour forth out. A primitive root; to pour out, i.e. Empty.">I trampled them</a> <a href="/hebrew/2916.htm" title="2916: kə·ṭîṭ (Prep-k:: N-msc) -- Mud, mire, clay. From an unused root meaning apparently to be sticky; mud or clay; figuratively, calamity.">like mud</a> <a href="/hebrew/2351.htm" title="2351: ḥū·ṣō·wṯ (N-mp) -- The outside, a street. Or chuts; from an unused root meaning to sever; properly, separate by a wall, i.e. Outside, outdoors.">in the streets.</a> </span><span class="reftext">43</span>You have delivered me from the strife of the people; You have made me the head of nations; a people I had not known shall serve me.…<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/41-2.htm">Isaiah 41:2</a></span><br />Who has aroused one from the east and called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/41-15.htm">Isaiah 41:15-16</a></span><br />Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. / You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/4-13.htm">Micah 4:13</a></span><br />Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break to pieces many peoples. Then you will devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/22-43.htm">2 Samuel 22:43</a></span><br />I ground them as the dust of the earth; I crushed and trampled them like mud in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/38-13.htm">Job 38:13-14</a></span><br />that it might spread to the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of it? / The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its hills stand out like the folds of a garment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/10-6.htm">Isaiah 10:6</a></span><br />I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/51-33.htm">Jeremiah 51:33</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled. In just a little while her harvest time will come.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/2-35.htm">Daniel 2:35</a></span><br />Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/17-13.htm">Isaiah 17:13</a></span><br />The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-5.htm">Isaiah 29:5</a></span><br />But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/41-25.htm">Isaiah 41:25</a></span><br />I have raised up one from the north, and he has come—one from the east who calls on My name. He will march over rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter who treads the clay.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-44.htm">Matthew 21:44</a></span><br />He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/20-18.htm">Luke 20:18</a></span><br />Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/2-27.htm">Revelation 2:27</a></span><br />He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/19-15.htm">Revelation 19:15</a></span><br />And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.</p><p class="hdg">beat</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/50-22.htm">Psalm 50:22</a></b></br> Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear <i>you</i> in pieces, and <i>there be</i> none to deliver.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/13-7.htm">2 Kings 13:7</a></b></br> Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/41-2.htm">Isaiah 41:2,15,16</a></b></br> Who raised up the righteous <i>man</i> from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made <i>him</i> rule over kings? he gave <i>them</i> as the dust to his sword, <i>and</i> as driven stubble to his bow… </p><p class="hdg">cast</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/10-6.htm">Isaiah 10:6</a></b></br> I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/25-10.htm">Isaiah 25:10</a></b></br> For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/zechariah/10-5.htm">Zechariah 10:5</a></b></br> And they shall be as mighty <i>men</i>, which tread down <i>their enemies</i> in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD <i>is</i> with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Beat</a> <a href="/job/34-31.htm">Borne</a> <a href="/psalms/17-13.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/psalms/18-38.htm">Crushed</a> <a href="/job/7-5.htm">Dirt</a> <a href="/job/16-13.htm">Drained</a> <a href="/psalms/7-5.htm">Dust</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-13.htm">Emptied</a> <a href="/job/35-16.htm">Empty</a> <a href="/job/31-24.htm">Fine</a> <a href="/job/41-30.htm">Mire</a> <a href="/job/41-30.htm">Mud</a> <a href="/job/30-16.htm">Poured</a> <a href="/job/40-4.htm">Small</a> <a href="/1_kings/20-34.htm">Streets</a> <a href="/psalms/9-6.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/psalms/18-10.htm">Wind</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/78-66.htm">Beat</a> <a href="/psalms/22-31.htm">Borne</a> <a href="/psalms/22-10.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/psalms/34-18.htm">Crushed</a> <a href="/isaiah/57-20.htm">Dirt</a> <a href="/psalms/32-4.htm">Drained</a> <a href="/psalms/22-15.htm">Dust</a> <a href="/songs/1-3.htm">Emptied</a> <a href="/psalms/41-6.htm">Empty</a> <a href="/psalms/19-10.htm">Fine</a> <a href="/psalms/69-2.htm">Mire</a> <a href="/psalms/40-2.htm">Mud</a> <a href="/psalms/22-14.htm">Poured</a> <a href="/psalms/44-12.htm">Small</a> <a href="/psalms/55-11.htm">Streets</a> <a href="/psalms/29-8.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/psalms/35-5.htm">Wind</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 18</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/18-1.htm">David praises God for his manifold and marvelous blessings</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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/psalms/18.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>I ground them as dust</b><br />The phrase "I ground them as dust" evokes a vivid image of complete and utter defeat. The Hebrew root for "ground" is "דָּקַק" (daqaq), which means to crush or pulverize. This imagery is often used in the Old Testament to describe the total destruction of enemies, leaving them as insignificant as dust. Dust, in biblical times, symbolized mortality and insignificance, as seen in <a href="/genesis/3-19.htm">Genesis 3:19</a>, where humanity is reminded, "for dust you are and to dust you will return." This phrase underscores the power and authority given by God to David over his enemies, emphasizing that those who oppose God's anointed are reduced to nothingness.<p><b>in the face of the wind</b><br />The "face of the wind" suggests the ease and swiftness with which the enemies are scattered. The Hebrew word for "wind" is "רוּחַ" (ruach), which can also mean spirit or breath. This dual meaning enriches the text, suggesting that just as the wind disperses dust effortlessly, so does the Spirit of God empower David to overcome his adversaries. The wind, an uncontrollable and powerful force of nature, symbolizes the divine intervention that aids David in his victories. Historically, the wind is often seen as a tool of God's judgment, as in the parting of the Red Sea (<a href="/exodus/14-21.htm">Exodus 14:21</a>), reinforcing the idea that God is actively working through David.<p><b>I trampled them</b><br />The act of trampling signifies dominance and victory. The Hebrew root "רָמַס" (ramas) means to tread down or crush. This imagery is common in ancient Near Eastern texts to depict a king's triumph over his foes. In a spiritual sense, trampling represents the believer's victory over sin and evil through God's strength. The act of trampling is not just physical but also symbolic of the spiritual authority granted to God's people. It reflects the promise found in <a href="/romans/16-20.htm">Romans 16:20</a>, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet."<p><b>like mud in the streets</b><br />"Mud in the streets" conveys the idea of worthlessness and defilement. In ancient times, streets were often unpaved and muddy, especially during the rainy season. Mud was trampled underfoot, considered dirty and of no value. The Hebrew word for "mud" is "טִיט" (tit), which can also mean mire or clay. This imagery highlights the complete degradation of the enemies, reduced to a state of utter humiliation and disgrace. Scripturally, it serves as a reminder of the fate of those who oppose God's will, as seen in <a href="/isaiah/10-6.htm">Isaiah 10:6</a>, where God uses the imagery of trampling to describe the judgment on Assyria. This phrase reassures believers of God's ultimate justice and the futility of standing against His purposes.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/18.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(42) <span class= "bld">Before the wind.</span>--In Samuel, the weaker "of the earth."<p><span class= "bld">Cast them out</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>sweep them before me. In Samuel "stamp and tread them out." So LXX. here "grind," or "pound."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 42.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/35-5.htm">Psalm 35:5</a>). The enemy were beaten and dispersed so that they seemed driven as dust before the wind. <span class="cmt_word">I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets</span>. They were made no account of, treated with as little ceremony as the clay in the streets. Language of utter contempt. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/18-42.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">I ground them</span><br /><span class="heb">וְֽאֶשְׁחָקֵ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’eš·ḥā·qêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7833.htm">Strong's 7833: </a> </span><span class="str2">To rub away, beat fine, pulverize</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as dust</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּעָפָ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(kə·‘ā·p̄ār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6083.htm">Strong's 6083: </a> </span><span class="str2">Dust, clay, earth, mud</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">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">the face of</span><br /><span class="heb">פְּנֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(pə·nê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the wind;</span><br /><span class="heb">ר֑וּחַ</span> <span class="translit">(rū·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7307.htm">Strong's 7307: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I trampled them</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲרִיקֵֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·rî·qêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7324.htm">Strong's 7324: </a> </span><span class="str2">Arm, cast out, draw out, make empty, pour forth out </span><br /><br /><span class="word">like mud</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּטִ֖יט</span> <span class="translit">(kə·ṭîṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2916.htm">Strong's 2916: </a> </span><span class="str2">Mud, clay, calamity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the streets.</span><br /><span class="heb">חוּצ֣וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ḥū·ṣō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2351.htm">Strong's 2351: </a> </span><span class="str2">Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/18-42.htm">Psalm 18:42 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/18-42.htm">Psalm 18:42 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/18-42.htm">Psalm 18:42 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/18-42.htm">Psalm 18:42 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/18-42.htm">Psalm 18:42 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/18-42.htm">Psalm 18:42 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/18-42.htm">Psalm 18:42 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/18-42.htm">Psalm 18:42 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/18-42.htm">Psalm 18:42 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/18-42.htm">Psalm 18:42 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/18-42.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 18:42 Then I beat them small as (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/18-41.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 18:41"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 18:41" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/18-43.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 18:43"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 18:43" /></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>