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Psalm 118:10

All the nations surrounded me, but in the LORD’s name I cut them off.

8It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to put confidence in man.
9It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to put confidence in princes.
10All the nations surrounded me, but in the LORD’s name I cut them off.
11They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In the LORD’s name I indeed cut them off.
12They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In the LORD’s name I cut them off.
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← Psalm 118:9Psalm 118:11 →
Notice

Surrounding nations make this a battle scene, and the speaker’s claim of victory in YHWH’s name can raise hard questions about violence and trust.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What troubles or steadies you about the speaker naming YHWH amid such violent conflict?

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How do the preceding words about refuge shape your reading of this victory over surrounding nations?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

9 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 88:17They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.Both speakers describe being surrounded, though Psalm 88 remains engulfed while Psalm 118 recounts defeating those who surrounded him.
Revelation 20:8–9and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war, whose number is as …Both passages portray nations massed for conflict, with Revelation describing their deception and gathering for war.
2 Samuel 8:1–18After this, David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.Both passages recount victory over foreign opponents: David subdues the Philistines, and the psalm’s speaker defeats the surrounding nations.
Psalm 18:40You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.Both speakers describe cutting off enemies and connect their victory with the LORD’s help or name.
Zechariah 14:1–3Behold, a day of the LORD comes, when your plunder will be divided within you.Both name the LORD in scenes of conflict; Zechariah announces plunder, while the psalm’s speaker recounts defeating surrounding nations.
2 Samuel 10:1–19After this, the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.The shared thread is limited to foreign peoples; the supplied Samuel verse records Ammon’s royal succession without describing conflict.
2 Samuel 5:1–25Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.Both describe peoples gathering around one figure, though Israel approaches David as kin while the psalm’s nations surround the speaker as enemies.
Zechariah 12:3It will happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples. All who burden themselves with it will be severely wounded, and …Both describe all nations gathered against a target and suffering defeat or injury in that confrontation.
Revelation 19:19–21I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army.Both depict collective hostility: nations surround the psalm’s speaker, while kings and armies gather against the rider and his army.
Where this verse fits

Fear for the future. sermon or Bible study notes.

What the Bible says about fear →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read verses 8–12 and mark each mention of YHWH

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Encouragement

This account of battle gives no command to harm those who oppose you. Its confidence rests in YHWH, whom the preceding lines name as a refuge above human power.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 118:10. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 118 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).