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Psalm 68:23

that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”

21But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
22The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea,
23that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
24They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, among the ladies playing with tambourines,
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Notice

Blood underfoot and dogs feeding on enemies make this victory song hard to read, confronting you with the bodily horror of defeat under God's judgment.

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What troubles you about the blood and dogs in this picture of victory?

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How does God's speech in the surrounding verses shape your reading of the enemies' defeat?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

8 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
1 Kings 21:19You shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ You shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says, “In the place …Both passages describe dogs tasting blood in a judgment announced by God; Kings names killing and taking possession as the offense.
Psalm 58:10The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,Both psalms depict feet in the blood of defeated opponents, using graphic bodily images for vengeance and victory.
1 Kings 22:38They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood where the prostitutes washed themselves, according to the LORD’s word which he …Dogs consuming blood connect the psalm's announced defeat with the event Kings describes as occurring according to the LORD's word.
Revelation 19:17–21I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, “Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of …Both passages describe animals receiving food, though the supplied Revelation verse names a supper of God without describing blood or enemies.
2 Kings 9:33–37He said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses. Then he trampled her under foot.Blood and trampling connect these scenes of violent defeat; the supplied Kings verse depicts a woman thrown down and trampled.
Esther 8:13A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to …Both texts speak of people taking vengeance on their enemies, though Esther's decree contains none of the psalm's bloody imagery.
Isaiah 63:1–6Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Who is this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is …Both passages portray strength: Isaiah's speaker declares might to save, while the psalm describes enemies being crushed.
Deuteronomy 32:42I will make my arrows drunk with blood. My sword shall devour flesh with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the head of the leaders of the enemy.”Both passages use blood-soaked battle imagery in divine speech to describe the defeat of enemies.
Where this verse fits

Injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.

What the Bible says about anger →
One step

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Read the surrounding verses and note who announces judgment

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Encouragement

This victory song depicts God's judgment in brutal terms. It offers no permission to turn someone you resent into a target; God remains the judge of his enemies.

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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).