Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 68:23
That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of [thine] enemies, [and] the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
23. That thou mayest dip thy foot in blood,
That the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from (thine) enemies.
This rendering of the R.V. probably gives the right sense, though the Heb. presents some difficulties. For dip should probably be read wash, as in Psa 58:10, which passage (with the notes) should be compared. The thought of the approaching vengeance upon the enemies of Israel is a prominent one in Isaiah 40-66. See e.g. Isa 41:15 f.; Isa 49:26; Isa 63:1 ff. The judgement of the oppressor is in fact the necessary condition of the deliverance of the oppressed, indispensable moreover as the vindication of God’s eternal justice.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies … – Margin, red. A more literal rendering would be, That thou mayest crush – thy foot in blood – the tongue of thy dogs from the enemies, from him. The idea of dipping the foot in blood is not in the passage directly; but the leading thought is that of crushing the enemy. It is then added that the foot would be in blood. So of the tongue of the dogs. The meaning is, that the tongues of dogs would be employed in licking up the blood of the enemies, though that is not expressed in so many words. The sense of the whole is, that the foes of the people would be slain.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. That thy foot may be dipped in the blood] God will make such a slaughter among his enemies, the Amorites, that thou shalt walk over their dead bodies; and beasts of prey shall feed upon them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And as it was at the Red Sea and at Bashan before, so yet again thine enemies shall be slain in such great numbers, that thou mayst wade in their blood, and thy dogs lick it up in the field.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of [thine] enemies,…. This verse is in connection with Ps 68:21, with Ps 68:23 being to be read in a parenthesis: the sense is, that the Messiah would so wound the head and hairy scalp of his people’s enemies, and there should be such a large effusion of blood, that their feet should be dipped therein, Re 14:20;
[See comments on Ps 58:10];
[and] the tongue of thy dogs in the same; who should lick it up, as the dogs licked the blood of Jezebel, 1Ki 21:19; and so such a carnage will be made of antichrist and his followers, that the fowls of the heavens will be called upon to eat the flesh of kings, captains, and mighty ones, Re 19:17.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(23) That thy foot.This makes an unnecessary transposition of a very involved sentence. The image is perfectly clear, though the syntax, as often happens in all languages, goes tripping itself up. The conqueror, after wading in the blood of his enemies, is met by the dogs, who lick his gory feet. With a change of one letter we may render, That thou mayest wash thy foot in bloodyea, the tongue of thy dogs in (the blood of) thine enemies.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
23. Thy foot dipped in blood The Hebrew word for “dipped” means to dash, crush, and is translated wound in Psa 68:21. The Septuagint has it, , ( bapto,) to dip, stain, colour. The metaphor is that of passing over the dead bodies of the slain on the battlefield while pursuing a retreating enemy, when the feet become stained with blood. Same as “treading under foot” an enemy, Psa 44:5; see, also, Isa 63:1. The idea of great slaughter is conveyed. So “dipping the foot in oil” has the idea of copiousness. Deu 33:24; Job 29:6. See, of God’s enemies, Rev 19:17-18; Rev 19:21.
And the tongue of thy dogs An expression of great contempt and dishonour of the dead. See 1Ki 21:19. Wild dogs and jackals always followed an army. Thus will the enemies of Jehovah perish.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 68:23. That thy foot may be dipped That thou mayest shake thy foot in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same. The verb refers to both clauses; and no word could be more proper. The motion of the foot, and the lapping of a dog’s tongue in the blood of slaughtered enemies, both answering to the sense of the original word; which properly signifies to draw water by moving the pitcher here and there. The meaning of the verse is, that if the enemies of God’s people should continue to invade and harass them by war, they should be entirely cut off by the sword, and their slaughter so great, as that the victorious army should be forced to trample on their dead and bleeding bodies, and the dogs should satiate themselves by lapping up their blood. The words are the description of a complete victory, and of what happens after a bloody engagement. Here also every part of this period suits the circumstance and the occasion. David had now accomplished the great design upon which his heart was set, and addresses himself to his God, as having taken possession of, and fixed his residence on Mount Sion. In consequence of which, David assures himself of the perpetual safety and prosperity of his people: thus triumphing over his enemies, who attempted to disturb his reign, and dispossess him of Jerusalem, but whose armies God enabled him to vanquish; great numbers of whom he had reduced into captivity; from whom he had obtained great riches, as the fruit of his victories, received gifts as tributary to his crown; and consecrated great part of the spoils he had taken from them to God, particularly to enable him to provide for the expences of this magnificent procession. His breaking out immediately, upon a review of these favours, into the solemn adoration of God, for thus continually upholding and protecting his people; as the God of salvation, as the sovereign director of the outgoings of death; and declaring his full assurance, that his vengeance should be exerted on all his incorrigible enemies, and that from his holy habitation on Mount Sion he would render his people equally victorious over them, as he did formerly over Pharaoh and the king of Bashan, must strike every attentive mind with a religious pleasing surprize; and is an argument of the warmth of David’s piety, and indeed naturally arose from the consideration that he was now under God’s peculiar protection; and of the liberty he had of frequenting his courts, and asking his direction in every future time of need. When the ark was thus safely deposited, when the sacrifices were offered, the solemnity nearly concluded, and the whole assembly about to return back, the singers struck up, and joined in the following part of this noble anthem.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 68:23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of [thine] enemies, [and] the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
Ver. 23. That thy foot may be dipped ] Heb. redded, imbrued, made gore bloody. Hereby is implied a very great slaughter. Confer Rev 19:17-18 ; Rev 19:21 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
dipped. Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read “bathed”. Compare Isa 63:3, Rev 19:13.
dogs in the same. Supply the Ellipsis from the context: “dogs [may lick] the same”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
That: Psa 58:10
dipped: Heb. red, Isa 63:1-6
the tongue: 1Ki 21:19, 1Ki 22:38, 2Ki 9:33-37, Rev 19:17-21
Reciprocal: Deu 32:42 – make mine Est 8:13 – avenge themselves
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
68:23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of [thine] enemies, [and] the tongue of thy dogs {r} in the same.
(r) That is, in the blood of that great slaughter, where dogs will lap blood.