Psalms 18:16
16 He reached down ▼▼tn Heb “stretched.” Perhaps “his hand” should be supplied by ellipsis (see
Ps 144:7). In this poetic narrative context the three prefixed verbal forms in this verse are best understood as preterites indicating past tense, not imperfects.
from above and took hold of me;
he pulled me from the surging water. ▼▼tn Heb “mighty waters.” The waters of the sea symbolize the psalmist’s powerful enemies, as well as the realm of death they represent (see v.
4 and
Ps 144:7).
