Psa 18:32 | NETfull | STEP | The one true God gives me strength; he removes the obstacles in my way.

Psalms 18:32

32 The one true God ^{▼▼ Heb “the God.” The prefixed article emphasizes the Lord’s distinctiveness as the one true God (cf. Deut 33:26). See v. 30.} gives ^{▼▼ Heb “is the one who clothes.” For similar language see 1 Sam 2:4; Pss 65:6; 93:1. The psalmist employs a generalizing hymnic style in vv. 32–34; he uses participles in vv. 32a, 33a, and 34a to describe what God characteristically does on his behalf.} me strength; ^{▼▼ 2 Sam 22:33 reads, “the God is my strong refuge.”} ^{▼▼ Gives me strength. As the following context makes clear, this refers to physical and emotional strength for battle (see especially v. 39).}
he removes ^{▼▼ The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive here carries along the generalizing force of the preceding participle.} the obstacles in my way. ^{▼▼ Heb “he made my path smooth.” The Hebrew term תָּמִים (tamim, “smooth”) usually carries a moral or ethical connotation, “blameless, innocent.” However, in Ps 18:33 it refers to a pathway free of obstacles. The reality underlying the metaphor is the psalmist’s ability to charge into battle without tripping (see vv. 33, 36).}