What Does Psalm 18:33 Mean in the King James?
He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The height is not the whole miracle; the miracle is receiving footing that belongs on it.
THE MEANING
You receive footing suited to steep ground: God makes your movement like the hind’s sure step and sets you where you can stand. The height remains real, and so does the support that carries you there.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that safety requires the ground to become easy first: here the feet are made sure for the heights while the high place remains high.
THE ROOT
הַמְשַׁוֶּה
hameshaveh
GROWS FROM
שוה
shavah
To be like or equal; in this form, to make like or compare.
“maketh” in this verse is hameshaveh. The root holds likeness and equality together: God makes the feet correspond to the hind’s ability on steep ground. The verse pictures a fitting of capacity to terrain, not the removal of the height.
ALSO GROWS
shaveh: Equal, alike, or of equal worth.
שָׁוֶה
This branch makes the verse’s “like” more than resemblance: the feet are suited to the hind’s kind of movement.
hishvah: Made equal or compared.
הִשְׁוָה
This form shows the root can describe bringing things into correspondence, as the feet are made fit for the heights.
יַעֲמִידֵנִי
ya'amideni
GROWS FROM
עמד
amad
To stand; in a causative form, to make stand, set, or establish.
“setteth” in this verse is ya'amideni. The verb carries the sense of causing you to stand, not simply moving you to a higher location. The verse’s ascent ends in stability: you are set on the heights with the capacity to remain there.
ALSO GROWS
amad: To stand or remain standing.
עָמַד
This is the root’s basic action, present in the verse’s image of being set on high ground.
ammud: A pillar or column.
עַמּוּד
The pillar is a structure that stands; this branch echoes the stability in being set upon the heights.
רַגְלַי
raglay
GROWS FROM
רגל
ragal
Foot; the related verb also means to go about on foot.
The Hebrew root connects the foot with the act of going about, so these are not feet as decoration but as the means of movement. The hind’s image emphasizes sure movement across steep ground.
ALSO GROWS
regel: Foot or leg.
רֶגֶל
This is the body part named in the verse, understood as the instrument of movement.
meraggel: Scout or spy.
מְרַגֵּל
This word belongs to the root’s sense of going about; it brings out the purposeful movement carried by the image of the feet.
THE PATTERN
Divine strength makes movement possible on ground that would otherwise defeat ordinary footing.
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.THE THREAD
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.The word translated “maketh” here and “equal” in Isaiah share שוה (shavah), meaning to be like or equal. Psalm 18:33 uses that root for feet made to match the hind’s sure movement; Isaiah uses it to say that no one is equal to the Holy One.
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