18:10–11
Verses 18:10–11 share a common theme: the source of a person’s protection and safety. Righteous people trust in the LORD to protect them (18:10). People who are rich depend on their wealth (18:11).
In each verse, the first line is a metaphor that describes the source of protection. The second lines imply a contrast in the effectiveness of the protection. Righteous people are truly safe, whereas rich people only think they are safe.
The repetition of the idea “high” also shows the connection between these verses. A tower is understood to be a high structure (18:10a). The righteous are safe in that they are “set on high ” (18:10b). The rich think that their wealth is “a high wall” (18:11b).
18:10a
The name of the LORD: In this context, this phrase represents the LORD himself.
is a strong tower: This phrase refers to a high, sturdily-built structure that provided refuge from danger. Towers were often built into the wall around a city. From such a tower the defenders would be out of reach of enemy soldiers who were attacking the city from below.
In this metaphor, the LORD is compared to a strong tower. They are similar because both provide protection to people who go to them to take refuge.
Some ways to translate this metaphor are:
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
The Lord is like a strong tower (Good News Translation)
• Change the metaphor to a simile and make the similarity explicit. For example:
The LORD is like a high, sturdy place ⌊that protects the people inside⌋ .
18:10b
the righteous run to it and are safe: This clause is a continuation of the metaphor in 18:10a. The word run implies here that people move quickly, deliberately, and eagerly to take refuge in the tower. Similarly, righteous people consistently and wholeheartedly place their trust in the LORD for refuge.
and are safe: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “he is set on high.” This phrase refers to being in the high tower mentioned in 18:10a. It implies that the person is out of reach from the enemies below. Therefore he is safe.
Some other ways to translate 18:10b are:
those who do right can run to him for safety (New Century Version)
-or-
the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high (NET Bible)
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