Psalms 91:13 - Exposition

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder. Conquered enemies prostrated themselves before their conquerors, who, to mark the completeness of the subjection, placed a foot upon the prostrate form. From this practice the metaphor of "treading under foot" for conquering became a commonplace (see Psalms 7:5 ; Psalms 44:5 ; Psalms 55:12 , etc.). The "lion" here represents all open and violent foes; the "adder," all secret and malignant ones. The young lion ( kephir, the lion in the height of his strength) and the dragon ( tannin, the most dreadful form of serpent) shalt thou trample under feet. An emphatic repetition, with a certain heightening of the colour.