The Hebrew sakar means to shut or close β barricading a passage or stopping it up. In some instances it carries the sense of delivering someone up or surrendering them, as when the men of Keilah were going to 'sakar' David into Saul's hands. The word captures the idea of sealing off any escape β complete enclosure or entrapment.
The concept of being 'shut in' or 'handed over' carries deep theological resonance. God sometimes shuts up enemies, delivering them into the hands of His servants. The flip side is the fear of being handed over to one's enemies β a theme of lament and petition throughout the Psalms. Understanding sakar helps illuminate passages about divine protection (God closing the way of danger) versus divine judgment (God surrendering the rebellious to the consequences of their sin).