Psalm 10:9 kjv
He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
Psalm 10:9 nkjv
He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.
Psalm 10:9 niv
like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
Psalm 10:9 esv
he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
Psalm 10:9 nlt
Like lions crouched in hiding,
they wait to pounce on the helpless.
Like hunters they capture the helpless
and drag them away in nets.
Psalm 10 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 7:15 | He dug a pit and hollowed it out, And has fallen into the hole which he made. | Wicked fall into their own traps. |
| Ps 9:15 | The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made... | Wicked ensnared by their own devices. |
| Ps 12:5 | "Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD... | God defends the oppressed. |
| Ps 14:4 | Do all the workers of wickedness not know, Who eat up my people as they eat bread... | Wicked devour the righteous. |
| Ps 17:12 | Like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion crouching in hiding places. | Wicked as predatory lions. |
| Ps 22:13 | They open wide their mouth at me, As a ravening and roaring lion. | Adversaries as roaring lions. |
| Ps 35:7-8 | For without cause they hid their net for me... Let a net fall on him which he does not know. | Wicked plot hidden traps. |
| Ps 37:32 | The wicked watches the righteous And seeks to kill him. | Wicked plot against the righteous. |
| Ps 52:2 | Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. | Deception as a tool of wickedness. |
| Ps 64:5 | They encourage themselves in an evil matter; They consult to lay snares secretly... | Secret planning of evil. |
| Ps 72:12-14 | For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also... | The righteous king defends the poor. |
| Ps 94:6 | They murder the widow and the stranger And slaughter the orphans. | Wicked prey on the most vulnerable. |
| Prov 1:11-12 | "If they say, 'Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause..." | Wicked actively seek innocent blood. |
| Prov 29:6 | An evil man is ensnared by sin, But the righteous sings and rejoices. | Sin as a snare for the wicked. |
| Ecc 7:26 | ...one who is a snare and a net, and whose hands are fetters. | Sinful woman described as a snare. |
| Jer 5:26 | For wicked men are found among My people, They watch like fowlers lying in wait... | Wicked likened to hunters setting traps. |
| Ezek 19:3 | ...it became a young lion, and learned to tear its prey; it devoured men. | Nation (Judah/rulers) acting as predators. |
| Hos 7:12 | When they go, I will spread My net over them... | God's judgment using net imagery. |
| Amos 8:4 | Listen to this, you who pant after the poor and would destroy the afflicted of the earth... | Condemnation of oppressing the poor. |
| Hab 1:15 | The fisherman pulls them all up with his hook, drags them away with his net... | Unjust nation capturing others like fish. |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion... | Devil as a predatory lion seeking to devour. |
| Matt 7:15 | "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." | Deceitful and predatory nature of false teachers. |
| Luke 11:53-54 | ...they began to press Him hard, and to provoke Him to speak on many subjects, plotting to catch Him in some statement. | Religious leaders plotting to entrap Jesus. |
Psalm 10 verses
Psalm 10 9 Meaning
Psalm 10:9 vividly portrays the wicked person's cunning and predatory nature, likened to a lion lying in ambush. The verse describes their stealthy and deceptive tactics, meticulously planning to trap and seize the vulnerable and defenseless, identified as "the poor" or afflicted. This calculated malice reveals a deliberate strategy to ensnare their unsuspecting victims.
Psalm 10 9 Context
Psalm 10 is a passionate lament to God, describing the arrogance, self-sufficiency, and rampant oppression perpetrated by the wicked, contrasting it sharply with the plight of the "poor" and afflicted. The Psalmist feels that God has hidden His face and is distant from the pervasive evil in the world (Ps 10:1). This verse (Ps 10:9) falls within a detailed portrayal of the wicked's character and actions (Ps 10:2-11), highlighting their methodical approach to evil. They are depicted as ruthless, deceitful predators who exploit the vulnerable because they believe God is indifferent or doesn't see their deeds (Ps 10:4, 11). Historically, this context reflects societal injustice common in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where the powerful often exploited the weak, and human justice systems might be corrupt or absent, leading the faithful to appeal directly to God. The Psalm is a plea for divine intervention and justice against this backdrop of calculated oppression.
Psalm 10 9 Word analysis
- He lies in wait (יֶאֱרֹב, ya'arov): This Hebrew verb denotes ambushing, lurking, or lying in hiding. It signifies a premeditated and secretive action, indicating malice and deliberate planning rather than a spontaneous act. It paints a picture of cunning and a strategic approach to evil.
- like a lion (כְּאַרְיֵה, k'aryeh): The simile compares the wicked person to a lion, highlighting their predatory, ferocious, and powerful nature. The lion is the king of beasts, known for its strength, ruthlessness, and hunting prowess, symbolizing a formidable and deadly adversary. This comparison emphasizes the grave danger posed by the wicked.
- in coverts (בַּסֻּכּוֹ, ba'sukko): Derived from "סֹךְ" (sok), meaning "thicket," "lair," "covert," or "hiding place." This word reinforces the idea of concealment and hidden intentions. The wicked operate from places of secrecy, observing and planning their attacks unseen, further emphasizing their deceptive and malicious strategy.
- He lies in wait to catch (לַחְטוֹף, lachtof): This verb means "to seize," "to snatch," or "to carry off by violence." It implies a sudden, forceful, and non-consensual capture, showing the victim's helplessness and the aggressor's brutality. The repetition of "lies in wait" underscores the consistent, predatory mindset.
- the poor (עָנִי, ani): This term often refers to the economically disadvantaged, but in Psalms, it frequently denotes those who are oppressed, afflicted, humble, and helpless, especially those who put their trust in God and are often the victims of injustice. They are vulnerable not just materially, but socially and spiritually. They represent the righteous remnant reliant on God, targeted because of their perceived weakness.
- He catches the poor when he draws him into his net (בְּרִשְׁתּוֹ, b'rishto): "Net" (רֶשֶׁת, reshet) is a common biblical metaphor for a trap, snare, or cunning scheme designed to ensnare a victim. The wicked use deceit, trickery, or carefully laid plans to entrap their prey, leading to their capture. This imagery suggests premeditation, entrapment, and a methodical destruction of the victim.
Words-group analysis:
- "He lies in wait like a lion in coverts": This phrase paints a vivid picture of the wicked's deliberate, strategic, and hidden malice. They are not merely aggressive but cunning, observing from unseen vantage points, choosing their moment to strike with maximum effectiveness and surprise, just like a predator in its natural habitat.
- "He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net": This emphasizes the specific target of the wicked—the vulnerable and afflicted ("the poor"). The double emphasis on "lies in wait" and "catches" reinforces the persistent, ruthless intent, and the "net" explicitly states the method: not direct confrontation, but a deceptive trap that ensures the victim's certain downfall. The wicked use both the power of a lion and the cunning of a fowler to secure their prey.
Psalm 10 9 Bonus section
The imagery in Psalm 10:9 serves to underscore the Psalmist's sense of extreme vulnerability and the severity of the threat posed by the wicked. By describing the wicked in such stark predatory terms, the Psalmist aims to move God to compassion and righteous indignation. The "poor" or ani are often presented in the Psalms as those who suffer precisely because of their piety and dependence on God, making their oppression an affront to God Himself. The absence of an immediate visible judgment against the wicked (as per the earlier verses in Ps 10) deepens the sense of injustice, making the Psalmist's detailed description of their methods a desperate plea for divine intervention, implicitly affirming God as the ultimate protector of the defenseless against such systematic evil. This passage serves as a theological statement about God's role in a world where the wicked appear to flourish through stealth and oppression.
Psalm 10 9 Commentary
Psalm 10:9 unveils the chilling and calculating nature of the wicked person, whose actions are compared to a ravenous lion in ambush. This verse transcends mere spontaneous violence, depicting a deep-seated, methodical malevolence. The wicked individual, driven by self-sufficiency and disregard for divine justice, carefully surveys their potential victims from "coverts," hidden places where they are unseen, much like a hunter or a wild beast. Their primary target is "the poor," a biblical term encompassing not just the financially deprived, but also the helpless, the oppressed, and those who humbly rely on God amidst adversity.
The dual image of the lion and the hunter's net profoundly communicates the threat: the wicked possess the brutal strength and ferocity of a lion (ready to "seize" or "snatch") combined with the cunning and deception of someone laying a "net" or snare. This isn't just an act of opportunistic malice, but a pre-meditated scheme to lure and trap the vulnerable. They patiently wait, setting traps through trickery, false promises, or simply exploiting existing weaknesses, until they can forcefully drag their unsuspecting victim into their snare. The verse captures the fear of the oppressed—that their oppressors are relentless, invisible until the trap is sprung, and intent on their complete destruction, all while feeling impervious to divine oversight. It highlights the Psalmist's urgent cry for God to observe and act against such systematic and cruel injustice.