Psalm 109 16

Psalm 109:16 kjv

Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.

Psalm 109:16 nkjv

Because he did not remember to show mercy, But persecuted the poor and needy man, That he might even slay the broken in heart.

Psalm 109:16 niv

For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted.

Psalm 109:16 esv

For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.

Psalm 109:16 nlt

For he refused all kindness to others;
he persecuted the poor and needy,
and he hounded the brokenhearted to death.

Psalm 109 verses

Psalm 109 16 Meaning

Psalm 109:16 profoundly explains the reason for the severe curses invoked against the psalmist's adversary. It reveals the enemy's deep moral corruption: a deliberate refusal to show ḥesed (steadfast love or mercy). Instead, this individual relentlessly oppressed and persecuted the most vulnerable in society—the poor, the needy, and those already suffering from despair. The persecution was so intense that it aimed to utterly destroy or kill "the broken in heart," emphasizing the profound cruelty and the direct contradiction of God's commands for compassion and justice.

Psalm 109 16 Context

Psalm 109 is a fervent prayer of lament, steeped in the language of imprecation against severe enemies. Traditionally attributed to David, the psalmist expresses intense personal suffering due to malicious slander and betrayal. The preceding verses (6-15) invoke devastating curses upon the adversary, marking this as one of the Bible's most pronounced imprecatory psalms. Verse 16 serves as the profound justification for these extreme appeals to God. It outlines the wicked character and actions of the enemy, highlighting their profound ethical failure—their refusal to extend mercy and their active persecution of the most vulnerable. This deliberate evil contrasts starkly with God's character and His covenantal demands for justice and compassion, thus underpinning the psalmist’s desperate cry for divine intervention and righteous judgment.

Psalm 109 16 Word analysis

• Because (כִּי, kî): This pivotal conjunction introduces the explicit justification and reason for the severe judgments invoked earlier in the psalm. It establishes the causal link between the enemy's actions and the psalmist's plea for divine retribution.
• he remembered not (לֹא זָכַר, lō’ zākhar): This phrase goes beyond simple forgetfulness. In a biblical context, "remembering not" often signifies a willful, active failure to heed or to perform one's moral and covenantal duties. It implies a conscious disregard for the commands and character of God concerning justice and compassion.
• to show mercy (לַעֲשׂוֹת חֶסֶד, la‘ǎśôth ḥesed):
  • to show/to do (לַעֲשׂוֹת, la‘ǎśôth): Indicates active engagement or performance, emphasizing that the failure was not just in thought but in deeds.
  • mercy (חֶסֶד, ḥesed): A foundational Old Testament concept referring to "steadfast love," "loyal love," or "covenant kindness." It denotes loyal commitment manifested in acts of compassion. The enemy's deliberate failure to exercise ḥesed signifies a fundamental violation of divine ethics and human solidarity.
• but persecuted (וַיִּרְדֹּף, wa-yirddōf): From the Hebrew root radaph, meaning "to pursue," "to chase," "to hunt," or "to oppress aggressively." This term emphasizes the active, relentless, and hostile nature of the enemy's actions, depicting a campaign of intense oppression.
• the poor (אִישׁ עָנִי, ’îsh ‘ānî): Refers to a person who is afflicted, humble, or socially and economically disadvantaged. Such individuals were under God’s special protection in the covenant.
• and needy man (וְאֶבְיוֹן, wə’eḇyôn): Often paired with ‘ānî, reinforcing the condition of extreme destitution and powerlessness, making the individual particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
• that he might even slay (לְהָמִית, ləhāmît): Literally "to cause to die" or "to put to death." This phrase unveils the ultimate and most grievous intention of the enemy's persecution—to cause not just suffering but death or utter destruction of life and hope.
• the broken in heart (וּמְחַתֵּי לֵב, ūməḥattê lēḇ): Denotes those who are emotionally shattered, deeply despondent, or utterly crushed in spirit. This highlights the enemy's malicious targeting of victims already at their most vulnerable psychological and spiritual state.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Because he remembered not to show mercy": This phrase indicts the enemy for a grave moral deficiency rooted in a deliberate rejection of ḥesed. It portrays an active hardening of the heart against compassionate and righteous action, directly opposing the character of God who is abundant in ḥesed.
• "but persecuted the poor and needy man": This segment reveals the outward manifestation of the inner depravity. The absence of mercy results in active, relentless oppression. Targeting the ‘ānî wə’eḇyôn is particularly heinous, as these are precisely the people God commands His covenant community to protect and care for. It demonstrates a contempt for divine law and the sanctity of human dignity.
• "that he might even slay the broken in heart": This phrase exposes the chilling depths of the enemy's malice. The goal of the persecution is not merely exploitation but the ultimate destruction of the victim's life force or spirit. To target those already məḥattê lēḇ (shattered in spirit) reveals an utterly depraved intent to push the suffering into death, standing in stark contrast to God's restorative purposes for the afflicted (e.g., Isa 61:1).

Psalm 109 16 Bonus section

The profound offense of the enemy described in Psalm 109:16 is intensified by the direct contrast with God's character and commands. Throughout the Old Testament, care for the poor, widow, and orphan is a benchmark of true righteousness and faithfulness to the covenant. To not only neglect this duty but actively oppress these groups is an act of defiance against God Himself. The term ḥesed carries significant theological weight, referring to God's steadfast, loyal love which He expects His people to reciprocate and manifest in their relationships. Therefore, the enemy's lack of ḥesed is a direct betrayal of the divine-human covenant, marking them as profoundly wicked and deserving of God's direct and forceful judgment. This highlights the theological framework within which imprecations are sometimes expressed—they are cries for divine justice when human justice fails to correct egregious violations of God's righteous standards.

Psalm 109 16 Commentary

Psalm 109:16 powerfully justifies the psalmist's cries for judgment by exposing the profound moral bankruptcy of the adversary. The enemy's sin begins with a deliberate, active refusal of ḥesed, God's covenant love and mercy. This hardened heart leads directly to overt acts of persecution, not just against any person, but specifically against the most vulnerable segments of society: the poor and needy. The wicked one's intent escalates to seeking the death of "the broken in heart"—those already suffering and desolate. This portrays an individual diametrically opposed to God's very nature and His commands to protect the helpless. The enemy's actions represent a direct assault on the divine order and covenantal ethics, which consequently validates the psalmist's severe plea for God to act as the righteous Judge who defends the oppressed and brings justice against profound evil.