Psalm 109 17

Psalm 109:17 kjv

As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

Psalm 109:17 nkjv

As he loved cursing, so let it come to him; As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.

Psalm 109:17 niv

He loved to pronounce a curse? may it come back on him. He found no pleasure in blessing? may it be far from him.

Psalm 109:17 esv

He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!

Psalm 109:17 nlt

He loved to curse others;
now you curse him.
He never blessed others;
now don't you bless him.

Psalm 109 verses

Psalm 109 17 Meaning

Psalm 109:17 declares that because an individual's character was defined by their love for cursing others, they would consequently be engulfed by curses themselves. Conversely, their complete aversion to blessing others means that blessing will be withheld from them. This verse underscores the principle of poetic justice, where one's actions and heart disposition boomerang back upon them, specifically concerning the spiritual powers of blessing and cursing.

Psalm 109 17 Context

Psalm 109 is one of the "imprecatory psalms," a lament or prayer asking God to execute justice on one's enemies. The psalmist, likely David, expresses deep distress due to severe opposition from slanderous, hateful, and deceitful adversaries (vv. 1-5). These enemies "hate me without cause" and "return me evil for good and hatred for my love" (v. 3, 5). The specific curses invoked from verses 6-19 are aimed at a chief antagonist and are expressed as a prophetic declaration of what should befall him due to his inherent wickedness. Verse 17 directly ties the severity of the requested judgment to the specific character and actions of the enemy – their consistent disposition towards cursing others and their abhorrence of blessing. This particular verse, therefore, justifies the psalmist's prayer for judgment by highlighting the adversary's profound moral depravity and unrepentant antagonism toward what is good.

Psalm 109 17 Word analysis

• He loved (אָהַב - 'ahav):
  • Signifies a deep affection, a settled inclination, or habitual delight in something. It's more than just a passing fondness; it describes a fundamental disposition of the heart, an intentional pursuit. This person consistently chose to align themselves with negativity.
• to curse; (קְלָלָה - qelalah):
  • Refers to invoking evil or pronouncing a state of being cut off from favor and life. It's the opposite of blessing and is inherently destructive. The word here denotes the act and result of reviling others, seeking their downfall, and wishing ill upon them.
• so let curses come upon him! (וַתָּבֹאֵהוּ - vatavo'ehu):
  • This is an imperative or a prophetic perfect, strongly declaring the consequence. It implies a direct, divinely sanctioned reciprocity. The very "curses" they delighted in inflicting on others are declared to "enter" and "take hold" of them. This is the outworking of God's just recompense.
• He did not delight (לֹא חָפֵץ - lo chafez):
  • The Hebrew verb חָפֵץ (chafez) means to take pleasure in, to desire, or to be pleased with. The strong negation ("lo") emphasizes a complete lack of inclination or preference, indicating an active disinterest or even aversion. This person deliberately turned away from, or found no pleasure in, giving or receiving good.
• in blessing; (בְּרָכָה - berakhah):
  • Refers to divine favor, well-being, prosperity, fruitfulness, and every good gift. It signifies positive life, protection, and increase, often linked to God's covenantal promises.
• so let it be far from him! (וַתִּרְחַק - vatirchaq):
  • This indicates separation or remoteness. Because the individual actively pushed blessing away or had no desire for it in their dealings, the prayer or declaration is that blessing would remain distant and unattainable from them. It is a state of spiritual and existential deprivation, reflecting their own choices.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "He loved to curse; so let curses come upon him!": This phrase establishes a direct, cause-and-effect relationship based on the person's character and actions. Their inward "love" for negativity (cursing) results in an external "coming upon" of negative consequences (curses). It embodies the principle of "as you sow, so shall you reap," applied to the spiritual realm of the tongue and heart.
• "He did not delight in blessing; so let it be far from him!": This mirrors the first part but with the inverse concept. Their active disregard or distaste for blessing, whether in giving or receiving, leads to blessing being remote or unavailable to them. This highlights not just an active bad deed but a passive refusal of good, both leading to just deprivation.

Psalm 109 17 Bonus section

The strong language in imprecatory psalms like Psalm 109 is understood in various theological traditions. One key perspective is that these are not expressions of personal vengeance but are passionate prayers for divine justice against those who embody wickedness and actively oppose God's righteous order or His chosen people. The psalmist, as a representative of God's covenant, often identifies his enemies as God's enemies. Furthermore, this verse highlights the covenantal warnings and blessings (e.g., in Deut 28), where specific actions (disobedience/wickedness vs. obedience/righteousness) were clearly outlined to result in specific curses or blessings. This Psalm extends those principles to the disposition of the heart and the words spoken, underscoring that our internal attitudes and external expressions of blessing or cursing have tangible, God-ordained spiritual and experiential consequences.

Psalm 109 17 Commentary

Psalm 109:17 reveals a profound principle of divine justice: character determines destiny. The verse describes an individual whose innermost disposition (to "love to curse" and "not delight in blessing") perfectly aligns with their outward fate. It asserts that those who consistently sow seeds of malice, division, and ill-will, finding perverse pleasure in wishing harm upon others, will inevitably harvest the bitter fruits of their own actions. Conversely, the deliberate aversion to blessing – an unwillingness to foster good or receive it – naturally leads to a state where blessing remains utterly absent from one's life. This is not arbitrary punishment but a natural and just unfolding of the spiritual law that what a person consistently dispenses or rejects is precisely what is returned or withheld from them. The psalmist, through this imprecation, calls upon God to enact this covenantal principle, aligning the punishment precisely with the crime and the sinner's hardened heart.