Psalm 109 19

Psalm 109:19 kjv

Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.

Psalm 109:19 nkjv

Let it be to him like the garment which covers him, And for a belt with which he girds himself continually.

Psalm 109:19 niv

May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him.

Psalm 109:19 esv

May it be like a garment that he wraps around him, like a belt that he puts on every day!

Psalm 109:19 nlt

Now may his curses return and cling to him like clothing;
may they be tied around him like a belt."

Psalm 109 verses

Psalm 109 19 Meaning

Psalm 109:19 is a profound imprecation, a prayer invoking curses, asking that the previously mentioned afflictions and judgments cling to the adversary as permanently and intimately as a garment that covers them and a belt that continually girds them. The verse intensifies the desired punishment, ensuring it is not merely external or fleeting but becomes an integral, inescapable, and perpetual aspect of the enemy's existence, both outwardly visible and internally binding. It expresses a fervent longing for divine justice to fully encompass and define the one who has acted treacherously.

Psalm 109 19 Context

Psalm 109 belongs to a category known as the "imprecatory psalms," where the psalmist cries out to God against his enemies and appeals for divine judgment upon them. The context for verse 19 specifically is King David's intense plea to God against his slanderous, treacherous, and ungrateful adversaries. From verse 6 through verse 18, David has detailed a list of severe curses he desires for his primary antagonist: premature death, orphanhood for children, widowhood for his wife, beggary for his children, the complete cutting off of his family line, and that his very blessing be turned into a curse. Verse 19 acts as a concluding and intensifying summation, asking that these cumulative curses mentioned previously be perpetually affixed to the enemy. Historically, David often faced bitter enemies, false accusations, and betrayal (e.g., from Saul, Absalom, Ahithophel). These psalms are understood not as expressions of personal malice but as a petition to a righteous God to enforce His covenant justice against those who persistently oppose righteousness and persecute the innocent.

Psalm 109 19 Word analysis

• Let it be (תְּהִי tehi): This is a jussive verbal form in Hebrew, conveying a strong request, command, or a solemn wish for something to happen. It signifies the psalmist's earnest prayer and fervent desire for divine intervention and the complete actualization of the curses.
• to him (לוֹ lô): Refers directly to the wicked individual who is the object of the preceding curses. It makes the imprecation intensely personal and targeted.
• as the garment (כַּבֶּגֶד ka-beged):
  • Ka- (כַּ-) is the preposition "as" or "like," indicating a simile.
  • Beged (בֶּגֶד): refers to a general piece of clothing, usually an outer garment that covers the entire body. Garments are intimate, constantly present, and essential for daily life and public appearance in ancient cultures. The imagery conveys that the curse would be inescapable and outwardly visible.
• which covers him (יַעֲטֶהוּ ya'ṭehu): From the verb `aṭah (עָטָה), meaning to cover, wrap, enfold oneself in. This emphasizes the comprehensive and encompassing nature of the curses, suggesting they would wholly envelop the enemy.
• And as the belt (וּכְמֵזַח u-chemezaḥ):
  • U- (וּ-) means "and."
  • K'mezaḥ (כְמֵזַח) - "like a belt" or "like a girdle." A belt (mezaḥ) was a crucial part of ancient attire, holding up clothing, carrying tools, and essential for readiness and work (to "gird up one's loins"). This signifies a closer, tighter, and more operational binding than a general garment.
• with which he is girded (יֵזַח yezaḥ): From the verb zâchaḥ (זָחַח), to gird, bind, or fasten around the waist. It emphasizes a fixed, inescapable attachment, a part of their very preparation for activity.
• continually (תָּמִיד tamid): Means "always," "perpetually," "constantly." This adverb removes any idea of temporary affliction, underscoring the desired everlasting and inescapable nature of the consequences. The curses are meant to be an unchanging condition.

Words-group analysis:

• "as the garment which covers him": This phrase paints a picture of public display and constant presence. Just as one is always clothed, so too would these curses be visibly upon the enemy, forming an essential part of their very identity and outward presentation to the world. It signifies a profound disgrace and burden that cannot be shed.
• "And as the belt with which he is girded continually": This second part intensifies the imagery. A belt is worn tighter and is crucial for functionality. "Continually girded" implies not only constant presence but also an active, enduring bondage. The curses would be inextricably bound to their core being and actions, relentlessly impacting their daily life and functioning. The emphasis on "continually" points to an unrelenting, perpetual state of judgment.

Psalm 109 19 Bonus section

The imprecatory language of Psalm 109, culminating in verse 19's powerful imagery, reflects an understanding of divine justice deeply embedded in Old Testament covenant theology. It's not a license for believers to hate their enemies, but a prayer that God, who "sees, remembers, and avenges" (Ps 10:14; 94:1), would intervene against oppressors who challenge His divine order. These psalms articulate profound pain and righteous indignation, bringing before God the full depth of suffering inflicted by ungodly individuals. The New Testament does not nullify the concept of God's justice or the reality of judgment. Instead, it places personal vengeance solely in God's hands ("Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," Rom 12:19) while calling believers to love their enemies and pray for their salvation. However, it also uses similar "cursing" language, for example, Paul in Gal 1:8, or warnings of final judgment for the unrepentant, demonstrating that there are eternal, inescapable consequences for sin and rejecting God's ways, which align with the perpetual "garment and belt" of curses envisioned in this psalm. The application of Psalm 109:8 to Judas Iscariot in Acts 1:20 signifies a fulfillment of such Old Testament imprecations against those who oppose God's redemptive plan.

Psalm 109 19 Commentary

Psalm 109:19 functions as a powerful climax to a series of specific curses desired by David against his malicious enemies. The psalmist wishes that the judgments previously enumerated (verses 6-18) become an inescapable and perpetual reality for the wicked. The dual imagery of a "garment" and a "belt" underscores two aspects of this desired affliction: the garment signifies that the curses will be publicly apparent, impossible to hide, a mark of disgrace clinging to the very person. The belt, being an essential and tight-fitting item, conveys an even more intimate, operational, and inescapable binding; the curses are desired to be constantly intertwined with their active life and innermost being. The word "continually" removes any ambiguity about duration, indicating a perpetual, unceasing burden of consequences. This psalm reflects a cry for God's righteous retribution against persistent wickedness, aligning with the biblical principle that evil deeds justly incur profound and lasting consequences, administered by a just God, rather than through human vengeance.