Psalm 17 14

Psalm 17:14 kjv

From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

Psalm 17:14 nkjv

With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.

Psalm 17:14 niv

By your hand save me from such people, LORD, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones.

Psalm 17:14 esv

from men by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.

Psalm 17:14 nlt

By the power of your hand, O LORD,
destroy those who look to this world for their reward.
But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones.
May their children have plenty,
leaving an inheritance for their descendants.

Psalm 17 verses

Psalm 17 14 Meaning

Psalm 17:14 describes the worldly enemies of the psalmist, characterizing them as individuals whose ultimate portion and fulfillment are entirely earthly and temporary. Despite their focus on this temporal life, their material blessings, prosperity, children, and inherited wealth are still provided from God’s sovereign hand, albeit as their only and limited reward. The verse implicitly contrasts their earthly, transient focus with the psalmist’s hope in God's eternal presence and righteousness.

Psalm 17 14 Context

Psalm 17 is a prayer of David, pleading for God's protection and vindication against his wicked and powerful enemies. Throughout the psalm, David stresses his own integrity and righteousness before God, contrasting it sharply with the ungodly character and malicious intent of his adversaries. Verse 14 specifically delves into describing these adversaries—their worldview, priorities, and the nature of their blessings, highlighting their temporal orientation in contrast to David's eternal hope in God (verse 15). Historically, this psalm could relate to periods when David was being persecuted by Saul or by other adversaries who sought his downfall, people whose power and influence stemmed from their earthly connections and resources.

Psalm 17 14 Word analysis

• From men: (מִמְתִים, mimtim) - Literally "from mortals" or "from human beings." This sets up the immediate contrast between help sought from God and the source of the danger being human.
• by thy hand, O Lord: (מִיָּדְךָ יְהוָה, miyadka Yahweh) - This phrase can be interpreted in two primary ways in connection to "from men."
  • It can mean David seeks deliverance from men by God's hand, meaning God will deliver him from their grasp.
  • More profoundly, within the verse, it signifies that even the men of the world and their prosperity are ultimately from God's hand. God is sovereign over all, including the limited prosperity of the wicked. "Yahweh" (the LORD) emphasizes God's personal covenant name, highlighting His divine authority.
• from men of the world: (מִמְתֵי חֶלֶד, mimtê ḥeleḏ) - This specifies the type of men David seeks deliverance from. "חֶלֶד" (ḥeleḏ) denotes "world," "duration," "transient existence," or "this present age." This emphasizes their fundamental identity: their entire focus and reality are confined to this fleeting earthly life. Their ambitions, values, and security are rooted in the temporal. This forms a strong polemic against the idea that ultimate value is found in worldly existence alone.
• which have their portion in this life: (חֶלְקָם בַּחַיִּים, ḥelqām baḥayyim) - "חֵלֶק" (ḥēleq) means "portion," "share," or "inheritance." This is their destiny and their only reward. Their ultimate satisfaction, hope, and legacy are bound up solely in "בַּחַיִּים" (baḥayyim), "in lives" or "in this life." This phrase highlights the stark contrast with those (like David) who claim God as their portion (e.g., Ps 16:5).
• and whose belly thou fillest: (תְּמַלֵּא בִטְנָם, tĕmallēʾ ḇiṭnām) - "בֶּטֶן" (beṭen) is literally "belly," representing physical appetite, desires, and the very core of one's being tied to earthly satisfaction. The verb "תְּמַלֵּא" (tĕmallēʾ) "you fill" emphasizes God's direct involvement in providing their physical and material comforts. This points to common grace; God provides even for those who ignore Him, but it’s limited to their temporal desires.
• with thy hid treasure: (מִצְּפוּנְךָ, mitspūnkā) - "צָפוּן" (tsaphoon) means "hidden," "stored up," or "reserved." It signifies God’s abundant, inexhaustible provisions, not always openly visible. The "hid treasure" is the wealth and sustenance that God provides, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty even over the prosperity of the wicked. This is divine bounty distributed, even if unwisely appreciated.
• they are full of children: (יִשְׂבְּעוּ בָנִים, yiśbĕʿū ḇānîm) - "שָׂבַע" (sāvā) means "to be satisfied," "to have plenty," "to be satiated." In a culture where children were considered a great blessing, this further emphasizes their earthly fullness and complete material satisfaction. They lack nothing in terms of conventional societal markers of success and divine favor in a physical sense.
• and leave the rest of their substance to their babes: (וְהוֹתִירוּ יִתְרָם לְעוֹלְלֵיהֶם, wəhōṯîrū yiṯrām lĕʿôlēlêhem) - "יֶתֶר" (yetêr) means "remainder" or "surplus," highlighting the abundance of their possessions. "לְעוֹלְלֵיהֶם" (lĕʿôlēlêhem) means "to their sucklings" or "to their infants/young children." This signifies that their ultimate legacy is material. They gain great wealth, but cannot take it beyond the grave, only bequeathing it to their offspring, continuing a purely earthly line of inheritance. Their ambition and labor are entirely consumed by generating a tangible, earthbound legacy.

Psalm 17 14 Bonus section

The juxtaposition in Psalm 17:14 between "men by thy hand, O Lord" and "men of the world" suggests a divine paradox: God, in His universal providence, provides for even those who live as though He doesn't exist. Their existence and every blessing are by His hand, yet their identity and values are rooted in "the world" (ḥeleḏ), which intrinsically implies transience. This particular framing reveals not a dualism where the world exists independently, but a profound monergism where God's active involvement permeates all creation, even extending gracious temporal gifts to those who refuse to acknowledge Him eternally. The "hidden treasure" aspect further highlights God's self-sufficiency; He draws from His own inexhaustible, secret reserves to supply their fleeting needs, reinforcing that true, eternal treasure belongs to Him alone, distinct from the visible, temporary prosperity He dispenses.

Psalm 17 14 Commentary

Psalm 17:14 is a poignant portrayal of the "men of the world"—those whose lives are fully invested in the temporal realm. David highlights that even their material prosperity, ample progeny, and inherited wealth stem from God’s sovereign hand, implying common grace. This is a crucial theological point: God's blessings, while diverse, include material provisions even for those who reject Him or whose hearts are focused solely on earthly things. However, the tragedy of these "men of the world" is that these worldly provisions constitute their only portion and fulfillment. Their "hid treasure" is merely earthly abundance that eventually perishes, and their legacy is strictly physical wealth passed to their children. Unlike the righteous, whose satisfaction is to "behold Thy face" (Ps 17:15) and whose portion is the eternal Lord Himself, the worldly find their "god" in their belly and their satisfaction in passing on earthly substance. The verse underscores the futility and temporal limitation of a life lived without God as the ultimate hope and inheritance. For believers, it serves as a powerful reminder to guard against envy of the wicked's temporary prosperity and to anchor hope in the enduring treasures found in Christ.