Psalm 63 9

Psalm 63:9 kjv

But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

Psalm 63:9 nkjv

But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

Psalm 63:9 niv

Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.

Psalm 63:9 esv

But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;

Psalm 63:9 nlt

But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
They will go down into the depths of the earth.

Psalm 63 verses

Psalm 63 9 Meaning

Psalm 63:9 declares a stark contrast between the devoted trust of the righteous and the inevitable judgment upon those who maliciously seek to destroy them. While the psalmist's soul clings to God for life and sustenance, the souls of his enemies, consumed by their destructive intent, are destined for ultimate perishing and descent into the realm of the dead. It is a confident assertion of divine justice and the certainty of God's vindication for His servants.

Psalm 63 9 Context

Psalm 63 is a lament and prayer of confident trust, likely composed by David while in the wilderness of Judah, possibly during his flight from King Saul (1 Sam 23:14) or from his son Absalom (2 Sam 15:23). The opening verses (1-4) express intense spiritual longing for God, comparing Him to a life-giving water in a parched land. Verses 5-8 speak of David's soul being satisfied by God's steadfast love and clinging to Him for support and protection. Against this backdrop of fervent devotion and divine security, verse 9 presents a powerful contrast and a declaration of prophetic certainty concerning the fate of his enemies. It speaks to the ultimate triumph of God's justice over those who oppose His anointed and seek the demise of the righteous.

Psalm 63 9 Word analysis

• But (וְ / wᵉ): A strong adversative conjunction. It marks a dramatic shift and a deliberate contrast to the preceding verses (especially vv. 7-8), where David experiences God's protective wing and his soul clings to God. It highlights the divine reversal: while David's soul finds life and refuge in God, his enemies' souls are marked for destruction.
• those who seek (אֵ֭לֶּה יְבַקְשׁ֣וּ / ʼêlleh yĕvaqšû): "Those" refers to the specific adversaries intent on harming David. "Seek" (baqash) implies diligent, active, and deliberate effort, often with negative intent. It's not a casual desire but a concerted plot or scheme to find and seize. This verb carries a sense of earnest pursuit, reflecting their focused maliciousness.
• to destroy (לְנַפְשִׁ֣י / lənaṗšî - often translated with verbs of seeking life for oneself or to kill another, depending on context. Here, seeking after one's nefesh with ill intent is to take their life/destroy them.): The object of their seeking is David's nephesh (נֶ֫פֶשׁ), typically translated as "soul," "life," "being," or "person." Here, it signifies David's very existence, his life force, or himself. Their goal is not merely to defeat him but to end his life.
• my soul (נַפְשִׁ֣י / naṗšî): As discussed, this is the Hebrew nephesh with a first-person possessive suffix. It means "my life," "myself," "my very being." It contrasts sharply with David's soul clinging to God in the previous verse.
• shall go (יָבֹ֥אוּ / yāḇōʾû): Literally "they shall come" or "they shall enter." It indicates a definite, determined movement or progression into a state or place. It's an active, albeit unavoidable, journey to their destination. The certainty of their fate is emphasized by this verb.
• into the lower parts (בְּתַחְתִּיּ֣וֹת / bəṯaḥtîyōṯ): This refers to the lowest regions or depths. It conveys a sense of extreme lowness, depth, and isolation. It implies being completely cast down.
• of the earth (אָ֑רֶץ / ʾāreṣ): Here, "earth" refers not just to the surface, but the ground, the dust, or even the subterranean realm. When combined with "lower parts," it strongly denotes the grave or Sheol.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• those who seek to destroy my soul: This phrase identifies David's active, malicious adversaries. Their fundamental desire is not just opposition, but the eradication of David's life. This group is marked by an inherent hostility towards what God sustains. Their focus is on David's demise, contrasting with David's focus on God's living presence.
• shall go into the lower parts of the earth: This powerful idiom unequivocally describes their certain doom. It refers to a descent into the grave, Sheol, or the realm of death. It implies ultimate destruction, an end to their physical existence and their malicious schemes, a place of no return from which the wicked cannot ascend. This fate is not a choice, but a divine decree, a just recompense for their destructive intentions. It underscores God's sovereignty over life and death.

Psalm 63 9 Bonus section

The confidence expressed in Psalm 63:9 is not a call for personal vengeance but a prophetic declaration rooted in a deep understanding of God's justice. It highlights the Old Testament principle that evil ultimately recoils upon the one who commits it (Psa 7:15; Pro 26:27). The phrase "lower parts of the earth" signifies complete and utter defeat, implying the cessation of their harmful activity. This is the opposite of the enduring life and blessing that the one who clings to God receives. The fulfillment of such prophecies brings glory to God as the righteous Judge of all the earth.

Psalm 63 9 Commentary

Psalm 63:9 acts as a solemn pronouncement of divine judgment, juxtaposing David's intimate walk with God with the inevitable ruin of his enemies. Having expressed profound yearning for God and unwavering trust in His protecting care, David, empowered by divine revelation, confidently declares the fate of those who seek his life. "The lower parts of the earth" is a euphemism for the grave or Sheol, the common destination for all the dead in the Old Testament, but for the wicked, it carries the added weight of judgment and being cut off. It contrasts starkly with the spiritual satisfaction and security experienced by the psalmist in verses 7-8. Their destructive pursuits will lead to their own destruction; their desire to put David in the dust will result in their own literal descent into it. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's just character, assuring the righteous that He is both their shield and the Avenger of their wrongs. It illustrates that malicious intent against God's anointed or His people ultimately invites divine retribution. This justice serves as a foundation for the righteous to trust in God's vindication even amidst persecution, knowing that God oversees all human affairs and that the destiny of the wicked is sealed.