Psalm 7 12

Psalm 7:12 kjv

If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

Psalm 7:12 nkjv

If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready.

Psalm 7:12 niv

If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.

Psalm 7:12 esv

If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;

Psalm 7:12 nlt

If a person does not repent,
God will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.

Psalm 7 verses

Psalm 7 12 Meaning

Psalm 7:12 reveals God's righteous nature as a judge who stands ready to execute justice upon those who stubbornly refuse to repent and turn from their wickedness. It employs powerful martial imagery—God sharpening His sword and stringing His bow—to depict His unwavering readiness to confront and judge the unrepentant sinner, highlighting the certainty and imminent nature of divine retribution for persistent evil.

Psalm 7 12 Context

Psalm 7 is a "shiggaion" of David, a psalm marked by impassioned emotion and varying poetic rhythm, possibly reflecting intense personal distress and the urgency of David's prayer. In this psalm, David cries out to God, seeking justice against Cush the Benjamite, who has falsely accused him and relentlessly pursued him (as noted in the superscription). David asserts his innocence regarding these specific accusations and appeals to God as the ultimate righteous judge.

The psalm shifts from a plea for deliverance (vv. 1-2) and self-affirmation of innocence (vv. 3-5) to an imprecatory prayer for God's judgment upon the wicked (vv. 6-9) and a declaration of trust in God's righteous character (vv. 10-11). Verse 12 flows directly from this understanding of God as a just judge. If God is righteous (v. 11), He must inevitably deal with wickedness. Thus, this verse serves as a powerful theological statement about the active and prepared nature of God's justice against those who persist in their evil and refuse to "turn." The psalm concludes with David's renewed commitment to thank and praise the Lord for His righteousness.

Psalm 7 12 Word analysis

• If a man does not turn:

  • "If" (Hebrew: im-lo - אִם־לֹא): Introduces a conditional statement, highlighting a choice presented to humanity. It underscores that God's judgment is not arbitrary but contingent on human response.
  • "man": Refers to a generic individual, signifying that this divine principle of judgment applies universally to anyone who fits the described condition.
  • "does not turn" (Hebrew: yashuv - יָשׁוּב, from the root shuv - שׁוּב): This word is highly significant. Shuv means to turn back, return, repent, or change one's course of action. It implies a moral and spiritual redirection, a change of heart and behavior away from wickedness and towards God. The negative "does not turn" emphasizes a persistent, obstinate refusal to repent, an adherence to evil ways despite God's patience and warning.

• He will sharpen His sword:

  • "He": Refers unequivocally to God. This affirms that the judgment is divine in origin and execution.
  • "will sharpen" (Hebrew: yiltosh - יִלְטוֹשׁ): This verb denotes an action of preparing for battle. Sharpening a sword indicates meticulous readiness, intentionality, and determination for swift and decisive action. It suggests that God's judgment is not spontaneous or reactive in a whimsical sense, but a deliberate and precise act.
  • "His sword" (Hebrew: charbo - חַרְבּוֹ): The sword is a well-established biblical metaphor for divine judgment, wrath, and retribution. It symbolizes power, cutting effectiveness, and lethal consequence. Its presence highlights God's role as a warrior against evil.

• He has bent His bow and made it ready:

  • "He has bent" (Hebrew: darakh - דָּרַךְ): This verb implies the action of treading or stretching, specifically in the context of stringing a bow to its full tension, preparing it to launch an arrow. The use of the past tense ("has bent") indicates an action already completed or currently in the process of completion, emphasizing that God's preparation for judgment is not merely future contemplation but a current, advanced state of readiness.
  • "His bow" (Hebrew: qashto - קַשְׁתּוֹ): Similar to the sword, the bow is a common biblical metaphor for God's power and instrument of judgment, delivering retribution from a distance.
  • "and made it ready" (Hebrew: vaykoneneha - וַיְכֹונְנֵהָ, from the root kun - כּוּן): This reinforces the idea of complete preparedness, establishing or setting up. It indicates meticulous arrangement and purposeful action. The combination with "bent His bow" paints a picture of God fully armed and positioned for action.

Psalm 7 12 Bonus section

The anthropomorphic language used in Psalm 7:12—attributing human actions like sharpening a sword or bending a bow to God—is a literary device to help human understanding grasp abstract divine concepts. It illustrates God's active involvement in human affairs and His righteous wrath against sin in a tangible way, without limiting His infinite nature. This verse stands as a testament to God's dual attributes of mercy (implied by the opportunity to "turn") and unwavering justice (demonstrated by His preparedness for judgment), showing that His divine patience has boundaries, and continued defiance will inevitably meet divine recompense. The detailed preparation ("sharpen," "bent," "made it ready") signifies that divine judgment is purposeful, deliberate, and cannot be evaded or caught unprepared.

Psalm 7 12 Commentary

Psalm 7:12 is a stark depiction of God's unyielding righteousness and justice. It portrays the Creator not merely as a passive observer of human wickedness but as an active, divine warrior-judge who meticulously prepares for the execution of judgment against those who persistently rebel against Him. The conditional clause, "If a man does not turn," places the onus of choice squarely on humanity. It highlights God's patience, extending an opportunity for repentance (shuv)—a turning away from evil and a returning to Him. However, for those who stubbornly refuse this divine invitation, who persist in their chosen path of iniquity, the outcome is certain and dire. The imagery of sharpening a sword and stringing a bow powerfully conveys that God's judgment is not hasty or random, but deliberate, effective, and imminent. It emphasizes His readiness and resolve to confront and neutralize evil, assuring both the psalmist (and believers throughout time) that ultimate justice will be served, vindicating the righteous and holding the wicked accountable for their actions. It serves as both a stern warning to the unrepentant and a profound comfort to those who trust in His righteous character.