Psalm 9 15

Psalm 9:15 kjv

The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

Psalm 9:15 nkjv

The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.

Psalm 9:15 niv

The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

Psalm 9:15 esv

The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.

Psalm 9:15 nlt

The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others.
Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set.

Psalm 9 verses

Psalm 9 15 Meaning

Psalm 9:15 declares the unerring principle of divine retribution, stating that the hostile nations, having devised wicked schemes to ensnare others, are instead trapped and consumed by their own evil intentions. It illustrates the ironic justice of God, where the very instruments of malice become the instruments of the perpetrator's downfall, showcasing God’s sovereignty in overturning the designs of the wicked for the deliverance of His people.

Psalm 9 15 Context

Psalm 9 is a song of thanksgiving, attributed to David, celebrating God's righteous judgment and deliverance. It transitions from an individual's praise (v. 1-2) to the broader context of God's dealings with the nations (v. 3-8), depicting Him as a just judge who establishes His throne to preside over the earth. Verse 15 specifically speaks to the consequences for hostile nations, reiterating God's justice in a poetic way. Historically, the psalm likely reflects David's victories over the surrounding oppressive nations (e.g., Philistines, Ammonites) and Israel's confidence in Yahweh's protection against them. In the ancient Near East, kings and nations often relied on strategic warfare and deception. Psalm 9:15 serves as a direct polemic against the perceived invincibility or cleverness of these pagan powers, asserting that their own cunning, far from ensuring victory, will be the cause of their undoing by the hand of the true and living God, Yahweh. It contrasts the deceptive methods of human adversaries with the unwavering, morally ordered justice of the Almighty.

Psalm 9 15 Word analysis

• The nations (גּוֹיִם - goyim): In this context, goyim refers not simply to "Gentile peoples" in general, but specifically to the hostile, ungodly nations that oppose God and His people. It highlights their collective identity in their wicked pursuits. This term frequently carries a negative connotation in psalms when referring to oppressors.

• have sunk (טָבְּעוּ - ṭāvəʿū): This verb means "to sink," "to drown," or "to be submerged." It implies a complete and irreversible engulfment, often in something detrimental or destructive. It suggests a sudden, inescapable collapse into ruin, akin to drowning in quicksand. The active voice here points to their own actions leading to this state.

• in the pit (בְּשַׁ֫חַת - bəšaḥat): The Hebrew word šaḥat refers to a pit, a ruin, destruction, or even the grave (Sheol). Here, it's a deep hole, often dug as a trap for animals or enemies. The imagery signifies a state of complete destruction and being hopelessly trapped.

• that they made (עָשׂוּ - ‘āśû): This emphasizes the direct agency and culpability of the nations. Their downfall is not accidental but a direct consequence of their own deliberate actions and malicious plotting. They actively created their own instrument of ruin.

• In the net (בְּרֶֽשֶׁת - bəresheth): A "net" is typically a fowler's snare, designed to invisibly entrap. It implies cunning, stealth, and a hidden danger. This contrasts with the pit, suggesting another layer of treacherous, deceptive plotting.

• which they hid (טָמָנוּ - ṭāmānû): The verb ṭāman means "to hide," "to conceal," or "to lay up secretly." This highlights the insidious and secretive nature of the nations’ malevolent plans. Their intent was to trap unwary victims by stealth.

• their own foot (רֶגֶל - regel): "Foot" here is a metonymy for their entire being or person. It's the part that would trigger the snare. The emphasis on "their own" underscores the ironic self-inflicted nature of their demise.

• has been caught (נִלְכְּדָה - nilkedâh): This is a passive verb (Niphal imperfect). It means "to be caught," "to be captured," or "to be seized." Though passive, the preceding actions ("made," "hid") establish the active agency of the nations, leading inevitably to this passive state of being caught. It signifies the success of their own traps in ensnaring them.

• The nations have sunk in the pit that they made: This phrase vividly portrays the principle of lex talionis (law of retaliation) and divine irony. The exact mechanism they intended to use for harming others becomes their own means of destruction. It speaks to a cosmic justice where one's destructive actions boomerang back.

• In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught: This parallel statement reinforces the first. It adds the element of deceit ("hid") to their plotting and focuses on the precise point of entrapment—their own "foot" or agency being ensnared. It reiterates that their calculated malice results in their unavoidable doom, making their plans completely counterproductive to their goals.

Psalm 9 15 Bonus section

This verse stands as a powerful testament to the retributive justice characteristic of many Old Testament psalms and wisdom literature. The principle articulated here—that the wicked fall into the trap they set for others—is not merely a moral observation but a divine decree, reflecting Yahweh's active superintendence over justice in the world. The imagery used, specifically the pit and the net, derives from common ancient trapping methods, making the fate of the wicked viscerally relatable to the original audience. It undergirds the confident hope of the righteous that even when evil appears triumphant, its very foundations contain the seeds of its own collapse, ultimately engineered by the just hand of God. This divine irony serves to glorify God's omnipotence and unwavering commitment to righteousness, offering comfort and validating trust in His ultimate judgment.

Psalm 9 15 Commentary

Psalm 9:15 provides a stark, poetic illustration of God’s righteous judgment upon those who plot evil. It does not merely state that the wicked will be judged, but describes the manner of their judgment: by the very instruments and methods they intended for others. This divine irony reveals God's perfect justice, which often allows evil to consume itself. The nations, driven by pride and hostility, tirelessly devise plans of destruction—like digging a deep pit or subtly laying a net—yet through divine wisdom and justice, these selfsame snares become their own undoing. This verse serves as a profound reassurance to the oppressed, affirming that God is actively working in the world to vindicate the righteous and to bring about justice, even if it appears to unfold subtly, where the wicked ultimately succumb to the logical consequences of their own rebellion against God and humanity.

Examples:

• Haman's gallows: Haman prepared gallows to hang Mordecai but was instead hanged on them himself (Esther 7:9-10).
• Daniel in the lions' den: Those who plotted for Daniel to be thrown into the lions' den were themselves cast in, and the lions immediately overcame them (Dan 6:24).