Psalm 9 20

Psalm 9:20 kjv

Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

Psalm 9:20 nkjv

Put them in fear, O LORD, That the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah

Psalm 9:20 niv

Strike them with terror, LORD; let the nations know they are only mortal.

Psalm 9:20 esv

Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah

Psalm 9:20 nlt

Make them tremble in fear, O LORD.
Let the nations know they are merely human. Interlude

Psalm 9 verses

Psalm 9 20 Meaning

Psalm 9:20 is a heartfelt plea for God's decisive intervention, imploring Him to instill profound fear and humility in hostile nations. The verse expresses the desire that these arrogant powers, who oppose God and His people, would be compelled to recognize their inherent mortality, weakness, and utter insignificance in comparison to the omnipotent Creator. It is a petition for divine action that strips away the nations' pride, causing them to acknowledge God's absolute sovereignty and their own human limitations.

Psalm 9 20 Context

Psalm 9:20 serves as the concluding and climactic verse of Psalm 9, a psalm of thanksgiving and petition by David for God's righteous judgment. The chapter begins with praise for God's past victories over the wicked (Ps 9:1-6), shifts to affirming God's eternal reign as judge and refuge for the oppressed (Ps 9:7-10), and then issues a renewed call for divine intervention against the forces of evil (Ps 9:11-18). Verse 20 summarizes the deep desire for God to demonstrate His overwhelming power and authority, so conspicuously that even the most arrogant nations are forced to confront their own limitations. Historically, ancient Israel was constantly threatened and oppressed by surrounding pagan nations (the "goyim"), who often boasted in their idols and military might. This psalm, therefore, is a powerful declaration against their hubris and an assertion of Yahweh's unique, unrivaled sovereignty. It inherently carries a polemic against the polytheism and anthropocentric pride prevalent in the beliefs of these surrounding cultures, reducing their mighty kings and perceived divine patrons to mere "men" before the One True God.

Psalm 9 20 Word analysis

• Put (שִׁיתָה, shiytah): An imperative verb, "to put, set, place, establish." It implies a direct, forceful action. The psalmist is not merely wishing, but commanding God, out of fervent prayer and conviction, to actively instigate this fear.
• them (לָהֶם, lahem): Refers directly to "the nations" (goyim), specifically those hostile or proud ones mentioned throughout the psalm.
• in fear (מוֹרָה, morah): Derived from the root יָרֵא (yare), meaning "to fear." Morah encompasses both dreadful terror and reverential awe. Here, for the nations, it denotes a terror or dread that stems from witnessing God's overwhelming power, leading to a forced acknowledgment of His superiority rather than a voluntary, positive reverence.
• O LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh / YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal and eternal nature. It underscores that only the true, sovereign God of Israel has the power to achieve such a profound humbling of nations.
• that the nations (יֵדְעוּ גּוֹיִם, yeyde'u goyim):
  • that they may know (יֵדְעוּ, yeyde'u): A jussive form of the verb "to know" (yada'). It conveys a strong desire or command: "let them know," "they should know." This knowledge is not intellectual assent but a forced, experiential realization that utterly changes their self-perception and worldview.
  • nations (גּוֹיִם, goyim): Refers to the Gentile nations, often pagan and antagonistic towards Israel and Yahweh. In a broader sense, it includes any power or people group that stands in arrogant opposition to God.
• themselves to be but men (אֱנוֹשׁ הֵמָּה, enosh hemmah):
  • men (אֱנוֹשׁ, enosh): A specific Hebrew word for "man," often emphasizing human frailty, mortality, and weakness, as opposed to divine strength or immortality (contrast with adam or ish). It highlights human limitation and dependence, often in contexts of sinfulness or ephemeral existence.
  • they themselves (הֵמָּה, hemmah): Emphatic pronoun, stressing that the nations themselves, in their very being, are nothing more than fallible, mortal human beings.
• Selah (סֶלָה, Selah): A word of uncertain meaning found frequently in Psalms and Habakkuk. It likely served as a musical or liturgical notation, perhaps indicating a pause for reflection, an intensification, a change of tempo, or an "Amen." In this context, placed after such a profound plea, it signifies a moment for contemplation on the weighty implications of God's sovereignty and human frailty, affirming the psalmist's prayer.

Words-group analysis:

• "Put them in fear, O LORD": This phrase is a powerful, direct petition to God to manifest His power in such a way that it causes terror and awe in the hearts of nations. It's a prayer for active divine judgment to humble the arrogant.
• "that the nations may know themselves to be but men": This outlines the desired outcome of God's fearful intervention. The "knowing" implies an undeniable, experiential understanding that strips away their pride and delusions of grandeur, forcing them to confront their true, fragile nature, and by extension, acknowledge God's ultimate dominion. The phrase "but men" is pivotal, underscoring the contrast between humanity's finite nature and God's infinitude.

Psalm 9 20 Bonus section

This verse's emphasis on "enosh" (frail, mortal man) aligns with a broader biblical theme that constantly contrasts human limitations with divine omnipotence. It highlights a common characteristic of prideful humanity throughout history – an overestimation of self and an underestimation of God. The "Selah" here marks a significant theological point of meditation, urging the listener to consider the implications: that all earthly power, when it exalts itself against God, is destined for humiliation, and true peace and stability come only when God's sovereignty is recognized universally. The call for God to "put them in fear" anticipates His decisive acts in history and at the end of time, ensuring His name is exalted above all others.

Psalm 9 20 Commentary

Psalm 9:20 culminates the psalmist's passionate appeal for divine justice. It reveals a foundational biblical truth: God's ultimate purpose is not merely to judge wickedness but to assert His supremacy over all creation, especially over any human power that forgets its creaturely status. The psalmist implores God to break the arrogance of the "goyim," nations whose pride led them to believe themselves invincible or even divine. By asking God to "put them in fear," it anticipates a profound, even terrifying, manifestation of divine power that shatters their illusions. The result is meant to be a humbling realization that they are merely "men" – fragile, mortal, and dependent. This understanding of human insignificance before an infinite God is the gateway to wisdom and reverence. Historically, empires rise and fall, often convinced of their eternal power, yet eventually, they all crumble, proving their "but men" status. This verse stands as a timeless prayer for God to expose such human conceit, for His glory and for the ultimate recognition of His unparalleled dominion over all the earth.