Amplified Bible
Psalms 17:12
12He is like a lion eager to tear [his prey], And like a young lion lurking in hiding places.
Psalms 17:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
- New International Version (NIV)They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.
- New King James Version (NKJV)As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.
Context of Psalms 17:12
10They have closed their unfeeling heart [to kindness and compassion]; With their mouths they speak proudly and make presumptuous claims. 11They track us down and have now surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes to force us to the ground, He is like a lion eager to tear [his prey], And like a young lion lurking in hiding places. 13Arise, O Lord, confront him, cast him down; Save my soul from the wicked with Your sword, 14From men with Your hand, O Lord, From men of the world [these moths of the night] whose portion [of enjoyment] is in this life—idle and vain, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And they leave what they have left [of wealth] to their children.
Read all of Psalms 17Psalms 17:12 word by word
דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ כְּ֭אַרְיֵה יִכְס֣וֹף לִטְר֑וֹף וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 17:12
- Psalms 7:2So that my enemy will not tear me like a lion, Dragging me away while there is no one to rescue [me].
- Psalms 22:13They open wide their mouths against me, Like a ravening and a roaring lion.
- 2 Timothy 4:17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened and empowered me, so that through me the [gospel] message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear it; and I was rescued from the mouth of the lion.
- 1 Peter 5:8Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.
Commentaries on Psalms 17:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey - This is the picture of Saul. While his huntsmen were beating every bush, prying into every cave and crevice, and examining every foot of ground to find out a track, Saul is ready, whenever the game is started, to spring upon, seize, and destroy it. The metaphors are well connected, well sustained, and strongly expressive of the whole process of this persecution. In the ninth verse the huntsmen beat the forest to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Like as a lion - Margin, “The likeness of him” (that is, “of every one of them”) is “as a lion that desireth to ravin.” The meaning is plain. They were like a lion intent on securing his prey. They watched the object narrowly; they were ready to spring upon it. That is greedy of his prey - “He is craving to tear.” Prof. Alexander. - The Hebrew word rendered “is greedy,” means “to pine, to long after, to desire greatly.” The Hebrew word rendered “of his…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-15Verses 8-15 Being compassed with enemies, David prays to God to keep him in safety. This prayer is a prediction that Christ would be preserved, through all the hardships and difficulties of his humiliation, to the glories and joys of his exalted state, and is a pattern to Christians to commit the keeping of their souls to God, trusting him to preserve them to his heavenly kingdom. Those are our worst enemies, that are enemies to our souls. They are God's…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-15The psalmist asks for God's protection and justice, affirms his own integrity, and prays for the Lord to defeat his strong enemies.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. The figure made more special by that of a lion lurking.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 17:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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