Psalms 9:12

Psalms 9:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
• New International Version (NIV)For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble.

Context of Psalms 9:12

10Everyone who knows you, Lord, trusts in you. You will never turn away from anyone who comes to you for help. 11Give a song to the Lord to praise him! He rules as king in Zion. Tell all the nations about the great things that he has done. God punishes murderers, and he takes care of people who receive pain from others. When they call to him, he does not refuse to help them. 13How my enemies cause me to suffer! Please be kind to me, Lord. You are the one who can save me from death. 14Then I will praise you for everyone to hear! I will tell the people of Zion that you have saved me, and I will be very happy!

Psalms 9:12 word by word

כִּֽי־דֹרֵ֣שׁ דָּ֭מִים אוֹתָ֣ם זָכָ֑ר לֹֽא־שָׁ֝כַ֗ח צַעֲקַ֥ת עֲנָוִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• When he maketh inquisitionדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• for bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
• he rememberethזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• them: he forgettethשָׁכַחshâkach shâkêach · to forgetH7911
• not the cryצְעָקָהtsa‛ăqâh · cryH6818
• of the humbleעָנִי‛ânîy · afflictedH6041
• of the humbleעָנָו‛ânâv ‛ânâyv · poorH6035

Cross-references for Psalms 9:12

• Genesis 9:5If any person or animal kills a human, I will certainly punish them. Their punishment will be death.
• 2 Kings 24:4Manasseh had murdered people who had not done anything wrong. Their blood was in the streets of Jerusalem. The Lord would not agree to forgive Manasseh for his sins.
• Isaiah 26:21Look! Now the Lord is coming from the place where he lives. He is coming to punish the people who live on the earth for their sins. The earth will clearly show the blood that murderers poured out on it. Murderers will no longer be able to hide the people that they have killed.
• Matthew 23:35Because of all this, God will punish you for all the good people that you and your ancestors have killed. Long ago, Abel was the first of those good people. You also killed Zechariah, the son of Berekiah. He died in the yard of the temple near the altar.
• Luke 11:50Since the beginning of the world, people have killed God's prophets. But God will punish the people who are alive today for all those murders.
• Revelation 6:9Then the Lamb opened the fifth seal. I saw an altar where people offered gifts to God. I saw the souls of some of God's people under the altar. These people had died because they had believed God's message. They had continued to speak the true message about Jesus Christ. That is why people had killed them.
• Revelation 16:6They have killed your people and your prophets. They have caused your servants to bleed and to die. So now you have given these bad people blood to drink. That is what ought to happen to them. It is right.’
• Psalms 10:14Surely, God, you see what is happening. You see how wicked people bring pain and trouble. You decide what to do about it. The weak person trusts that you will help him. You take care of children who have no father.
• Psalms 22:24God did not forget to help the man who was in pain. He did not turn away from the one who suffered. When he called to God for help, God answered his prayer.
• Psalms 34:6I was weak and helpless, so I called out to the Lord. The Lord heard me. He saved me from all my troubles.
• Psalms 102:17He will answer the prayers of poor people who have nothing. He will not refuse to help them.
• Exodus 3:7The Lord said, ‘I have certainly seen the troubles of my people in Egypt. I have heard them when they cry for help because of their cruel masters. I know that they are very sad.
• Luke 18:7But as for God, he always helps those that he has chosen to be his children. When they continue to ask him for help, in the day and in the night, he will answer them. He will not wait.
• Judges 10:16Then they threw away all the idols of foreign gods that they had been worshipping. They began to worship the Lord again. Finally, the Lord decided to help them, because he saw how upset they were.

Commentaries on Psalms 9:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12When he maketh inquisition for blood - This not only applies to the Canaanites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Philistines, who shed the blood of God's people unjustly, but to all the nations of the earth who, to enlarge their territory, increase their wealth, or extend their commerce, have made destructive wars. For the blood which such nations have shed, their blood shall be shed. If man should make no inquisition for this iniquitously spilt blood, God will…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12When he maketh inquisition for blood - When he “inquires” after blood; that is, when he comes forth with this view, to wit, for purposes of punishment. There is allusion here to such passages as that in Genesis 9:5, “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man.” The idea is, that when blood was shed in murder, God would seek out the murderer; he would require satisfaction of him…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-20Verses 11-20 Those who believe that God is greatly to be praised, not only desire to praise him better themselves, but desire that others may join with them. There is a day coming, when it will appear that he has not forgotten the cry of the humble; neither the cry of their blood, or the cry of their prayers. We are never brought so low, so near to death, but God can raise us up. If he has saved us from spiritual and eternal death, we may thence hope…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The Lord saves his servants and punishes those who have harmed them (Psalm 18:46). He defends his servants by fairly judging his enemies on earth (Psalm 58:11). Those who follow God do not seek revenge. Instead, they wait for the Lord to defend them (Psalm 94:1–2; Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. for blood--that is, murders (Psa 5:6), including all the oppressions of His people. maketh inquisition--(compare Ge 9:5). He will avenge their cause.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 9:12

• Homicide
• Humility
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Cry
• Endure
• Gate
• Inquisition
• Muthlabben
• Perpetual
• Refuge
• Rejoice
• Snare
• Acrostic

Commentaries on Psalms 9

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings