God’s Word Translation
Psalms 7:12
12If a person does not change, God sharpens his sword. By bending his bow, he makes it ready ⌞to shoot⌟.
Psalms 7:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
- New International Version (NIV)If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.
- English Standard Version (ESV)If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;
- New King James Version (NKJV)If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready.
Context of Psalms 7:12
10My shield is God above, who saves those whose motives are decent. 11God is a fair judge, a God who is angered by injustice every day. If a person does not change, God sharpens his sword. By bending his bow, he makes it ready ⌞to shoot⌟. 13He prepares his deadly weapons and turns them into flaming arrows. 14See how that person conceives evil, is pregnant with harm, and gives birth to lies.
Read all of Psalms 7Psalms 7:12 word by word
אִם־לֹ֣א יָ֭שׁוּב חַרְבּ֣וֹ יִלְט֑וֹשׁ קַשְׁתּ֥וֹ דָ֝רַ֗ךְ וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 7:12
- Psalms 85:4Restore us, O God, our savior. Put an end to your anger against us.
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
- Jeremiah 31:18“I have certainly heard Ephraim mourn and say, ‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined. I was like a young, untrained calf. Turn me, and I will be turned, because you are the Lord my God.
- Ezekiel 18:30“That is why I will judge each of you by what you have done, people of Israel,” declares the Almighty Lord. “Change the way you think and act. Turn away from all the rebellious things that you have done so that you will not fall into sin.
- Ezekiel 33:11“Tell them, ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, I don’t want wicked people to die. Rather, I want them to turn from their ways and live. Change the way you think and act! Turn from your wicked ways! Do you want to die, people of Israel?’
- Matthew 3:10The ax is now ready to cut the roots of the trees. Any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire.
- Acts 3:19So change the way you think and act, and turn ⌞to God⌟ to have your sins removed.
- Deuteronomy 32:41I will sharpen my flashing sword and take justice into my own hands. Then I will take revenge on my enemies and pay back those who hate me.
- Isaiah 27:1On that day the Lord will use his fierce and powerful sword to punish Leviathan, that slippery snake, Leviathan, that twisting snake. He will kill that monster which lives in the sea.
- Isaiah 34:5When my sword is covered ⌞with blood⌟ in the heavens, it will fall on Edom and on the people I’ve claimed for destruction.
- Ezekiel 21:9“Son of man, prophesy. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: A sword, a sword is sharpened and polished,
Commentaries on Psalms 7:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12If he turn not - This clause the Syriac adds to the preceding verse. Most of the versions read, "If ye return not." Some contend, and not without a great show of probability, that the two verses should be read in connection, thus: "God is a just Judge; a God who is provoked every day. If (the sinner) turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready." This, no doubt, gives the sense of both.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12If he turn not - If the wicked person does not repent. in the previous verse the psalmist had said that God is angry with the wicked every day; he here states what must be the consequence to the wicked if they persevere in the course which they are pursuing; that is, if they do not repent. God, he says, cannot be indifferent to the course which they pursue, but he is preparing for them the instruments of punishment, and he will certainly bring destruction…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-17Verses 10-17 David is confident that he shall find God his powerful Saviour. The destruction of sinners may be prevented by their conversion; for it is threatened, If he turn not from his evil way, let him expect it will be his ruin. But amidst the threatenings of wrath, we have a gracious offer of mercy. God gives sinners warning of their danger, and space to repent, and prevent it. He is slow to punish, and long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13sword … bow … deadly weapons … arrows with fire: As the Divine Warrior, God attacks to defend himself and his people.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1312-13. They are here distinctly pointed out, though by changing the person, a very common mode of speech, one is selected as a representative of wicked men generally. The military figures are of obvious meaning.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 7:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 7
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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