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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.

Context of Psalms 9:12

10Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. 11Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted. 13Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, 14that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation.

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 9:5And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
• 2 Kings 24:4including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive.
• Isaiah 26:21See, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer.
• Matthew 23:35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
• Luke 11:50Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world,
• Revelation 6:9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.
• Revelation 16:6for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
• Psalms 10:14But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
• Psalms 22:24For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
• Psalms 34:6This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
• Psalms 102:17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
• Exodus 3:7The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
• Luke 18:7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
• Judges 10:16Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.

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