Psalms 109:12
in Psalms 109May there be no one to extend kindness to him, and no one to favor his fatherless children.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Let there be none to extend kindness unto him; Neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.
KJV
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
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This verse in Psalms 109
Commentary
10 notes on this verseLet there be none to extend mercy unto him. He had no mercy, but on the contrary, he crushed down all who appealed to him. Loath to smite him with his own weapon, stern justice can do no otherwise, she lifts her scales and sees that this, too, must be in the sentence. Neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
This site's exposition
May his children wander as beggars
on Psalms 109:10-13
The children wander as beggars, and the creditor takes everything the man owns. Strangers plunder what his labor made, and no kindness is to reach him or his fatherless children. The descendants are cut off and the name blotted out.
This site's exposition
no one to extend kindness to him
Kindness is chesed, loyal love. Verse 16 says this man never thought to show it, and verses 21 and 26 ask God's loving devotion, the same word, for the speaker. The measure he gave is the measure asked for him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
But as even orphans may, without one to help them, and without a guardian, nevertheless increase amid trouble and want, and preserve their race by descent; he next says, "Let his posterity be destroyed; and in the next generation let his name be clean put out" [Psalm 109:12]: that is, let what has been generated by him generate no more, and quickly pass away.
Let there be no helper for him, nor let there be any who will pity his orphans. In that time the people of the Jews had no helper. Answer me, O Jews. You were in Babylon: there you had prophets, Daniel, Ezekiel: and indeed you were idolaters. For seventy years you were in captivity, and afterward you came back into your own land. Behold, now it is four hundred years: why has no prophet been sent to you? In that time you worshiped idols, and God had pity on you.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The children of wicked parents often fare the worse for their parents' wickedness in this way that the bowels of men's compassion are shut up from them, which yet ought not to be, for why should children suffer for that which was not their fault, but their infelicity?
(5.) That his posterity should be miserable. Fatherless children, though they have nothing of their own, yet sometimes are well provided for by the kindness of those whom God inclines to pity them; but this wicked man having never shown mercy there shall be none to extend mercy to him, by favouring his fatherless children when he is gone,
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him,.... No pity is ever expressed at hearing or reading the sad case of Judas; and though the Jews were pitied of those that carried them captive to Babylon, Psa 106:46, yet, in their last destruction by the Romans, no mercy was shown them; the wrath of God and man came upon them to the uttermost, 1Th 2:
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him. He had no mercy, but on the contrary, he crushed down all who appealed to him. Loath to smite him with his own weapon, stern justice can do no otherwise, she lifts her scales and sees that this, too, must be in the sentence. Neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. We are staggered to find the children included in the father's sentence, and yet as a matter of fact children do suffer for their father's sins, and, as long as the affairs of this life are ordered as they are, it must be so. So involved are the interests of the race, that it is quite impossible in all respects to view the father and the child apart. No man among us could desire to see the fatherless suffer for their deceased father's fault, yet so it happens, and there is no injustice in the fact. They share the parent's ill gotten gain or rank, and their aggrandizement is a part of the object at which he aimed in the perpetration of his crimes; to allow them to prosper would be an encouragement and reward of his iniquity; therefore, for these and other reasons, a man perishes not alone in his iniquity. The ban is on his race. If the man were innocent this would be a crime; if he were but commonly guilty it would be excessive retribution; but when the offence reeks before high heaven in unutterable abomination, it is little marvel that men devote the man's whole house to perpetual infamy, and that so it happeneth.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him - Let him find compassion and sympathy in no one. When he suffers, let him be left to bear it alone. Let there be none found to shed a tear of compassion over him, or to relieve him. Literally, “Let there be no one to draw out kindness to him.” Neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children - To show them mercy or kindness. See the notes at Psa 109:10.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| יְהִי־ | yehi- | it belong | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| ל֭וֹ | lo | to him | ||
| מֹשֵׁ֣ךְ | moshekh | [one who] prolongs | H4900 → | 36 times |
| חָ֑סֶד | chased | loyalty | H2617 → | 247 times |
| וְֽאַל־ | veal- | and may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| יְהִ֥י | yehi | it belong | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| ח֝וֹנֵ֗ן | chonen | [one who] shows favor | H2603 → | 78 times |
| לִיתוֹמָֽיו׃ | litomav | to fatherless children his | H3490 → | 42 times |
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
יְהִי־it belong
yehi-H1961 →3559 times
ל֭וֹto him
lo
מֹשֵׁ֣ךְ[one who] prolongs
moshekhH4900 →36 times
חָ֑סֶדloyalty
chasedH2617 →247 times
וְֽאַל־and may not
veal-H408 →724 times
יְהִ֥יit belong
yehiH1961 →3559 times
ח֝וֹנֵ֗ן[one who] shows favor
chonenH2603 →78 times
לִיתוֹמָֽיו׃to fatherless children his
litomavH3490 →42 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 6:38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
- Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him, and do not let your heart be grieved when you do so. And because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything…
- Mark 4:24
He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.
- Proverbs 3:9–10
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
- Matthew 7:2
For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
Through
James 2:13For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
it leads to
- Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
- Proverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
- Matthew 6:15
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
- Matthew 5:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Psalms
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 109; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 5; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jerome, Homily 35, on Psalm 108; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.