Psalms 109:31
in Psalms 109For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from the condemners of his soul.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, To save him from them that judge his soul.
KJV
For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.
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This verse in Psalms 109
Commentary
11 notes on this verseFor he shall stand at the right hand of the poor,.... Of the Messiah, as in Psa 109:22 at whose right hand the Lord was, to guide and direct, help and assist, protect and defend, Psa 16:8, or of his people, who are poor in every sense; but the Lord is on their side, and is a present help in time of trouble, Psa 46:
This site's exposition
thank the LORD profusely
on Psalms 109:30-31
The psalm closes in praise, where verse 1 began. The thanks are spoken out loud, in the presence of many. The LORD stands at the needy man's right hand to save him from his condemners, where verse 6 asked an accuser to stand.
This site's exposition
the condemners of his soul
Condemners is literally those who judge his soul, the court of verse 7 seen from the other side. At Psalm 16:8 the LORD stands at the right hand as well. The next psalm names the right hand twice, at Psalm 110:1 and 5.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Because he stood at the right hand of the poor man. The devil stood at the right hand of Judas: but for me the Lord stood at my right hand. That he might save my soul from those who persecute it. My soul, he says, he will save. And elsewhere he says: "My soul is sorrowful even unto death." He who is sorrowful, had a faculty of feeling. For a soul without feeling has no perception, a soul without feeling has neither perception nor pain: for where there is pain and sadness, there is feeling.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
In singing this psalm we must comfort ourselves with the believing foresight of the certain destruction of all the enemies of Christ and his church, and the certain salvation of all those that trust in God and keep close to him.
God was David's protector in his sufferings, and was present also with the Lord Jesus in his, stood at his right hand, so that he was not moved ( Ps. xvi.
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The Nineteenth Century2 voices
For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor. God will not be absent when his people are on their trial; he will hold a brief for them and stand in court as their advocate, prepared to plead on their behalf. How different is this from the doom of the ungodly who has Satan at his right hand (Ps 109:6). To save him from those that condemn his soul.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
In confidence that God's blessing would come on him, and confusion and shame on his enemies (Ps 73:13), he ceases to regard their curses, and anticipates a season of joyful and public thanksgiving; for God is near to protect (Ps 16:8;
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3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor. God will not be absent when his people are on their trial; he will hold a brief for them and stand in court as their advocate, prepared to plead on their behalf. How different is this from the doom of the ungodly who has Satan at his right hand (Ps 109:6). To save him from those that condemn his soul. The court only met as a matter of form, the malicious had made up their minds to the verdict, they judged him guilty, for their hate condemned him, yea, they pronounced sentence of damnation upon the very soul of their victim: but what mattered it? The great King was in court, and their sentence was turned against themselves. Nothing can more sweetly sustain the heart of a slandered believer than the firm conviction that God is near to all who are wronged, and is sure to work out their salvation. O Lord, save us from the severe trial of slander: deal in thy righteousness with all those who spitefully assail the characters of holy men, and cause all who are smarting under calumny and reproach to come forth unsullied from the affliction, even as did thine only begotten Son. Amen.
He shall stand at the right hand of the poor - Even if Satan himself be the accuser, God will vindicate the innocence of his servant. Pilate and the Jews condemned our Lord to death as a malefactor; God showed his immaculate innocence by his resurrection from the dead. The whole of this Psalm is understood by many as referring solely to Christ, the traitor Judas, and the wicked Jews. This is the view taken of it in the analysis.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor - He will thus show that he befriends the poor and the helpless. To save him from those that condemn his soul - - Margin, “from the judges of his soul.” The Hebrew is, “from those that judge his soul.” The meaning is, from those that pronounce a harsh or unjust judgment; from those that condemn the innocent.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יַ֭עֲמֹד | yaamod | he stands | H5975 → | 521 times |
| לִימִ֣ין | limin | to [the] right [hand] of | H3225 → | 140 times |
| אֶבְי֑וֹן | ʾevyon | [the] needy | H34 → | 61 times |
| לְ֝הוֹשִׁ֗יעַ | lehoshia' | to save [him] | H3467 → | 206 times |
| מִשֹּׁפְטֵ֥י | mishofetei | from [those who] judge | H8199 → | 202 times |
| נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ | nafsho | <of> self his | H5315 → | 754 times |
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
יַ֭עֲמֹדhe stands
yaamodH5975 →521 times
לִימִ֣יןto [the] right [hand] of
liminH3225 →140 times
אֶבְי֑וֹן[the] needy
ʾevyonH34 →61 times
לְ֝הוֹשִׁ֗יעַto save [him]
lehoshia'H3467 →206 times
מִשֹּׁפְטֵ֥יfrom [those who] judge
mishofeteiH8199 →202 times
נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃<of> self his
nafshoH5315 →754 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
Isaiah 54:17No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the…
it leads to
- Romans 8:28–39
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Isaiah 54:15
If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you.
- John 10:28–30
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
- Isaiah 50:8
The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me!
- Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 8:28–39
Through
Psalms 16:8I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
it leads to
- Psalms 62:6
He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I will not be shaken.
- Acts 2:25–28
David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
- Psalms 121:5
The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand.
- Psalms 62:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
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About Psalms
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 5; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Homily 35, on Psalm 108; John Calvin, Commentary on the Book of Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.