Psalms 76:9
in Psalms 76when God rose up to judge, to save all the lowly of the earth. Selah
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
When God arose to judgment, To save all the meek of the earth. [Selah
KJV
When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
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This verse in Psalms 76
Commentary
13 notes on this verseWhen God arose to judgment. Men were hushed when he ascended the judgment seat and actively carried out the decrees of justice. When God is still the people are in tumult; when he arises they are still as a stone. To save all the meek of the earth. The Ruler of men has a special eye towards the poor and despised; he makes it his first point to right all their wrongs. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." They have little enough of it now, but their avenger is strong and he will surely save them.
This site's exposition
You alone are to be feared
on Psalms 76:7-9
Judgment came from heaven, and the earth feared and was still as God rose to judge and to save the lowly. Calvin and Henry read it beside the night the angel of the LORD struck the Assyrian camp at 2 Kings 19:35. No one stands before Him in His anger.
This site's exposition
to save all the lowly of the earth
The earth fell still in verse 8 because God rose to take the judgment seat. Matthew Henry likened it to the hush when a court sits. Albert Barnes took the lowly as the afflicted and the oppressed, whom this judgment came to save.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
If every one had imitated this cruelty, nothing else would have been left then for me in my lifetime but to be wasted by want, and, at my death, instead of being committed to a tomb, to be made meat for dogs and wild beasts. …
"He has hurled judgment from heaven; the earth trembled and grew quiet." Here that very power of judgment is explained, because from that height of power judgment descends in such a way as if it had been a javelin sent by a very strong and …
"When God arose in judgment to save all the quiet of the earth." That verse must be conjoined to the previous words, for he says, "The earth trembled and grew quiet when God arose in judgment." It is well said that he arises in his …
Who are the meek in heart? They that on snorting horses have not mounted, but in their humility have confessed their own sins. "For the thought of a man shall confess to You, and the remnants of the thought shall celebrate solemnities to You" [Psalm 76:10].
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
): " Thou, even thou, art to be feared; thy majesty is to be reverenced, thy sovereignty to be submitted to, and thy justice to be dreaded by those that have offended thee." Let all the world learn by this event to stand in awe of the great God. Let all be afraid of his wrath against the daring impiety of sinners: Who may stand in thy sight from the minute that thou art angry?
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
When God arose to judgment,....
The righteous God long seems to keep silence, yet, sooner or later, he will make judgment to be heard. (4.) When God is speaking judgment from heaven it is time for the earth to compose itself into an awful and reverent silence: The earth feared and was still, as silence is made by proclamation when the court sits.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
When God arose to judgment. Men were hushed when he ascended the judgment seat and actively carried out the decrees of justice. When God is still the people are in tumult; when he arises they are still as a stone. To save all the meek of the earth. The Ruler of men has a special eye towards the poor and despised; he makes it his first point to right all their wrongs. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." They have little enough of it now, but their avenger is strong and he will surely save them. He who saves his people is the same God who overthrows their enemies; he is as omnipotent to save as to destroy. Glory be unto his name. Selah. Here pause, and let devout contemplation adore the God of Jacob.
The meek of the earth - The humbled or oppressed people of the land. The poor Jews, now utterly helpless, and calling upon the Lord for succor.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
When God arose to judgment - That is, when he came to overthrow and destroy the enemies of his people, as referred to in the former part of the psalm. To save all the meek of the earth - Of the land - to wit, the land of Judea; or, to save his people when in affliction. The word “meek,” which with us usually means those who are forbearing under injuries, means here the humble, the afflicted, the crushed, the oppressed.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
When God rises for judgment to execute judgment upon His enemies, to save Hezekiah and his company.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּקוּם־ | bekum- | when arose | H6965 → | 628 times |
| לַמִּשְׁפָּ֥ט | lamishpat | for <the> judgment | H4941 → | 422 times |
| אֱלֹהִ֑ים | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| לְהוֹשִׁ֖יעַ | lehoshia' | to save | H3467 → | 206 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| עַנְוֵי־ | ʾanvei- | [the] humble [people] of | H6035 → | 22 times |
| אֶ֣רֶץ | ʾeretz | [the] earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
| סֶֽלָה׃ | selah | Selah | H5542 → | 74 times |
בְּקוּם־when arose
bekum-H6965 →628 times
לַמִּשְׁפָּ֥טfor <the> judgment
lamishpatH4941 →422 times
אֱלֹהִ֑יםGod
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
לְהוֹשִׁ֖יעַto save
lehoshia'H3467 →206 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
עַנְוֵי־[the] humble [people] of
ʾanvei-H6035 →22 times
אֶ֣רֶץ[the] earth
ʾeretzH776 →2504 times
סֶֽלָה׃Selah
selahH5542 →74 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
Matthew 5:5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
it leads to
- Psalms 37:11
But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
- Isaiah 29:19
The humble will increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
- James 3:13
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
- Psalms 149:4
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation.
- Galatians 5:23
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- Psalms 37:11
Through
Zephaniah 2:3Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
it leads to
- Amos 5:14–15
Seek good, not evil, so that you may live. And the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed.
- Isaiah 26:20–21
Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed.
- Jeremiah 29:12–13
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
- Amos 5:14–15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 76; Cassiodorus, EXPOSITIONS OF THE PSALMS 75:9; Cassiodorus, EXPOSITIONS OF THE PSALMS 75:10; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; John Calvin, Commentary on the Book of Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theodoret of Cyrus, LETTER 134.