The Meaning of Psalms 109:12 Explained

Psalms 109:12

KJV: Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.

YLT: He hath none to extend kindness, Nor is there one showing favour to his orphans.

Darby: Let there be none to extend kindness unto him, neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children;

ASV: Let there be none to extend kindness unto him; Neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let there be none to extend  mercy  unto him: neither let there be any to favour  his fatherless children. 

What does Psalms 109:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 109:1-16 - The Persecutor Of The Needy
This psalm is like a patch of the Sahara amid a smiling Eden. But, terrible as the words are, remember that they were written by the man who, on two occasions, spared the life of his persecutor, and who, when the field of Gilboa was wet with Saul's life-blood, sang the loveliest of elegiacs to his memory. These maledictions do not express personal vindictiveness. Probably they should be read as depicting the doom of the wrong-doer. The Apostle, quoting this psalm, expressly says that the Spirit of Inspiration spoke before by the mouth of David, Acts 1:16. The imperative let might better be translated by the future shall. This would be in perfect conformity with Hebrew usage.
Notice in Psalms 109:4 that by omitting the three words in italics, a beautiful suggestion is made of the life of prayer: But I-prayer. The only response of the psalmist to the hatred of his enemies was to give himself more absolutely to prayer. His whole being was consumed in the one intense appeal to God. Such times come to us all. Such prayers always end in praise and thanksgiving, Psalms 109:30. Happy are we who also can count on the Advocate with the Father, Psalms 109:31. Jesus prays our prayers with us. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 109

1  David complains of his slanderous enemies
16  He shows their sin
21  Complaining of his own misery, he prays for help
29  He promises thankfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 109:12 mean?

None let there be to him and to extend mercy nor let there be any To favor his fatherless children
אַל־ יְהִי־ ל֭וֹ מֹשֵׁ֣ךְ חָ֑סֶד וְֽאַל־ יְהִ֥י ח֝וֹנֵ֗ן לִיתוֹמָֽיו

אַל־  None 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
יְהִי־  let  there  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
ל֭וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
מֹשֵׁ֣ךְ  and  to  extend 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁךְ  
Sense: to draw, drag, seize.
חָ֑סֶד  mercy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
וְֽאַל־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
יְהִ֥י  let  there  be  any 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
ח֝וֹנֵ֗ן  To  favor 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָנַן 
Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.
לִיתוֹמָֽיו  his  fatherless  children 
Parse: Preposition, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתֹום  
Sense: an orphan, fatherless.