The Meaning of Psalms 17:12 Explained

Psalms 17:12

KJV: Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

YLT: His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.

Darby: He is like a lion that is greedy of its prey, and as a young lion lurking in secret places.

ASV: He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, And as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Discover Psalms 17:12

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Psalms 17:12?

MEANING: What does Psalms 17:12 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Psalms 17:12 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Psalms 17:12?

What is the context of Psalms 17:12?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

What does Psalms 17:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 17:1-15 - God's True Servants Safely Kept

This also dates from the Sauline persecutions. In the earlier verses David protests his innocence, pleads for deliverance from his foes, and ends with glad anticipation of the vision of God. The psalm may have been composed for use at eventide; two at least of its verses point in that direction, Psalms 17:3; Psalms 15:1-5.

What a comfort it is to appeal from the accusations of men to the judgment-bar of God! Yet our sufferings at their hands are God's smelting-furnace. The Hebrew word translated tried is "melted," Psalms 17:3. But we cannot be kept without constant use of God's Word, Psalms 17:4. And then how safe we are! The apple of the eye-that is, the pupil-is defended by eye lash, lid, brow, bony socket, and uplifted arm. Thy wings, see Deuteronomy 32:11.

Note the contrast between Psalms 17:14 and Psalms 16:5; Psalms 16:11. The worldly are filled with this world-I with thee. They look for the things of this life-I for the unseen and eternal. They are satisfied with children-I with thy likeness. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 17

¹ David, in confidence of his integrity, craves defense of God against his enemies
¹⁰ He shows their pride, craft, and eagerness
¹³ He prays against them in confidence of his hope

What do the individual words in Psalms 17:12 mean?

Like as a lion is eager to tear his prey and like a young lion lurking in secret places

דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ כְּ֭אַרְיֵה יִכְס֣וֹף לִטְר֑וֹף וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים

דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ	Like
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular Root: דִּמְיׄון Sense: likeness.
כְּ֭אַרְיֵה	as a lion
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular Root: אֲרִי Sense: lion.
יִכְס֣וֹף	is eager
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: כָּסַף Sense: to long for, yearn for, long after.
לִטְר֑וֹף	to tear his prey
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct Root: טָרַף Sense: to tear, rend, pluck.
וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר	and like a young lion
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular Root: כְּפִיר Sense: young lion.
יֹשֵׁ֥ב	lurking
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular Root: יָשַׁב Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים	in secret places
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural Root: מִסְתָּר Sense: secret place, hiding place.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 17:12?

Loading Information...

Similar Scriptures for Psalms 17:12

		Psalms 7:2 [4]
		Psalms 10:9 [3]
		2 Timothy 4:17 [2]
		1 Peter 5:8 [2]
		Psalms 22:13 [2]