The Meaning of Psalms 9:17 Explained

Psalms 9:17

KJV: The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

YLT: The wicked do turn back to Sheol, All nations forgetting God.

Darby: The wicked shall be turned into Sheol, all the nations that forget God.

ASV: The wicked shall be turned back unto Sheol, Even all the nations that forget God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The wicked  shall be turned  into hell,  [and] all the nations  that forget  God. 

What does Psalms 9:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 9:1-20 - Confidence In The Righteous Judge
The Chaldee version adds to the inscription, "concerning the death of the champion who went out between the camps," referring to the death of Goliath. This is the first of the Acrostic or Alphabetical Psalms, of which there are nine: Psalms 9:1-20; Psalms 10:1-18; Psalms 25:1-22; Psalms 34:1-22; Psalms 37:1-40; Psalms 111:1-10; Psalms 112:1-10; Psalms 119:1-176; Psalms 145:1-21.
There is a predominant note of praise, Psalms 9:1-5; Psalms 9:11-12; Psalms 9:14. Let memory heap fuel on the altar of praise. In the resurrection of our Lord, God indeed rebuked our arch-enemy, and his strongholds are now wastes, Zechariah 3:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Colossians 2:15. But there is a corresponding note of trust, Psalms 9:7-12. Calamity drives us to God. The more we know the more we trust Him. Doubt is born of ignorance. Leave God to vindicate; He will not forget, Psalms 9:12. There is a petition for further help, Psalms 9:13; Psalms 9:19-20. We have been at the gates of death, Psalms 9:13; here are the gates of the Holy City, Psalms 9:14. Compare Psalms 9:15 and Esther 7:10. God does not forget; forget Him not, Psalms 9:12; Psalms 17:1-15. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 9

1  David praises God for executing judgment
11  He incites others to praise him
13  He prays that he may have cause to praise him

What do the individual words in Psalms 9:17 mean?

Shall be turned the wicked into hell [And] all the nations that forget God
יָשׁ֣וּבוּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים לִשְׁא֑וֹלָה כָּל־ גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם שְׁכֵחֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים

יָשׁ֣וּבוּ  Shall  be  turned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
רְשָׁעִ֣ים  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
לִשְׁא֑וֹלָה  into  hell 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שְׁאֹול  
Sense: sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit.
כָּל־  [And]  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם  the  nations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
שְׁכֵחֵ֥י  that  forget 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁכֵחַ  
Sense: forgetting, forgetful, forget.
אֱלֹהִֽים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).