Psalms 9:4
Psalms 9:4 in Multiple Translations
For You have upheld my just cause; You sit on Your throne judging righteously.
For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; Thou sittest in the throne judging righteously.
For you gave approval to my right and my cause; you were seated in your high place judging in righteousness.
For you have judged that I am right; you have decided fairly from your throne of judgment.
For thou hast maintained my right and my cause: thou art set in the throne, and iudgest right.
For Thou hast done my judgment and my right. Thou hast sat on a throne, A judge of righteousness.
For you have maintained my just cause. You sit on the throne judging righteously.
For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou sattest on the throne judging right.
When my enemy shall be turned back: they shall be weakened and perish before thy face.
You sat on your throne to judge people, and you have judged fairly/justly concerning me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 9:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 9:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בְּ/שׁוּב
אוֹיְבַ֥/י
אָח֑וֹר
יִכָּשְׁל֥וּ
וְ֝/יֹאבְד֗וּ
מִ/פָּנֶֽי/ךָ
בְּ/שׁוּב
shûwb
H7725
to return
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
אוֹיְבַ֥/י
ʼôyêb
H341
enemy
V-Qal | Suff
אָח֑וֹר
ʼâchôwr
H268
back
N-ms
יִכָּשְׁל֥וּ
kâshal
H3782
to stumble
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp
וְ֝/יֹאבְד֗וּ
ʼâbad
H6
to perish
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
מִ/פָּנֶֽי/ךָ
pânîym
H6440
face
Prep | N-cp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 9:4
בְּ/שׁוּב
shûwb
H7725
"to return"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Definition: : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back 1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment 1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore 1d3) to bring back, report to, answer 1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense) 1d5) to turn back or backward, repel, defeat, repulse, hinder, reject, refuse 1d6) to turn away (face), turn toward 1d7) to turn against 1d8) to bring back to mind 1d9) to show a turning away 1d10) to reverse, revoke 1e) (Hophal) to be returned, be restored, be brought back 1f) (Pulal) brought back
Usage: Occurs in 953 OT verses. KJV: ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. See also: Genesis 3:19; Numbers 8:25; Judges 8:13.
אוֹיְבַ֥/י
ʼôyêb
H341
"enemy"
V-Qal | Suff
This Hebrew word means enemy or adversary, referring to someone who hates or opposes another person or nation. It is used to describe personal or national enemies in the Bible.
Definition: 1) (Qal) enemy 1a) personal 1b) national
Usage: Occurs in 275 OT verses. KJV: enemy, foe. See also: Genesis 22:17; 2 Samuel 22:1; Psalms 3:8.
אָח֑וֹר
ʼâchôwr
H268
"back"
N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means the back or rear side of something. It can also refer to a location or direction, like the West. In Genesis, it describes the back of the Tabernacle.
Definition: 1) the back side, the rear 1a) backwards 1b) hereafter (of time) 1c) behind
Usage: Occurs in 41 OT verses. KJV: after(-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter, (be-) hind(-er part), time to come, without. See also: Genesis 49:17; Psalms 129:5; Psalms 9:4.
יִכָּשְׁל֥וּ
kâshal
H3782
"to stumble"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp
To stumble means to lose your balance and almost fall, often because of weakness. In the Bible, it can also mean to falter or fail spiritually. This word is used in many books, including Psalms and Proverbs.
Definition: 1) to stumble, stagger, totter 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stumble 1a2) to totter 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to stumble 1b2) to be tottering, be feeble 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to stumble, bring injury or ruin to, overthrow 1c2) to make feeble, make weak 1d) (Hophal) to be made to stumble 1e) (Piel) bereave
Usage: Occurs in 59 OT verses. KJV: bereave (from the margin), cast down, be decayed, (cause to) fail, (cause, make to) fall (down, -ing), feeble, be (the) ruin(-ed, of), (be) overthrown, (cause to) stumble, [idiom] utterly, be weak. See also: Leviticus 26:37; Jeremiah 6:15; Psalms 9:4.
וְ֝/יֹאבְד֗וּ
ʼâbad
H6
"to perish"
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Definition: 1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) perish, die, be exterminated 1a2) perish, vanish (fig.) 1a3) be lost, strayed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate 1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.) 1b3) cause to stray, lose 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to destroy, put to death 1c1a) of divine judgment 1c2) object name of kings (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Usage: Occurs in 174 OT verses. KJV: break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee. See also: Exodus 10:7; Psalms 112:10; Psalms 1:6.
מִ/פָּנֶֽי/ךָ
pânîym
H6440
"face"
Prep | N-cp | Suff
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
Study Notes — Psalms 9:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 9:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 9:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 9:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 9:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 9:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 9:4
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 9:4
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 9:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 9:4
- Sermons on Psalms 9:4
Context — I Will Give Thanks to the LORD
2I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
3When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before You.
4For You have upheld my just cause; You sit on Your throne judging righteously.
5You have rebuked the nations; You have destroyed the wicked; You have erased their name forever and ever. 6The enemy has come to eternal ruin, and You have uprooted their cities; the very memory of them has vanished.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 140:12 | I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy. |
| 2 | 1 Peter 2:23 | When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. |
| 3 | Psalms 98:9 | before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity. |
| 4 | Isaiah 11:4 | but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. |
| 5 | Psalms 89:14 | Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You. |
| 6 | Psalms 47:8 | God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne. |
| 7 | Psalms 16:5 | The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. |
| 8 | Psalms 45:6–7 | Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy. |
| 9 | Psalms 96:13 | before the LORD, for He is coming— He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness. |
Psalms 9:4 Summary
This verse means that God is always fair and just, and He will defend what is right. When we are treated unfairly, we can trust that God sees and will ultimately make things right, just like He promises in Psalm 37:6. We can also trust that God is in control and has the power to judge rightly, as He sits on His throne. By remembering these truths, we can have peace and confidence in God's goodness and justice, even in difficult times, just as the psalmist did in Psalms 9:4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that God 'upheld my just cause' in Psalms 9:4?
This phrase means that God has defended and supported what is right and just, as seen in the life of the psalmist, and is a promise to all believers, as stated in Romans 8:31, 'If God is for us, who can be against us?'
How can we be sure that God judges righteously?
We can trust that God judges righteously because He is a just and holy God, as described in Deuteronomy 32:4, 'He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.'
What is the significance of God sitting on His throne?
The throne represents God's sovereign power and authority, as seen in Isaiah 6:1, where the prophet sees God sitting on His throne, high and exalted.
How can I apply Psalms 9:4 to my life when I'm facing injustice?
You can apply this verse by trusting that God sees your situation and will ultimately bring justice, as promised in Psalm 37:6, 'He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.'
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God has upheld my just cause in the past, and how can I trust Him to do so in the present?
- How does the knowledge of God's righteous judgment affect my daily life and decisions?
- In what ways can I acknowledge and submit to God's sovereign authority in my life, just as He sits on His throne?
- What are some areas of my life where I need to trust God to bring justice and righteousness, and how can I pray about these areas?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 9:4
For thou hast maintained my right and my cause,.... Or vindicated and established his righteous cause; God had pleaded and defended it, and by the flight, fall, and ruin of his enemies, had clearly
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 9:4
For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 9:4
My right and my cause, i.e. my righteous cause against thine and mine enemies. Thou satest in the throne; thou didst judge and give sentence for me. Judging right, or, O righteous Judge, or, as a just judge.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 9:4
Psalms 9:4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.Ver. 4. For thou hast maintained my right] Heb. Thou hast done me judgment. Locus hic insignis est, saith Polanus. This is an excellent place, and maketh much to the comfort of God’ s poor people that are oppressed by the world; the righteous Judge will not fail to right them. See Luke 18:7-8.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 9:4
(4) Thou hast maintained my right.—Literally, thou hast made my judgment, as the LXX. and Vulg. For this confidence in the supreme arbiter of events compare Shakespeare:— “Is this your Christian counsel? Out upon you! Heaven is above all yet. There sits a Judge That no king can corrupt.”—Henry VIII.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 9:4
4. In the defeat of his enemies he sees God’s judicial intervention on his behalf. God has pronounced and executed sentence in his favour. Cp. Psalms 7:8-9. thou satest &c.] Better, thou didst take thy seat on the throne, judging righteously. The throne is that of judgement (Psalms 9:7; Proverbs 20:8). God has assumed this judicial character, in answer to the Psalmist’s prayer in Psalms 7:7.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 9:4
For thou hast maintained my right and my cause - My righteous cause; that is, when he was unequally attacked. When his enemies came upon him in an unprovoked and cruel manner, God had interposed and had defended his cause.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 9:4
3-6. A graphic description of the desolating effect of the war.
Sermons on Psalms 9:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Exposition on Psalm 10 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches on the Psalms, delving into the deep meanings behind the verses. He discusses the consequences of sin, the anger of the Lord towards the ungodly, and the imp |
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Help Comes in the Morning! by Elmer G. Klassen | Elmer G. Klassen preaches on the importance of spending time alone with God in the morning, emphasizing that morning is the best time for personal worship and fellowship with God. |
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作妻子的 - Attention: Wives! by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not fighting and arguing with our spouses, but instead allowing God to work in their lives. He encourages husbands and wiv |
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The Life of Brokenness by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the concept of brokenness and its significance in the Christian faith. He references various biblical stories to illustrate the power of brok |
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Christian Growth the Life of Brokenness by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the concept of brokenness and its significance in the Christian faith. He references various biblical stories to illustrate the power of brok |
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(Grace Baptist) Wait on the Lord by Bill McLeod | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of David and his battle with the Philistines. Instead of repeating the same strategy as before, God instructs David to stand by the |
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Prayer and Revival - Part 2 by Bill McLeod | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the current state of the world and suggests that God is sending judgments upon North America. He references Ezekiel 14:21, which mentions four |