The Meaning of Psalms 10:9 Explained

Psalms 10:9

KJV: He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

YLT: He lieth in wait in a secret place, as a lion in a covert. He lieth in wait to catch the poor, He catcheth the poor, drawing him into his net.

Darby: He lieth in wait secretly, like a lion in his thicket; he lieth in wait to catch the afflicted: he doth catch the afflicted, drawing him into his net.

ASV: He lurketh in secret as a lion in his covert; He lieth in wait to catch the poor: He doth catch the poor, when he draweth him in his net.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He lieth in wait  secretly  as a lion  in his den:  he lieth in wait  to catch  the poor:  he doth catch  the poor,  when he draweth  him into his net. 

What does Psalms 10:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 10:1-18 - God Will Not Forget The Lowly
The malice of our foes, and especially of Satan, is powerfully described, Psalms 10:1-11. Now it is the venom beneath the serpent's tongue, Psalms 10:7; now the bandit in ambush, Psalms 10:8; now the lion in his den, and again the hunter snaring his unsuspecting prey, Psalms 10:9. And all the while God is so quiet that it seems as if He has abdicated His throne.
Then the oppressed begin to pray, committing themselves to Him, Psalms 10:12-15. May we not rise above the spirit of the Old Covenant and ask that the venomous evil which is in the heart of our foes may be exterminated, so that it leave no vestiges? And such prayer must be answered. Compare Psalms 9:19 with Psalms 10:16-17. True prayer begins with God and returns to Him. When He prepares the heart, Psalms 9:17, He prepares the answer, which exceeds all, 1 Corinthians 2:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 10

1  David complains of the wicked
12  He prays for remedy
16  He professes his confidence

What do the individual words in Psalms 10:9 mean?

He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den He lies in wait to catch the poor He catches the poor when he draws him into his net
יֶאֱרֹ֬ב בַּמִּסְתָּ֨ר ׀ כְּאַרְיֵ֬ה בְסֻכֹּ֗ה יֶ֭אֱרֹב לַחֲט֣וֹף עָנִ֑י יַחְטֹ֥ף עָ֝נִ֗י בְּמָשְׁכ֥וֹ בְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ

יֶאֱרֹ֬ב  He  lies  in  wait 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָרַב  
Sense: to lie in wait, ambush, lurk.
בַּמִּסְתָּ֨ר ׀  secretly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִסְתָּר  
Sense: secret place, hiding place.
כְּאַרְיֵ֬ה  as  a  lion 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲרִי 
Sense: lion.
בְסֻכֹּ֗ה  in  his  den 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: סׄךְ  
Sense: thicket, lair, covert, booth.
יֶ֭אֱרֹב  He  lies  in  wait 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָרַב  
Sense: to lie in wait, ambush, lurk.
לַחֲט֣וֹף  to  catch 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָטַף  
Sense: (Qal) to catch, seize.
עָנִ֑י  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָנִי  
Sense: poor, afflicted, humble, wretched.
יַחְטֹ֥ף  He  catches 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָטַף  
Sense: (Qal) to catch, seize.
עָ֝נִ֗י  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָנִי  
Sense: poor, afflicted, humble, wretched.
בְּמָשְׁכ֥וֹ  when  he  draws  him 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁךְ  
Sense: to draw, drag, seize.
בְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ  into  his  net 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֶשֶׁת  
Sense: net.