The Meaning of Psalms 63:9 Explained

Psalms 63:9

KJV: But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

YLT: And they who for desolation seek my soul, Go in to the lower parts of the earth.

Darby: But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth;

ASV: But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But those [that] seek  my soul,  to destroy  [it], shall go  into the lower parts  of the earth. 

What does Psalms 63:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 63:1-11 - The Longing Soul Abundantly Satisfied
Ever since the third century this has been the morning song of the Church. The superscription tells us that it was written in the wilderness of Judah, probably during the events recorded in 2 Samuel 15:23-28; 2 Samuel 16:2; 2 Samuel 17:16. Notice the many references to the life of the soul. These are the many considerations of our mortal pilgrimage! My soul thirsteth; my soul longeth; my soul shall be satisfied; my soul followeth hard after thee.
The soul thirsting, Psalms 63:1-4
Let us be on the alert to see God's power and glory, not only in the sanctuary, but in dry and thirsty lands. How sad and weary, r.v., is life without God!
The soul satisfied, Psalms 63:5-7
To desire God is to have Him. To long for Him is to be at the well-head. To remember Him on the bed rests us. To meditate on Him in the night is to have the dawn. The shadow of His wings is absolute safety.
The soul in hot pursuit, Psalms 63:8-11
God is always in front of us. The Savior went before; we must follow in His steps, but there ought to be as little space as possible between us. Another turn of the road, and you will see Him! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 63

1  David's thirst for God
4  His manner of blessing God
9  His confidence of his enemies' destruction, and his own safety

What do the individual words in Psalms 63:9 mean?

But those to destroy [it] [who] seek my life shall go into the lower parts of the earth
וְהֵ֗מָּה לְ֭שׁוֹאָה יְבַקְשׁ֣וּ נַפְשִׁ֑י יָ֝בֹ֗אוּ בְּֽתַחְתִּיּ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ

וְהֵ֗מָּה  But  those 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
לְ֭שׁוֹאָה  to  destroy  [it] 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֹׁוא 
Sense: ravage.
יְבַקְשׁ֣וּ  [who]  seek 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
נַפְשִׁ֑י  my  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
יָ֝בֹ֗אוּ  shall  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בְּֽתַחְתִּיּ֥וֹת  into  the  lower  parts 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: תַּחְתִּי  
Sense: low, lower, lowest.
הָאָֽרֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.