The Meaning of Psalms 109:21 Explained

Psalms 109:21

KJV: But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.

YLT: And Thou, O Jehovah Lord, Deal with me for Thy name's sake, Because Thy kindness is good, deliver me.

Darby: But do thou for me, Jehovah, Lord, for thy name's sake; because thy loving-kindness is good, deliver me:

ASV: But deal thou with me, O Jehovah the Lord, for thy name's sake: Because thy lovingkindness is good, deliver thou me;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But do  thou for me, O GOD  the Lord,  for thy name's  sake: because thy mercy  [is] good,  deliver  thou me. 

What does Psalms 109:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 109:17-31 - The Deliverer Of The Needy
This psalm emphasizes the difference, indicated by our Lord, between His teaching and that addressed to "them of old time," especially on the point of forgiveness. It is in such teaching as this that the psalmist's mood is distinctly inferior to that which has now become the law for devout men. This at least may be said, that these ancient saints did not desire vengeance for private injuries, but that God's name and character might be vindicated. Devout men could not but long for the triumph of good and the defeat and destruction of its opposite.
The closing paragraph voices some of those lowly, sad petitions for help, which occur in so many of the psalms. This combination of devout meekness and trust with the fiery imprecations or predictions at the core of this psalm, substantiates what has been said above as to the spirit in which the psalm was conceived. It is not personal, but the voice of the Church asking God to make known the righteousness of His government. The psalm begins and ends with praise. It starts by picturing an adversary at the right hand of the wicked, Psalms 109:6, and closes with assurance that Jehovah stands at the right hand of His afflicted servant to deliver him. "I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved," Psalms 16:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 109

1  David complains of his slanderous enemies
16  He shows their sin
21  Complaining of his own misery, he prays for help
29  He promises thankfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 109:21 mean?

But You GOD the Lord Deal with me for sake of Your name because good Your mercy [is] deliver me
וְאַתָּ֤ה ׀ יְה֘וִ֤ה אֲדֹנָ֗י עֲ‍ֽשֵׂה־ אִ֭תִּי לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֶ֑ךָ כִּי־ ט֥וֹב חַ֝סְדְּךָ֗ הַצִּילֵֽנִי

וְאַתָּ֤ה ׀  But  You 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
יְה֘וִ֤ה  GOD 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
אֲדֹנָ֗י  the  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
עֲ‍ֽשֵׂה־  Deal 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אִ֭תִּי  with  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
לְמַ֣עַן  for  sake 
Parse: Preposition
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
שְׁמֶ֑ךָ  of  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
כִּי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
ט֥וֹב  good 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
חַ֝סְדְּךָ֗  Your  mercy  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
הַצִּילֵֽנִי  deliver  me 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.