The Meaning of Psalms 12:7 Explained

Psalms 12:7

KJV: Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

YLT: Thou, O Jehovah, dost preserve them, Thou keepest us from this generation to the age.

Darby: Thou, Jehovah, wilt keep them, thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

ASV: Thou wilt keep them, O Jehovah, Thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt keep  them, O LORD,  thou shalt preserve  them from this  generation  for ever. 

What does Psalms 12:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The "them" and "him" in Psalm 12:7 in the NASB probably refer to the vulnerable godly of Psalm 12:5. The NIV calls them "us." Alternatively, David may have meant God"s promises ( Psalm 12:6), but this seems less likely. David received encouragement and confidence from the Word of God that assured him of divine protection from the smug liars he found on every hand.

Context Summary

Psalms 12:1-8 - God Our Refuge And Defense
The first of these is a debate between fear and faith, and dates from Saul's persecutions. Timid friends, anxious for David's safety, urged him to flee to the mountains. Such counsels of expediency are frequently given to the servants of God, Nehemiah 6:1-19. Luther's diaries are full of such references. But unless our duty is performed, we must stand our ground; we "can do no other." We must remember that God's love is with us, and that He always exchanges glances of love with His suffering ones. Compare Psalms 11:7 with Exodus 3:7.
The opening words of the next psalm appeal for help in bad and evil days. See Micah 7:2. A double heart is literally "a heart and a heart," Psalms 12:2. Let us be true in act and speech, else we forfeit the Spirit of truth, Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9. Our sighing will make God arise, Acts 7:56. We shall be helped and kept, Psalms 12:7 and Isaiah 54:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 12

1  David, destitute of human comfort, craves help of God
3  He comforts himself with God's promises, and his judgments on the wicked

What do the individual words in Psalms 12:7 mean?

You Yahweh shall keep them You shall preserve them from generation this forever
אַתָּֽה־ יְהוָ֥ה תִּשְׁמְרֵ֑ם תִּצְּרֶ֓נּוּ ׀ מִן־ הַדּ֖וֹר ז֣וּ לְעוֹלָֽם

יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
תִּשְׁמְרֵ֑ם  shall  keep  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
תִּצְּרֶ֓נּוּ ׀  You  shall  preserve  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נְצוּרִים 
Sense: to guard, watch, watch over, keep.
הַדּ֖וֹר  generation 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.
ז֣וּ  this 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: זוּ  
Sense: this, such rel pron.
לְעוֹלָֽם  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.