The Meaning of Psalms 140:12 Explained

Psalms 140:12

KJV: I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

YLT: I have known that Jehovah doth execute The judgment of the afflicted, The judgment of the needy.

Darby: I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted one, the right of the needy.

ASV: I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And justice for the needy.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I know  that the LORD  will maintain  the cause  of the afflicted,  [and] the right  of the poor. 

What does Psalms 140:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 140:1-13 - Confidence In God's Protection
Here is a picture of a man who is beset by foes. Around are slander and hatred; at his feet stratagems and traps. There is no help save in Him who alone can cover the head in the day of battle. Similar experiences befall God's people still. Some are hunted by earthly enemies; others are stung by the fiery darts of the wicked. In Psalms 140:1-5 life is like a path through a forest, where adders hide and where gins are laid. At any moment the foe may break from his ambush. In Psalms 140:6-7 faith discovers God, at such a time, as strength, salvation, and protection.
There follows, in Psalms 140:8-12, a terrible outburst. Instead of the let of the imperative, many read the shall of prediction. We belong to the kingdom of Christ, the teachings of which are given in Matthew 5:1-48. The only coals of fire that we can deal with are those of love and mercy, which we heap on the heads of our enemies. The least in the kingdom of love stands on a higher plane than the greatest in the kingdom of law. But let the wicked remember Romans 2:5. The psalm ends in a gladder strain, Psalms 140:13. There is an inner sanctuary where we shall be safe! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 140

1  David prays to be delivered from Saul and Doeg
8  He prays against them
12  He comforts himself by confidence in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 140:12 mean?

- I know that will maintain Yahweh the cause of the afflicted [And] justice for the poor
[ידעת] (יָדַ֗עְתִּי) כִּֽי־ יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יְ֭הוָה דִּ֣ין עָנִ֑י מִ֝שְׁפַּ֗ט אֶבְיֹנִֽים

[ידעת]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אַבְדָן  
Sense: destruction.
(יָדַ֗עְתִּי)  I  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה  will  maintain 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
דִּ֣ין  the  cause 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דִּין 
Sense: judgment.
עָנִ֑י  of  the  afflicted 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָנִי  
Sense: poor, afflicted, humble, wretched.
מִ֝שְׁפַּ֗ט  [And]  justice  for 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
אֶבְיֹנִֽים  the  poor 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֶבְיׄון  
Sense: in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person.