The Meaning of Psalms 143:12 Explained

Psalms 143:12

KJV: And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

YLT: And in Thy kindness cuttest off mine enemies, And hast destroyed all the adversaries of my soul, For I am Thy servant!

Darby: And in thy loving-kindness cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that oppress my soul: for I am thy servant.

ASV: And in thy lovingkindness cut off mine enemies, And destroy all them that afflict my soul; For I am thy servant.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And of thy mercy  cut off  mine enemies,  and destroy  all them that afflict  my soul:  for I [am] thy servant. 

What does Psalms 143:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 143:1-12 - The Cry Of The Thirsty Soul
This psalm falls into four stanzas of three verses each. Complaint, Psalms 143:1-3. Though the enemy has resorted to unwarrantable violence, David realized that his past had been by no means immaculate. The holiest have least confidence in themselves, Job 9:3; Philippians 3:7. Bernard of Clairvaux said: "So far from being able to answer for my sins, I cannot answer even for my righteousness." There is no judgment or condemnation for those who are in Christ, because they were judged in Him. Now God's justice is on our side, 1 John 1:9.
Depression, Psalms 143:4-6. Those capable of the sunny heights are capable of the lowest depths. Memory, meditation, and musing often lead to melancholy. But reach out after God. To thirst for Him is to have Him. To desire is to possess. Entreaty, Psalms 143:7-9. Hear me; cause me to hear; cause me to know; deliver me. Docility, Psalms 143:10-12 : We can trust ourselves absolutely to be led by God's Spirit, because He is good and He brings the soul out of trouble into the land of uprightness, Romans 8:14. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 143

1  David prays for favor in judgment
3  He complains of his grief
5  He strengthens his faith by meditation and prayer
7  He prays for grace
9  For deliverance
10  For sanctification
12  For destruction of his enemies

What do the individual words in Psalms 143:12 mean?

And in Your mercy cut off my enemies and destroy all those who afflict my soul for I [am] Your servant
וּֽבְחַסְדְּךָ֮ תַּצְמִ֪ית אֹ֫יְבָ֥י וְֽ֭הַאֲבַדְתָּ כָּל־ צֹרֲרֵ֣י נַפְשִׁ֑י כִּ֝֗י אֲנִ֣י עַבְדֶּֽךָ

וּֽבְחַסְדְּךָ֮  And  in  Your  mercy 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
תַּצְמִ֪ית  cut  off 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: צָמַת  
Sense: to put an end to, cut off, destroy, exterminate, extirpate.
אֹ֫יְבָ֥י  my  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
וְֽ֭הַאֲבַדְתָּ  and  destroy 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָבַד  
Sense: perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed.
צֹרֲרֵ֣י  those  who  afflict 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: צָרַר 
Sense: to bind, be narrow, be in distress, make narrow, cause distress, besiege, be straitened, be bound.
נַפְשִׁ֑י  my  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
אֲנִ֣י  I  [am] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
עַבְדֶּֽךָ  Your  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.