The Meaning of Psalms 72:4 Explained

Psalms 72:4

KJV: He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

YLT: He judgeth the poor of the people, Giveth deliverance to the sons of the needy, And bruiseth the oppressor.

Darby: He will do justice to the afflicted of the people; he will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor.

ASV: He will judge the poor of the people, He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He shall judge  the poor  of the people,  he shall save  the children  of the needy,  and shall break in pieces  the oppressor. 

What does Psalms 72:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 72:1-11 - "king Of Kings"
Solomon's reign opened as a morning without clouds. Much of the imagery of this royal ode is derived from the circumstances of his life. Compare Psalms 72:1-4 with his prayer for the listening heart, 1 Kings 3:9; the anticipations of peace, Psalms 72:3; Psalms 72:7, with his name, "the peaceful one;" the rule from sea to sea, Psalms 72:8, with 1 Kings 4:24; the presents from Sheba, Psalms 72:10, with 1 Kings 10:1-29. But Solomon's failure to realize his ideals compelled men to anticipate with great desire the advent of a greater Prince of Peace. Of Jesus alone is this psalm true in its details.
Notice the foundations of Jesus' reign, Psalms 72:1-4; the perpetuity of His kingdom, Psalms 72:5-7, and its universality, Psalms 72:8-11. The poor are His care. The peace He gives is in abundance and it passes understanding. Sun and moon may fail, but His love is unaffected by the flight of ages. The rain on mown grass and the distilling of the dew are not more gentle than His work in human souls that lie open to His approach. Take this glorious psalm and claim it, verse by verse, as true for you. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 72

1  David, praying for Solomon, shows the goodness and glory of God's kingdom
18  He blessed God

What do the individual words in Psalms 72:4 mean?

He will bring justice to the poor of the people He will save the sons of the needy and will break in pieces the oppressor
יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט ׀ עֲ‍ֽנִיֵּי־ עָ֗ם י֭וֹשִׁיעַ לִבְנֵ֣י אֶבְי֑וֹן וִֽידַכֵּ֣א עוֹשֵֽׁק

יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט ׀  He  will  bring  justice  to 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
עֲ‍ֽנִיֵּי־  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: עָנִי  
Sense: poor, afflicted, humble, wretched.
עָ֗ם  of  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
י֭וֹשִׁיעַ  He  will  save 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
לִבְנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֶבְי֑וֹן  of  the  needy 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אֶבְיׄון  
Sense: in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person.
וִֽידַכֵּ֣א  and  will  break  in  pieces 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּכָא  
Sense: to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken.
עוֹשֵֽׁק  the  oppressor 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָשַׁק  
Sense: to press upon, oppress, violate, defraud, do violence, get deceitfully, wrong, extort.