The Meaning of Psalms 9:16 Explained

Psalms 9:16

KJV: The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

YLT: Jehovah hath been known, Judgment He hath done, By a work of his hands Hath the wicked been snared. Meditation. Selah.

Darby: Jehovah is known by the judgment he hath executed: the wicked is ensnared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

ASV: Jehovah hath made himself known, he hath executed judgment: The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  is known  [by] the judgment  [which] he executeth:  the wicked  is snared  in the work  of his own hands.  Higgaion.  Selah. 

What does Psalms 9:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 9:1-20 - Confidence In The Righteous Judge
The Chaldee version adds to the inscription, "concerning the death of the champion who went out between the camps," referring to the death of Goliath. This is the first of the Acrostic or Alphabetical Psalms, of which there are nine: Psalms 9:1-20; Psalms 10:1-18; Psalms 25:1-22; Psalms 34:1-22; Psalms 37:1-40; Psalms 111:1-10; Psalms 112:1-10; Psalms 119:1-176; Psalms 145:1-21.
There is a predominant note of praise, Psalms 9:1-5; Psalms 9:11-12; Psalms 9:14. Let memory heap fuel on the altar of praise. In the resurrection of our Lord, God indeed rebuked our arch-enemy, and his strongholds are now wastes, Zechariah 3:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Colossians 2:15. But there is a corresponding note of trust, Psalms 9:7-12. Calamity drives us to God. The more we know the more we trust Him. Doubt is born of ignorance. Leave God to vindicate; He will not forget, Psalms 9:12. There is a petition for further help, Psalms 9:13; Psalms 9:19-20. We have been at the gates of death, Psalms 17:1-150; here are the gates of the Holy City, Psalms 9:14. Compare Psalms 9:15 and Esther 7:10. God does not forget; forget Him not, Psalms 9:12; 1711631087_72. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 9

1  David praises God for executing judgment
11  He incites others to praise him
13  He prays that he may have cause to praise him

What do the individual words in Psalms 9:16 mean?

Is known Yahweh [by] the judgment He executes in the work of his own hands Is snared the wicked Meditation Selah
נ֤וֹדַ֨ע ׀ יְהוָה֮ מִשְׁפָּ֪ט עָ֫שָׂ֥ה בְּפֹ֣עַל כַּ֭פָּיו נוֹקֵ֣שׁ רָשָׁ֑ע הִגָּי֥וֹן סֶֽלָה

נ֤וֹדַ֨ע ׀  Is  known 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
יְהוָה֮  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מִשְׁפָּ֪ט  [by]  the  judgment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
עָ֫שָׂ֥ה  He  executes 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
בְּפֹ֣עַל  in  the  work 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֹּעַל  
Sense: work, deed, doing.
כַּ֭פָּיו  of  his  own  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.
נוֹקֵ֣שׁ  Is  snared 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָקַשׁ  
Sense: to knock, strike, bring down.
רָשָׁ֑ע  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
הִגָּי֥וֹן  Meditation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: הִגָּיׄון  
Sense: meditation, resounding music, musing.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.