Psalms

Psalm 109:16–18

¹⁶For he never thought to show kindness,

but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted,

even to their death.

¹⁷The cursing that he loved,

may it fall on him;

the blessing in which he refused to delight,

may it be far from him.

¹⁸The cursing that he wore like a coat,

may it soak into his body like water,

and into his bones like oil.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	יַ֗עַן	ya·‘an	Adverb	H3282 purpose, intention
he never	לֹ֥א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
thought	זָכַר֮	zā·ḵar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2142 remember
to show	עֲשׂ֪וֹת	‘ă·śō·wṯ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
kindness	חָ֥סֶד	ḥā·seḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H2617 goodness, kindness
but pursued	וַיִּרְדֹּ֡ף	way·yir·dōp̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7291 pursue, chase, persecute
the poor	עָנִ֣י	‘ā·nî	Adjective - masculine singular	H6041 poor, afflicted, humble, meek
and needy	וְ֭אֶבְיוֹן	wə·’eḇ·yō·wn	Conjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine singular	H34 in want, needy, poor
and	וְנִכְאֵ֨ה	wə·niḵ·’êh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H3512 be disheartened, cowed
brokenhearted	לֵבָ֬ב	lê·ḇāḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H3824 inner man, mind, will, heart
even to their death	לְמוֹתֵֽת׃	lə·mō·w·ṯêṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H4191 die

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The cursing	קְ֭לָלָה	qə·lā·lāh	Noun - feminine singular	H7045 curse
he loved	וַיֶּאֱהַ֣ב	way·ye·’ĕ·haḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H157 love
may it fall on him	וַתְּבוֹאֵ֑הוּ	wat·tə·ḇō·w·’ê·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular; third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
the blessing	בִּ֝בְרָכָ֗ה	biḇ·rā·ḵāh	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular	H1293 blessing
he refused	וְֽלֹא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
to delight	חָפֵ֥ץ	ḥā·p̄êṣ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2654 delight in
may it be far	וַתִּרְחַ֥ק	wat·tir·ḥaq	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7368 be, or become, far, distant
from him	מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃	mim·men·nū	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The cursing	קְלָלָ֗ה	qə·lā·lāh	Noun - feminine singular	H7045 curse
he wore	וַיִּלְבַּ֥שׁ	way·yil·baš	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3847 put on (a garment), wear, clothe, be clothed
like a coat	כְּמַ֫דּ֥וֹ	kə·mad·dōw	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4055 measure
may it soak into	וַתָּבֹ֣א	wat·tā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
his body	בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹ	bə·qir·bōw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H7130 inward part, midst
like water	כַמַּ֣יִם	ḵam·ma·yim	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine
and into his bones	בְּעַצְמוֹתָֽיו׃	bə·‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯāw	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6106 bone, substance, self
like oil	וְ֝כַשֶּׁ֗מֶן	wə·ḵaš·še·men	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H8081 fat, oil

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Psalm 109:16 Psalm 34:18 · James 2:13 · Matthew 18:33–35 · Psalm 37:14

Psalm 109:17 Matthew 7:2 · Proverbs 14:14 · Ezekiel 35:6 · Psalm 52:4–5 · Psalm 59:12–13 · 2 Thessalonians 2:10–11 · Revelation 16:6

Psalm 109:18 Psalm 73:6 · Numbers 5:22 · Matthew 27:3–5 · Colossians 3:12

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.