Bible Strands
Psalms 109:12
May there be no one to extend kindness to him, and no one to favor his fatherless children.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, pronouncing a curse against a hostile figure amid a sequence of judgments targeting property and lineage. The plea occurs within a structured malediction where the speaker calls for divine enforcement of the enemy’s isolation.
The words — מֹשֵׁ֣ךְ (mo.Shekh) literally means “[one who] prolongs,” paired with חָ֑סֶד (Cha.sed) for “loyalty” or kindness. ח֝וֹנֵ֗ן (cho.Nen) denotes “[one who] shows favor,” marking the deliberate absence of social protection.
The thread — This demand for withheld compassion aligns with the retributive framework of Psalms 137:8 and the corporate curse in Matthew 27:25, while contrasting sharply with the reciprocal generosity commanded in Luke 6:38. The motif of justice reversing human mercy appears across these passages.
Why it lands — The text states that no ally will sustain the enemy or his orphans, leaving them entirely exposed to ruin. It asks the reader to accept the plain reality of isolated judgment without diluting the verse’s explicit plea for divine enforcement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
Cross-references
- Psalms 137:8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us.
- Matthew 27:25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
- Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
- James 2:13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Job 5:4 His sons are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender.
- Isaiah 9:17 Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men; He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows. For every one of them is godless and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
- Isaiah 13:18 Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children.
- Isaiah 27:11 When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
- Luke 11:50 As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,