Bible Strands
Psalms 109:16
For he never thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted, even to their death.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David speaks a curse against an unnamed adversary who has falsely accused him, directly addressing God in a moment of intense personal distress. The psalmist petitions for divine judgment against a specific enemy who embodies malicious betrayal.
The words — The text highlights זָכַר (za.Khar, "he remembered") paired with לֹא (lo', "not") to state the enemy never recalled חָסֶד (Cha.sed, "loyalty" or "kindness"). This negation frames the adversary's active pursuit of the vulnerable as a deliberate moral failure.
The thread — The pursuit of the poor and brokenhearted echoes the pattern in Psalms 37:14, where the wicked draw swords to slay the needy. Conversely, the text contrasts this with the Lord's promise in Psalms 34:18 to draw near to those who are brokenhearted.
Why it lands — The verse demands a clear-eyed recognition of how moral negligence toward the vulnerable enables violence. It calls the reader to align with divine justice by refusing to emulate the enemy's calculated lack of mercy.
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
Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
Cross-references
- Psalms 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
- Psalms 37:14 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
- Matthew 18:33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
- James 2:13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Genesis 42:21 Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”
- 2 Samuel 16:11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
- 2 Samuel 17:1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
- Job 19:2 “How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?
- Job 19:21 Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me.
- Psalms 10:2 In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.