Bible Strands
Psalms 109:6
Set over him a wicked man; let an accuser stand at his right hand.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, pleading for judgment upon those who repay his love with hatred and evil (Psalm 109:5). This occurs during a moment of personal trial and legal accusation.
The words — הַפְקֵד (haf.Ked) literally means “appoint” or “set over,” while שָׂטָן (sa.Tan) translates to “an accuser” or “adversary.” The text commands these figures to be positioned against the accused.
The thread — This imagery of an adversary standing at a right hand appears in Zechariah 3:1 and echoes the legal warning in Matthew 5:25 about settling with an adversary. The psalmist’s plea for a guilty verdict and dismissed prayer continues directly in Psalm 109:7.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to acknowledge that unjust opposition invites divine judicial reversal. The text demands sober readiness for accountability when accusations are brought against the righteous.
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
Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
Cross-references
- Zechariah 3:1 Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
- Matthew 5:25 Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
- Matthew 27:4 “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
- John 13:2 The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
- John 13:27 And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”