Bible Strands
Psalms 76:12
He breaks the spirits of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses neighboring lands and rulers, concluding a song that celebrates God’s victory over Israel’s enemies and His dwelling in Zion.
The words — יִבְצֹר (yivṣōr) translates as “he breaks” or “he humbles,” and נֹרָא (nōrāʾ) means “he is feared.” These terms structure the verse’s declaration that God subdues the will of princes and commands dread from earthly kings.
The thread — The motif of God’s judgment on rulers and His universal dread appears in Zephaniah 3:6, Isaiah 13:6, and Psalms 68:12.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge divine sovereignty over human authority and respond with reverence rather than opposition.
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
He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.
Cross-references
- Zephaniah 3:6 “I have cut off the nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have made their streets deserted with no one to pass through. Their cities are laid waste, with no man, no inhabitant.
- Isaiah 13:6 Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
- Psalms 68:12 “Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.
- 2 Chronicles 32:21 and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.
- Psalms 2:5 Then He rebukes them in His anger, and terrifies them in His fury:
- Isaiah 24:21 In that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below.
- Revelation 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
- Psalms 2:10 Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.
- Psalms 47:2 How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!
- Psalms 48:4 For behold, the kings assembled; they all advanced together.