Psalm 109:17-18
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse reveals that the enemy's "love" for cursing wasn't just a verbal habit, but a deep-seated delight in actively bringing harm to others. It highlights that they didn't just tolerate blessing, but actively rejected and turned away from it, showing a deliberate choice against goodness and well-being.
He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This Psalm is a fervent cry of distress, with the speaker pouring out his heart against enemies who have slandered and attacked him. Before this verse, the speaker details the enemy's malicious words and actions, setting the stage for this declaration about the enemy's character. Following this, the passage dramatically expands on the consequences of the enemy's wicked choices, describing how the curses they wished upon others will instead engulf them.
Have you ever noticed how some people seem to thrive on negativity, while others radiate goodness? This verse points to a deep truth about the choices we make, especially with our words.
This verse isn't just a wish; it's a statement of fact about the enemy described in the psalm. He actively loved cursing and delighted not in blessing. This reveals that his opposition to God and His people wasn't accidental; it was a chosen path.
The Nature of Cursing
Cursing, in this context, isn't just an angry outburst. It's a deep-seated desire to bring harm, to diminish, and to destroy the well-being of others. It's the opposite of genuine love and concern for another's welfare.
The Absence of Blessing
Conversely, the enemy found no joy in blessing. Blessing means wishing well, promoting welfare, and desiring good for others. The refusal to delight in this shows a heart closed off to empathy and true connection.
What goes around comes around, right? This ancient psalm speaks powerfully to that idea, but with a spiritual depth that reaches far beyond simple karma.
The psalm doesn't just describe the enemy's desire for cursing; it declares the inevitable outcome of that desire. 'Let curses come upon him!' isn't just a hopeful wish; it's a prophetic declaration of the natural consequence of a life steeped in malice.
Ask a follow-up
Curses Come Home to Roost
The commentary rightly points out that curses, when deliberately embraced, have a way of returning to the originator. The enemy clothed himself in cursing, making it his identity. Therefore, the consequence is that this chosen 'garment' becomes his perpetual reality.
Blessing Remains Far Away
Just as surely as the curse returns, the absence of blessing is confirmed. If one doesn't delight in good wishes for others, then good wishes will not find them. It’s a spiritual principle: you reap what you sow. A heart that rejects blessing cannot experience it.
Understand the original words
qelalah · Hebrew Noun
To invoke divine judgment, calamity, or evil upon someone. It is the opposite of a blessing and is often associated with the consequences of breaking God's law or hardened rebellion against Him.
berakah · Hebrew Noun
To invoke God’s favor, empowerment, or presence upon someone. It signifies the bestowal of spiritual or physical well-being and is central to the covenant relationship between God and His people.
Psalm 109 vividly reflects the anguish and cries for justice common during periods of intense national suffering and oppression, particularly the Babylonian exile. The imprecations mirror the deep sense of betrayal and the desire for divine retribution felt by those facing extreme hardship and injustice.
c. 1000 BC
David's Reign and Kingdom Consolidation
King David reigned over a unified Israel, establishing Jerusalem as the capital and consolidating his rule. This period was marked by both significant triumphs and internal struggles, setting a backdrop for the types of enemies and conflicts reflected in the Psalms.
c. 931 BC
Division of the United Kingdom
Following the death of Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel split into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This division led to prolonged conflict and political instability.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire, its people deported, and foreign populations resettled in the land. This event served as a stark warning to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Neo-Babylonian Empire conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and deported a significant portion of the population to Babylon. This was a catastrophic national trauma for the people of God.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest and Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, and shortly thereafter, he issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple. This marked the beginning of the post-exilic period.
This proverb directly echoes the sentiment of Psalm 109:17, highlighting that a curse without cause, like a bird in flight, will ultimately return to its originator. It reinforces the idea that ill wishes tend to boomerang back.
Galatians 6:7Paul's powerful statement about reaping what you sow provides a theological framework for Psalm 109:17. It explains the principle behind why one's actions, whether good or evil, have predictable consequences that return to them.
Matthew 27:25This verse records the chilling cry of the Jewish crowd during Jesus' crucifixion: 'His blood be on us and on our children!' This is a stark, real-life example of the imprecation in Psalm 109:17 being tragically fulfilled, where a curse is willingly called down upon oneself.
Romans 11:22Paul speaks of God's severity towards those who are cut off, but also His kindness to those who continue in His kindness. This illuminates the 'delighted not in blessing' aspect of Psalm 109:17, showing the divine consequence of turning away from God's gracious provision.
pulpitPsalms 109:17: "As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him."
Verse 17. - As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him; rather, so it came upon him (Revised Version), or so it shall come upon him (LXX., Cheyne). The one of David's enemies who "loved cursing" most was Shimei (2 Samuel 16:5-12). As he de lighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him; rather, so it was, or so it will be, far from him.
clarkePsalms 109:17: "As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him."
As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him - The Jews said, when crucifying our Lord, His blood be upon us and our children! Never was an imprecation more dreadfully fulfilled.
This verse reveals that the enemy's "love" for cursing wasn't just a verbal habit, but a deep-seated delight in actively bringing harm to others. It highlights that they didn't just tolerate blessing, but actively rejected and turned away from it, showing a deliberate choice against goodness and well-being.
This Psalm is a fervent cry of distress, with the speaker pouring out his heart against enemies who have slandered and attacked him. Before this verse, the speaker details the enemy's malicious words and actions, setting the stage for this declaration about the enemy's character. Following this, the passage dramatically expands on the consequences of the enemy's wicked choices, describing how the curses they wished upon others will instead engulf them.
This Psalm is a fervent cry of distress, with the speaker pouring out his heart against enemies who have slandered and attacked him. Before this verse, the speaker details the enemy's malicious words and actions, setting the stage for this declaration about the enemy's character. Following this, the passage dramatically expands on the consequences of the enemy's wicked choices, describing how the curses they wished upon others will instead engulf them.
"He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!" — This verse reveals that the enemy's "love" for cursing wasn't just a verbal habit, but a deep-seated delight in actively bringing harm to others. It highlights that they didn't just tolerate blessing…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
