Psalms 109:17-19
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! May it be like a garment that he wraps around him, like a belt that he puts on every day!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about wishing ill; it highlights that the enemy actively chose cursing, making it their passion, while actively rejecting any good or blessing. It's a stark picture of a heart so set on destruction that it repels anything life-giving.
This psalm is a passionate outpouring of the psalmist's suffering at the hands of his enemies, so intense that he calls down God's judgment upon them. The psalmist describes how his enemies maliciously attacked him, seeking to curse him and delighting in his misfortune. These verses articulate the consequence of that malice: if they loved to curse and never desired blessing for others, then curses should be their inheritance and blessing forever absent from them.
Have you ever noticed how some people seem to thrive on negativity, while others radiate positivity? This verse gets to the heart of that.
Psalms 109:17 paints a stark contrast between two opposing desires: the love of cursing and the delight in blessing.
A Deep-Rooted Disposition
The original Hebrew implies a deep-seated preference. It's not just about occasional harsh words, but a fundamental inclination. Someone who 'loved to curse' actively sought out and enjoyed bringing harm or misfortune to others through their words. This wasn't an accident; it was their preference, their chosen way of interacting with the world.
The Absence of Goodness
Conversely, the one who 'did not delight in blessing' actively turned away from promoting the welfare or happiness of others. Blessing, in this context, means wishing good, speaking well of, and contributing to the flourishing of another. To 'delight not' in this means to find no joy, no satisfaction, and to actively avoid it. It’s a disposition that recoils from goodness and positivity.
A Mirror to Our Hearts
This isn't just a description of an ancient enemy; it’s a powerful mirror reflecting the internal state of our own hearts. Do we find ourselves drawn to negativity, gossip, and judgment? Or do we genuinely seek to uplift and encourage those around us?
What happens when these deep-seated preferences play out? This verse reveals a principle of divine justice and natural consequence.
Psalms 109:17 doesn't just describe a person's heart; it declares the inevitable outcome of those desires.
The Inevitability of Curses
'Let curses come upon him!' is not just a wish, but a statement of fact. Because he loved cursing, the consequence is that curses will come. The commentaries suggest this can be seen as a statement of what happen, or in some cases, what happened as a direct result of his choices. It's the principle that what you sow, you also reap.
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.
While written from David's perspective against his enemies, this psalm's stark pronouncements about the consequences of choosing curses over blessings found a profound, albeit tragic, echo in the early Christian understanding of Jesus' crucifixion and the subsequent fall of Jerusalem.
c. 1000 BC
David's Reign as King of Israel
King David faced numerous enemies and betrayals during his long reign, providing a context for his deeply personal and imprecatory psalms.
c. 1000 BC
Enemies of David
The psalm likely reflects a period of intense conflict and persecution for David, possibly by figures like Saul's household or internal rivals.
c. 1000 BC
Shimei Curses David
The incident where Shimei curses David (2 Samuel 16:5-12) is seen by some commentators as a potential parallel to the behavior described in this psalm.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
Early Christian interpreters saw a tragic fulfillment of this psalm's imprecations in the words spoken by some of the Jewish crowd during Jesus' crucifixion, 'His blood be upon us and our children!' (Acts 2:23).
This passage directly illustrates the 'love of cursing' mentioned in Psalms 109:17, showing how Shimei cursed David and wished him ill as David fled from Absalom.
Matthew 27:25This verse shows the ultimate fulfillment of such a curse, as the crowd at Jesus' crucifixion exclaimed, 'His blood be on us and on our children!' reflecting a self-inflicted curse born from rejecting blessing.
Proverbs 26:2This proverb echoes the principle that curses, when undeservedly or maliciously uttered, often return upon the speaker, much like the imagery in Psalms 109:17 where the curse finds its intended target.
Isaiah 11:5In contrast to the curse in Psalms 109, Isaiah describes righteousness and faithfulness as a 'belt' or 'garment,' highlighting how positive attributes clothe and empower, the opposite of how curses consume the wicked.
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 isn't just about wishing ill; it highlights that the enemy actively chose cursing, making it their passion, while actively rejecting any good or blessing. It's a stark picture of a heart so set on destruction that it repels anything life-giving.
This psalm is a passionate outpouring of the psalmist's suffering at the hands of his enemies, so intense that he calls down God's judgment upon them. The psalmist describes how his enemies maliciously attacked him, seeking to curse him and delighting in his misfortune. These verses articulate the consequence of that malice: if they loved to curse and never desired blessing for others, then curses should be their inheritance and blessing forever absent from them.
This psalm is a passionate outpouring of the psalmist's suffering at the hands of his enemies, so intense that he calls down God's judgment upon them. The psalmist describes how his enemies maliciously attacked him, seeking to curse him and delighting in his misfortune. These verses articulate the consequence of that malice: if they loved to curse and never desired blessing for others, then curses should be their inheritance and blessing forever absent from them.
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The Absence of Blessing
Similarly, 'may it be far from him!' reflects the consequence for not delighting in blessing. If you turn away from promoting good in the lives of others, then goodness and favor will naturally turn away from you. It's a departure, an alienation from the positive forces and divine favor that come through a life of goodwill.
A Familiar Pattern
This isn't an arbitrary punishment, but a pattern woven into the fabric of reality. Just as water finds its level and oil seeps into bones, as described in the commentaries, so too do our actions and attitudes have pervasive, permeating effects. A life built on negativity will eventually be filled with its bitter fruit, while a life dedicated to blessing will be surrounded by its enduring rewards.
70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem
This event, a catastrophic judgment on Jerusalem and the Jewish nation, was also viewed by some as a consequence of rejecting Christ, echoing the psalm's themes of divine retribution.
"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! May it…" — This verse isn't just about wishing ill; it highlights that the enemy actively chose cursing, making it their passion, while actively rejecting any good or blessing. It's a stark picture of a heart…
