Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a curse; it's a chilling picture of divine justice. The verse paints a scene not just of an enemy being appointed, but of a specific legal role: an accuser stationed at the accused's right hand. This highlights how the psalmist sees judgment not as arbitrary, but as a formal, damning process where even the defendant's position is given to their prosecutor.
Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is launching into a series of imprecations, asking God to deal severely with his enemies. This verse specifically calls for an unjust judge to preside over the accused and for an accuser to stand ready, reflecting the ancient legal practice where the accuser would stand at the accused's right hand. The subsequent verses describe the devastating consequences that should befall these enemies, including condemnation, loss of office, and ruin for their families, all framed as righteous judgment rather than personal vengeance.
Imagine being placed under the authority of someone truly terrible – someone who delights in causing pain and injustice. This verse paints a stark picture of such a scenario, but with a divine twist.
The phrase 'appoint a wicked man over him' isn't just a wish for bad luck. It reflects a deep understanding of God's justice.
A Judgment Tool
When the Psalmist cries out for a 'wicked man' to be set over his enemy, it’s not simply a curse. It’s an acknowledgment that God can, and sometimes does, use wicked people as instruments of His judgment. They become a 'scourge' for others who have also acted wickedly.
Not Random Cruelty
This isn't about God being cruel. It’s about the outworking of justice. Those who inflict hardship and oppression on others can, in turn, be subjected to similar hardship by those appointed by God to carry out His justice.
Picture yourself in a courtroom. Who is standing by your side? In this psalm, the picture is terrifyingly different.
The image of 'an accuser stand at his right hand' is incredibly potent. In ancient Jewish courts, the accuser would often stand at the right hand of the accused, ready to present their case.
More Than Just a Lawyer
This accuser isn't just presenting facts; they are looking to condemn. The word for 'Satan' itself means 'adversary' or 'accuser.' While sometimes referring to the ultimate spiritual enemy, here it functions to describe someone relentlessly opposing and seeking the downfall of another.
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A Spiritual Reality
This isn't solely about earthly courts. It points to a spiritual reality where there is an ever-present adversary ready to highlight our flaws and sins before God. However, we can also see this in the context of human opposition – people actively working against us, seeking to trip us up.
Understand the original words
rasha' · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Refers to someone who is morally depraved, godless, or in rebellion against God's law. In a legal or judicial context, it implies a person whose character is fundamentally opposed to righteousness.
satan · Hebrew Noun
In a legal context, this term denotes an adversary or prosecutor. In a spiritual sense, it can refer to an opponent who brings charges against someone before a judge.
While written during David's time, this Psalm also speaks powerfully to later periods of betrayal and oppression, particularly the suffering and judgment experienced during the Babylonian exile and even pointing towards future judgments.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's Reign as King
King David, the traditional author of many Psalms, faced numerous enemies and betrayals during his long reign, including internal strife and external threats.
c. 970 BC
Absalom's Rebellion
David's son Absalom led a major rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. This period was marked by intense conflict and deep personal anguish for David.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel split into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This division led to ongoing conflict and instability.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel and deported many of its inhabitants, marking a significant loss of national sovereignty and religious identity.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Neo-Babylonian Empire destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling a significant portion of the population. This event profoundly shaped Jewish theology and identity.
c. 400 BC - 200 BC
Post-Exilic Period and Temple Reconstruction
Following their return from exile, the Jewish people rebuilt the Temple and faced challenges in re-establishing their religious and national life amidst foreign powers.
This passage provides a vivid picture of Satan standing at the right hand of the accused, mirroring the imagery in Psalms 109:6 and highlighting the role of the accuser in judgment.
Job 1:6This text shows Satan appearing before God among the heavenly beings, ready to act as an accuser, which aligns with the idea of an accuser being 'appointed' or present in spiritual and earthly courts.
Luke 22:31Jesus warns Peter that Satan has asked to sift the disciples like wheat, illustrating Satan's adversarial role and desire to bring about ruin, a concept echoed in the imprecation for a wicked man to be set over someone.
Acts 1:20The New Testament explicitly applies portions of this psalm to Judas, identifying the 'wicked man' and the 'accuser' with his betrayal and condemnation.
bensonPsalms 109:6: "Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand."
Psalm 109:6-7 . Set thou a wicked man over him — Either over all his enemies, speaking of them collectively, or over some one particular enemy, who was worse than any of the rest, more implacable and inexcusable, whom he did not think proper to name. Set a wicked man over him to be as cruel and oppressive to him as he hath been to others; for God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. Hebrew, רשׁע ,…
wesleyPsalms 109:6: "Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand."
109:6 A wicked man - Who will rule him with rigour and cruelty. Satan - To accuse him; for this was the place and posture of accusers in the Jewish courts.
This isn't just a curse; it's a chilling picture of divine justice. The verse paints a scene not just of an enemy being appointed, but of a specific legal role: an accuser stationed at the accused's right hand. This highlights how the psalmist sees judgment not as arbitrary, but as a formal, damning process where even the defendant's position is given to their prosecutor.
The psalmist is launching into a series of imprecations, asking God to deal severely with his enemies. This verse specifically calls for an unjust judge to preside over the accused and for an accuser to stand ready, reflecting the ancient legal practice where the accuser would stand at the accused's right hand. The subsequent verses describe the devastating consequences that should befall these enemies, including condemnation, loss of office, and ruin for their families, all framed as righteous judgment rather than personal vengeance.
The psalmist is launching into a series of imprecations, asking God to deal severely with his enemies. This verse specifically calls for an unjust judge to preside over the accused and for an accuser to stand ready, reflecting the ancient legal practice where the accuser would stand at the accused's right hand. The subsequent verses describe the devastating consequences that should befall these enemies, including condemnation, loss of office, and ruin for their families, all framed as righteous judgment rather than personal vengeance.
"Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand." — This isn't just a curse; it's a chilling picture of divine justice. The verse paints a scene not just of an enemy being appointed, but of a specific legal role: an accuser stationed at the accused's…
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Last reviewed October 2026