Psalms 72:4

4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.

Psalms 72:4 in Other Translations

KJV
4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
ESV
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!
NLT
4 Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.
MSG
4 Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants.
CSB
4 May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor.

Psalms 72:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 72:4

He shall judge the poor of the people
Of the people of God, whether among Jews or Gentiles; (See Gill on Psalms 72:2);

he shall save the children of the needy;
whose parents being needy, they are so too, in a spiritual sense, and in distressed circumstances. Such Christ saves from their sins; from the curses and condemnation of the law: from, wrath to come, and out of the hands of all their enemies;

and shall break in pieces the oppressor;
the tyrant Satan, the god of this world; that has usurped a power over it; who works in the children of disobedience, and leads captive the people of God in their unregenerate state: the "calumniator", as some render the word; the accuser of the brethren: "the defrauder" F17, as others: who beguiled our first parents, and deceives mankind. Now it was foretold of Christ that he should break his head; and he was manifested in the flesh to destroy his works; and him himself; and he has broke him and all his schemes in pieces, and spoiled all his principalities and powers: The Syriac Version reads, "tyrants" or "oppressors", in the plural number; and it may include the Jews, who were the persecutors and oppressors of the first Christians; and Rome, Pagan and Papal; antichrist, and all the antichristian states, which have been, or will be, broken to pieces by Christ; who will rule them with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces as a potter's vessel, ( Revelation 2:27 ) ( 12:5 ) ( 19:15 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F17 (qvwe) "calumniatorem", Pagninus, Tigurine version, Vatablus, Musculus; "fraudatorem", Muis, Cocceius.

Psalms 72:4 In-Context

2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.
5 May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.

Cross References 3

  • 1. S Psalms 9:12; Psalms 76:9; Isaiah 49:13
  • 2. ver 13; Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 29:19; Isaiah 32:7
  • 3. S Psalms 27:11
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