Psalms 9:5

5 Thou hast rebuked nations, Thou hast destroyed the wicked, Their name Thou hast blotted out to the age and for ever.

Psalms 9:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 9:5

Thou hast rebuked the Heathen
The people of the Philistines, as the Targum and Kimchi explain it, though some Jewish writers F1 understand it of Amalek the chief of the Heathen nations; but it rather refers to Gospel times, and to the rebukes of the Heathen, by the preaching of the Gospel, for their idolatry and superstition; and especially to the latter day, and to the rebukes of the antichristian states, the Papists who are called Gentiles; which will be with flames of fire, and will issue in their utter extirpation, upon which a profound peace and prosperity will succeed in the Christian churches, according to ( Isaiah 2:4 ) ; which is a prophecy of those times;

thou hast destroyed the wicked;
the wicked man; for it is in the singular number, "labben", as Aben Ezra observes, or who is meant by him; Goliath, according to the Targum and Kimchi; or Esau, as other Jewish writers F2, that is, his posterity the Edomites; and each of these were figures of antichrist, the man of sin, the wicked one, whom Christ will slay with the breath of his lips, ( Isaiah 11:4 ) ;

thou hast put out their name for ever and ever;
that is, the glory and reputation of their name, a good and honourable one, which they sought to transmit to the latest posterity; for though the names of wicked men may continue, as Pharaoh, Judas, and others; yet they continue with a scandal and reproach upon them that shall never be wiped off, their names rot and stink; see ( Proverbs 10:7 ) ; the whole of this denotes the utter ruin and shameful end of the enemies of Christ and his church, and which is matter of joy to the saints.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Jarchi in loc. & Pesikta in ibid. in v. 1.
F2 Ibid.

Psalms 9:5 In-Context

3 In mine enemies turning backward, they stumble and perish from Thy face.
4 For Thou hast done my judgment and my right. Thou hast sat on a throne, A judge of righteousness.
5 Thou hast rebuked nations, Thou hast destroyed the wicked, Their name Thou hast blotted out to the age and for ever.
6 O thou Enemy, Finished have been destructions for ever, As to cities thou hast plucked up, Perished hath their memorial with them.
7 And Jehovah to the age abideth, He is preparing for judgment His throne.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.