Psalms 17:12

12 {He is like} a lion; he longs to tear apart, and like a strong lion crouching in hiding places.

Psalms 17:12 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 17:12

Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey
Or "the likeness of him is as a lion" F9; meaning Saul, as Kimchi interprets it; or everyone of them that compassed them about, as Aben Ezra observes; sometimes wicked and persecuting princes are compared to lions, for their strength and cruelty; see ( Proverbs 28:15 ) ( 2 Timothy 4:17 ) ; so the devil is called a roaring lion, ( 1 Peter 5:8 ) ; and the antichristian beast is said to have the mouth of a lion, ( Revelation 13:2 ) ;

and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places;
to leap upon its prey, and seize it at once, as it has opportunity; this denotes the secret and insidious method which the enemies of Christ take to do mischief; see ( Psalms 10:9 Psalms 10:10 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (hyrak wnwymd) "similitudo ejus, vel cujusque est tanquam leonis", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius; so Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 17:12 In-Context

10 They have shut off their calloused [heart]; [with] their mouth they speak arrogantly.
11 Now they surround us at our [every] step. They {intend} {to pin} [me] to the ground.
12 {He is like} a lion; he longs to tear apart, and like a strong lion crouching in hiding places.
13 Rise up, O Yahweh, confront {him}. Make him bow down. Rescue with your sword my life from [the] wicked,
14 from men by your hand, O Yahweh, from men of [this] world. Their share [is] in {this life}, and you fill their stomach [with] your treasure. They are satisfied [with] children. They bequeath their excess to their children.

Footnotes 1

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.