Psalms 17:12

12 They are like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.

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 ) .

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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 close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.

11 They track me down; now they surround me; they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.

12 They are like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.

13 Arise, O LORD! confront them, overthrow them! Deliver my life from the wicked by thy sword,

14 from men by thy hand, O LORD, from men whose portion in life is of the world. May their belly be filled with what thou hast stored up for them; may their children have more than enough; may they leave something over to their babes.