Psalms 9:6

Authorized King James Version

O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
הָֽאוֹיֵ֨ב׀
O thou enemy
hating; an adversary
#2
תַּ֥מּוּ
end
to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive
#3
חֳרָב֗וֹת
destructions
properly, drought, i.e., (by implication) a desolation
#4
לָ֫נֶ֥צַח
are come to a perpetual
properly, a goal, i.e., the bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objecti
#5
וְעָרִ֥ים
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
#6
נָתַ֑שְׁתָּ
and thou hast destroyed
to tear away
#7
אָבַ֖ד
H6
is perished
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
#8
זִכְרָ֣ם
their memorial
a memento, abstractly recollection (rarely if ever); by implication, commemoration
#9
הֵֽמָּה׃
with them
they (only used when emphatic)

Analysis

The worship and praise theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of ancient Near Eastern poetry and hymnic literature for worship shapes this text's meaning. Israel's liturgical traditions developed through centuries of temple worship and personal devotion Understanding a worldview centered on covenant relationship between God and His people helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection