Psalm 72:4
New International Version
May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.

New Living Translation
Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.

English Standard Version
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!

Berean Standard Bible
May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

King James Bible
He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

New King James Version
He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.

New American Standard Bible
May he vindicate the afflicted of the people, Save the children of the needy, And crush the oppressor.

NASB 1995
May he vindicate the afflicted of the people, Save the children of the needy And crush the oppressor.

NASB 1977
May he vindicate the afflicted of the people, Save the children of the needy, And crush the oppressor.

Legacy Standard Bible
May he give justice to the afflicted of the people, Save the children of the needy, And crush the oppressor.

Amplified Bible
May he bring justice to the poor among the people, Save the children of the needy And crush the oppressor,

Christian Standard Bible
May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor.

American Standard Version
He will judge the poor of the people, He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.

Contemporary English Version
Let the king defend the poor, rescue the homeless, and crush everyone who hurts them.

English Revised Version
He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
May he grant justice to the people who are oppressed. May he save the children of needy people and crush their oppressor.

Good News Translation
May the king judge the poor fairly; may he help the needy and defeat their oppressors.

International Standard Version
May he defend the afflicted of the people and deliver the children of the poor, but crush the oppressor.

Majority Standard Bible
May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

NET Bible
He will defend the oppressed among the people; he will deliver the children of the poor and crush the oppressor.

New Heart English Bible
He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.

Webster's Bible Translation
He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

World English Bible
He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He judges the poor of the people, "" Gives deliverance to the sons of the needy, "" And bruises the oppressor.

Young's Literal Translation
He judgeth the poor of the people, Giveth deliverance to the sons of the needy, And bruiseth the oppressor.

Smith's Literal Translation
He shall judge the poor of the people, and save to the sons of the needy, and he will break in pieces him oppressing.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He shall judge the poor of the people, and he shall save the children of the poor: and he shall humble the oppressor.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He will judge the poor of the people, and he will bring salvation to the sons of the poor. And he will humble the false accuser.

New American Bible
That he may defend the oppressed among the people, save the children of the poor and crush the oppressor.

New Revised Standard Version
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He shall judge the poor of the people; he shall save the children of the needy; and he shall crush the oppressor.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For he will judge the poor of the people and he will save the afflicted children and abase the oppressors.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
May he judge the poor of the people, And save the children of the needy, And crush the oppressor.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
he shall judge the poor of the people in righteousness, and save the children of the needy; and shall bring low the false accuser.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Endow the King with Your Justice
3May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness. 4May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor. 5May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.…

Cross References
Isaiah 11:4
but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.

Proverbs 31:9
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

Jeremiah 22:16
He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD.

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

Isaiah 41:17
The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

Ezekiel 34:16
I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’

Matthew 11:5
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Luke 6:20
Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Job 29:12
because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.

Proverbs 22:22-23
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, / for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.


Treasury of Scripture

He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

He shall judge

Psalm 72:12-14
For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper…

Psalm 109:31
For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.

Isaiah 11:4
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

break

Psalm 2:9
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Psalm 94:5
They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.

Job 19:2
How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?

the oppressor

Isaiah 9:4
For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

Isaiah 51:12,13
I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; …

Daniel 2:34,35
Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces…

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Psalm 72
1. David, praying for Solomon, shows the goodness and glory of God's kingdom
18. He blessed God














May he vindicate
The Hebrew root for "vindicate" is "שָׁפַט" (shaphat), which means to judge, govern, or bring justice. In the context of this Psalm, it reflects a plea for righteous judgment. The psalmist is asking for a king who will act as God's representative on earth, ensuring that justice is served. This reflects the biblical principle that true leadership is marked by a commitment to justice and righteousness, echoing the divine character of God as the ultimate judge.

the afflicted among the people
The term "afflicted" comes from the Hebrew "עָנִי" (ani), which refers to those who are humble, poor, or oppressed. In ancient Israel, the afflicted were often marginalized and lacked the means to defend themselves. The psalmist's prayer is for a ruler who will prioritize the needs of these individuals, reflecting God's heart for the downtrodden and His call for His people to care for the least among them.

may he save
The word "save" is derived from the Hebrew "יָשַׁע" (yasha), meaning to deliver or rescue. This is a call for divine intervention through the king, who acts as God's agent of salvation. It underscores the biblical theme of God as a deliverer, who hears the cries of His people and acts to bring them out of distress. This salvation is not just spiritual but also practical, involving the restoration of dignity and provision for physical needs.

the children of the needy
"Children of the needy" highlights the vulnerable position of those who are dependent on others for survival. In biblical times, children were particularly at risk if their parents were poor or oppressed. The psalmist's inclusion of children emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's justice, which extends to all generations and ensures that even the most vulnerable are protected and provided for.

and crush the oppressor
The phrase "crush the oppressor" uses the Hebrew "דָּכָא" (daka), meaning to break or crush. This is a strong call for the destruction of those who exploit and harm others. The oppressor represents forces of evil and injustice that stand against God's righteous order. The psalmist's prayer is for a decisive end to such tyranny, reflecting the biblical hope for a world where God's peace and justice reign supreme.

Verse 4. - He shall judge the poor of the people. Not exclusively, but especially. The unjust rulers and judges of Israel neglected this duty. They judge not the fatherless... and the right of the needy do they not judge" (Jeremiah 5:28; see also Isaiah 1:23; Zechariah 7:10). He shall save the children of the needy. He shall preserve them, i.e., from oppression and wrong. And shall break in pieces the oppressor. (On God's hatred of oppression and oppressors, see Exodus 3:9; Leviticus 25:14; Job 27:13; Psalm 12:5; Isaiah 16:14, etc.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
May he vindicate
יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט ׀ (yiš·pōṭ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

the afflicted
עֲ‍ֽנִיֵּי־ (‘ănî·yê-)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6041: Poor, afflicted, humble

among the people;
עָ֗ם (‘ām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

may he save
י֭וֹשִׁיעַ (yō·wō·šî·a‘)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3467: To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succor

the children
לִבְנֵ֣י (liḇ·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of the needy,
אֶבְי֑וֹן (’eḇ·yō·wn)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor

and crush
וִֽידַכֵּ֣א (wî·ḏak·kê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1792: To crumble, to bruise

the oppressor.
עוֹשֵֽׁק׃ (‘ō·wō·šêq)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6231: To press upon, oppress, defraud, violate, overflow


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OT Poetry: Psalm 72:4 He will judge the poor (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 72:3
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