What does Psalm 76:12 mean?
ESV: who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.
NIV: He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
NASB: He will cut off the spirit of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth.
CSB: He humbles the spirit of leaders; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
NLT: For he breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear him.
KJV: He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.
NKJV: He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is awesome to the kings of the earth.
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 76:11–12 closes the song by urging believers to properly honor the Lord God. This includes fulfilling vows they may have made. It also means bringing sacrifices and offerings to Him. God is sovereign over the entire world, including every king and dynasty.
Chapter Summary:
The psalmist celebrates the defeat of God's enemies by declaring that the people of Israel know their Lord. The psalm refers to soldiers, horses, and weapons being entirely neutralized. God's judgment is unstoppable. The entire earth is encouraged to honor the Lord, who has the power to overcome any earthly king. This psalm shares themes with Psalms 46 and 83, which also appear to address a miraculous defeat of the Assyrians (2 Kings 18—19).
Chapter Context:
This psalm seems related to the defeat of Assyrian forces who attempted to capture Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:32–37). In that incident, God sent an angel to eliminate thousands upon thousands of enemy troops overnight; the Assyrians retreated the next morning (2 Kings 19:35–36). Psalms 46 and 83 appear to be about this as well. Because the Asaph who knew David lived centuries before this event (1 Chronicles 6:39), this psalm "of Asaph" is probably written in his style, or by a descendant with the same name. Psalms 4, 6, 54, 55, 61, and 67 also refer to the use of stringed instruments.
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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