King James Version
What Does Psalms 12:1 Mean?
“To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. upon: or, upon the eighth Help: or, Save”
Context
1
To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. upon: or, upon the eighth Help: or, Save
2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. a double: Heb. an heart and an heart
3
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: proud: Heb. great
Topics in This Verse
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(1) **Ceaseth.**—Intransitive, as in Psalm 7:9.
**The faithful.**—The Vulg. and Syriac treat this word as abstract: “truth,” “faithfulness.” So Ewald; but the parallelism here, as in Psalm 31:23, requires it in the concrete. (Comp. 2Samuel 20:19.) The Hebrew is cognate with “amen,” and Luther has “amen’s leute,” *people as good as their word.*
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Psalms 12:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Psalms 12:1
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge