Psalms 9:15 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bible Comments

The heathen - Hebrew, “The nations;” that is, the idolatrous people that were arrayed against him. See the notes at Psalms 9:5.

Are sunk down - That is, referring to those who had been overcome, as mentioned in Psalms 9:5; or to those who still encompassed him, in respect to whom he was so certain that they would be overcome that he could speak of it as a thing already accomplished. According to the former view, it would be an encouragement derived from the past; according to the latter, it would indicate unwavering confidence in God, and the certain assurance of ultimate victory. It is not easy to determine which is the true interpretation. The Hebrew is, “Sunk are the nations in the pit which they have made;” that is, he sees them sinking down to destruction.

In the pit that they made - In which they designed that others should fall. See the notes at Psalms 7:15.

In the net which they hid - Which they laid for others. The allusion here is to a spring-net made to capture birds or wild beasts.

Is their own foot taken - The net here referred to seems to have been particularly a net to take wild beasts by securing one of their feet, like a modern trap. The idea is, that they had been brought into the destruction which they had designed for others. See the notes at Psalms 7:15-16.

Psalms 9:15

15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.