Psalms 52:5
Psalms 52:5 in Multiple Translations
Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
God will likewise destroy thee for ever; He will take thee up, and pluck thee out of thy tent, And root thee out of the land of the living. [Selah
But God will put an end to you for ever; driving you out from your tent, uprooting you from the land of the living. (Selah.)
But God will strike you down so hard you'll never get up. He will grab hold of you and drag you from your tent. He will tear you out of the land of the living. Selah.
So shall God destroy thee for euer: he shall take thee and plucke thee out of thy tabernacle, and roote thee out of ye land of the liuing. Selah.
Also — God doth break thee down for ever, Taketh thee, and pulleth thee out of the tent, And He hath uprooted thee Out of the land of the living. Selah.
God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah.
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling-place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
Shall not all the workers of iniquity know, who eat up my people as they eat bread?
But God will get rid of you forever; he will grab you and drag you from your home and take you away from this world where people are alive. (Think about that!)
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 52:5
BAB
Word Study
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Psalms 52:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אָהַ֣בְתָּ
רָּ֣ע
מִ/טּ֑וֹב
שֶׁ֓קֶר
מִ/דַּבֵּ֖ר
צֶ֣דֶק
סֶֽלָה
אָהַ֣בְתָּ
ʼâhab
H157
to love
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
רָּ֣ע
raʻ
H7451
bad
Adj
מִ/טּ֑וֹב
ṭôwb
H2896
pleasant
Prep | Adj
שֶׁ֓קֶר
sheqer
H8267
deception
N-ms
מִ/דַּבֵּ֖ר
dâbar
H1696
to speak
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a
צֶ֣דֶק
tsedeq
H6664
Righteousness
N-ms
סֶֽלָה
çelâh
H5542
Selah
Part
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 52:5
אָהַ֣בְתָּ
ʼâhab
H157
"to love"
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Definition: : lover 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)
Usage: Occurs in 195 OT verses. KJV: (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend. See also: Genesis 22:2; Psalms 116:1; Psalms 4:3.
רָּ֣ע
raʻ
H7451
"bad"
Adj
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Definition: : harmful adj 1) bad, evil 1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant 1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery) 1c) evil, displeasing 1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc) 1e) bad (of value) 1f) worse than, worst (comparison) 1g) sad, unhappy 1h) evil (hurtful) 1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition) 1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically) 1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts 1j2) deeds, actions
Usage: Occurs in 623 OT verses. KJV: adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). See also: Genesis 2:9; Judges 9:57; 2 Kings 21:6.
מִ/טּ֑וֹב
ṭôwb
H2896
"pleasant"
Prep | Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means good or welfare, describing something that is beneficial or pleasing, like a good deed or a happy time. It is used in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms. This word is often translated as 'good' or 'beautiful'.
Definition: adj 1) good, pleasant, agreeable 1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses) 1b) pleasant (to the higher nature) 1c) good, excellent (of its kind) 1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation 1e) good, appropriate, becoming 1f) better (comparative) 1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature) 1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature) 1i) good, kind, benign 1j) good, right (ethical) Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)
Usage: Occurs in 521 OT verses. KJV: beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured). See also: Genesis 1:4; Ruth 2:22; 2 Chronicles 3:8.
שֶׁ֓קֶר
sheqer
H8267
"deception"
N-ms
This word refers to deception or falsehood, often implying a sense of betrayal or disappointment. It's used in the Bible to describe lies, false testimony, or deceitful behavior, like in Psalm 116:11, where the psalmist says all men are liars.
Definition: 1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood 1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one) 1b) deceit, fraud, wrong 1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb) 1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony) 1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely 1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets) 1e) lie, falsehood (in general) 1e1) false tongue 1f) in vain
Usage: Occurs in 109 OT verses. KJV: without a cause, deceit(-ful), false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, [phrase] lie, lying, vain (thing), wrongfully. See also: Exodus 5:9; Proverbs 25:18; Psalms 7:15.
מִ/דַּבֵּ֖ר
dâbar
H1696
"to speak"
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a
To speak or communicate, like God speaking to Moses in Exodus or a king commanding his people. It can also mean to promise or warn someone.
Definition: : speak/tell/command 1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing 1a) (Qal) to speak 1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to speak 1c2) to promise 1d) (Pual) to be spoken 1e) (Hithpael) to speak 1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
Usage: Occurs in 1049 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work. See also: Genesis 8:15; Exodus 12:25; Leviticus 23:9.
צֶ֣דֶק
tsedeq
H6664
"Righteousness"
N-ms
Represents the idea of righteousness or justice, often referring to God's character or the standard for human behavior. It is closely tied to the concept of morality and what is right. The word is used to describe the ideal for human conduct and society.
Definition: This name means justice, righteousness Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 112 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] even, ([idiom] that which is altogether) just(-ice), (un-)right(-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness). See also: Leviticus 19:15; Psalms 119:138; Psalms 4:2.
סֶֽלָה
çelâh
H5542
"Selah"
Part
Selah is a musical term in the Bible that signals a pause or interruption in the music, like a rest in a song, often used in Psalms. It is a technical term that sets a moment for reflection and contemplation, as seen in Psalm 3:2.
Definition: § 1) to lift up, exalt 1a) Selah 1a1) a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: Selah. See also: Psalms 3:3; Psalms 62:5; Psalms 3:5.
Study Notes — Psalms 52:5
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 52:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 52:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 52:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 52:5
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 52:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 52:5
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 52:5
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 52:5
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 52:5
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 52:5
- Sermons on Psalms 52:5
Context — Why Do You Boast of Evil?
3You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah
4You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue.
5Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6The righteous will see and fear; they will mock the evildoer, saying, 7“Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 2:22 | but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be uprooted. |
| 2 | Psalms 27:13 | Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. |
| 3 | Revelation 21:8 | But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” |
| 4 | Psalms 7:14–16 | Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood. He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making. His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head. |
| 5 | Psalms 120:2–4 | Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue? Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree! |
| 6 | Proverbs 19:5 | A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. |
| 7 | Psalms 64:7–10 | But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded. They will be made to stumble, their own tongues turned against them. All who see will shake their heads. Then all mankind will fear and proclaim the work of God; so they will ponder what He has done. Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in Him; let all the upright in heart exult. |
| 8 | Isaiah 38:11 | I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world. |
| 9 | Psalms 55:23 | But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You. |
| 10 | Psalms 140:9–11 | May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused. May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again. May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence. |
Psalms 52:5 Summary
[This verse is saying that God will judge those who love evil and trust in their own wealth, rather than in Him. He will remove them from their place of comfort and security, and they will face eternal separation from God. As seen in Psalm 1:3, those who trust in God will be like a tree planted by streams of water, but those who trust in their own ways will wither and perish. We must examine our hearts and trust in God's provision and refuge, rather than in our own strength and wealth.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be brought down to 'everlasting ruin'?
This phrase refers to eternal judgment and separation from God, as seen in Psalm 9:17, where the wicked will be turned back to the depths of the earth, and in Matthew 25:41, where the wicked will go away into eternal punishment.
Why does God 'snatch you up and tear you away from your tent'?
This phrase is a metaphor for God's judgment, where He removes the wicked from their place of comfort and security, much like in Jeremiah 31:28, where God builds up and plants, but also pulls down and uproots.
What does it mean to be 'uprooted from the land of the living'?
This phrase means to be cut off from the living, resulting in spiritual death, as seen in Psalm 104:35, where the wicked will be no more, and in John 11:25-26, where Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Is this verse talking about a physical or spiritual death?
This verse is primarily talking about spiritual death and eternal separation from God, as supported by Psalm 51:17, where a broken spirit is what God desires, and in Romans 8:13, where the flesh must be put to death to live in the Spirit.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can examine my heart to ensure I am not loving evil more than good, as mentioned in the preceding verse?
- How can I trust in God's refuge and provision, rather than in the abundance of wealth, as mentioned in the following verse?
- What does it mean for me to be 'rooted' in God, and how can I deepen my roots in Him?
- In what ways can I be a reflection of God's righteousness and justice in my own life, as seen in this verse?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 52:5
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever,.... As a just retaliation for the mischief done to others; or, "therefore God shall destroy" (z), c.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 52:5
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. God shall likewise.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 52:5
Likewise, i.e. totally and unavoidably, as thou didst destroy the priests. Pluck thee, i.e. violently, and irresistibly, and suddenly remove thee, as the Hebrew word signifies. Out of thy dwelling-place; from thy house and lands, and all the wages of thy unrighteousness. Or, out of his (i.e. the Lord’ s) tabernacle; in which thou didst seek and take the matter of thy slanders, and from which thou didst cut off the Lord’ s priests. Therefore God shall excommunicate thee from his presence, and from the society of the faithful. Root thee out; though thou seemest to have taken very deep rooting, and to be the more firmly settled for this barbarous cruelty, yet God shall pluck thee up by the very roots, and destroy thee both root and branch. Out of the land of the living; out of this world, as the phrase is taken, , and elsewhere; which was very terrible to him, who had all his portion in this world.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 52:5
Psalms 52:5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of [thy] dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.Ver. 5. God shall likewise destroy thee] Here are quot verba tot tonitrua, so many words, so many thunderclaps. As thou hast destroyed the Lord’ s priests and their whole city, razing and harassing it; so God will demolish and destroy thee utterly, as a house pulled down to the ground, so that one stone is not left upon another, Leviticus 14:45. So shall God pull down Doeg from that high preferment which he by sycophancy hath got at court, Iudicium ipsum lethale describitur. He shall take thee away] As a coal of fire is taken with the tongs, Isaiah 30:4, that it do no further mischief. Some render it, He shall burn thee, Exuret te (Vatab.). R. Gaon, He shall terrify thee. And pluck thee out of thy dwelling place] Or, shall sweep thee out of thy tabernacle.
R. Gaon interpreteth it, Beth hamidrash, the Lord’ s tabernacle, whereinto a Doeg may set his foot as far as a David, but God will pluck him thence. And root thee out of the land of the living] Everret et evertet te cum tota familia, He shall utterly ruin thee and thine, leaving thee neither root nor branch, chick nor child. Selah] i.e. Veritas est, saith Aben Ezra. It is even so; think not that these things are spoken only in terrorem, for a scarebug, for they shall all be surely fulfilled upon thee.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 52:5
(5) Destroy.—Better, tear down, as if of a building. Take thee away.—Better, lay hold of thee. The Hebrew word is always used of taking a live coal from the hearth. Notice, however, that the exactly opposite is intended of our “pluck a brand from the burning.” Here the idea is of pulling the house-fire to pieces, and so extinguishing domestic life.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 52:5
Verse 5. God shall likewise destroy thee] 1. God shall set himself to destroy thee; יתצך yittotscha, "he will pull down thy building;" he shall unroof it, dilapidate, and dig up thy foundation. 2. He shall bruise or break thee to pieces for ever; thou shalt have neither strength, consistence, nor support. 3. He will mow thee down, and sweep thee away like dust or chaff, or light hay in a whirlwind, so that thou shalt be scattered to all the winds of heaven. Thou shalt have no residence, no tabernacle: that shall be entirely destroyed. Thou shalt be rooted out for ever from the land of the living. The bad fruit which it has borne shall bring God's curse upon the tree; it shall not merely wither, or die, but it shall be plucked up from the roots, intimating that such a sinner shall die a violent death. Selah. So it shall be, and so it ought to be.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 52:5
5. likewise] We might have expected therefore, as P.B.V. following Vulg. loosely renders: but likewise is significant. There is a correspondence and equivalence between the sin and its punishment Cp. Micah 2:1-10, where the idea is worked out that the heartless oppressors who have driven the poor from their homes will be driven from the land into exile. The doom of the wicked man is forcibly described by various figures. He fancies himself securely intrenched in the fortress of his wealth, but God will break him down (Judges 8:9) and that for ever, so that there will be no restoration of the ruins. He is at ease in his home, but God will take him as a man takes a coal from the hearth with tongs or shovel, and plucking him out of his dwelling, drive him forth as a homeless wanderer (Deuteronomy 28:63; Proverbs 2:22; Job 18:14, R.V.). He is “spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil” (Psalms 37:35), but God will uproot him out of the land of the living. Cp. for the phrase Jeremiah 11:19; and note the contrast between the fate of the wicked and the future of the Psalmist (Psalms 52:8). The verbs in this verse might be rendered as in the LXX, as a prayer, “May God destroy thee” &c.; but the rendering in the future is preferable. Sentence is pronounced in a tone of prophetic authority.
Cp. Isaiah 22:17 ff. Selah marks the conclusion of the first part of the Psalm.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 52:5
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever - Margin, “beat thee down.” The Hebrew word means to “tear, to break down, to destroy:” Leviticus 14:45; Judges 6:30.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 52:5
5-7. These verses describe the downfall of this wicked man. God shall…destroy thee—Literally, God shall break thee down: cause thee to fall with a crash. Sudden and irretrievable ruin would end his boastful career of crime.
Sermons on Psalms 52:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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I Want My Portion Now! by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher addresses the issue of backsliding and encourages the audience to examine their reasons for coming to church. He emphasizes the importance of personal |
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Avoiding Cynicism - Part 3 by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, Brother K.P. Johannett addresses the danger of becoming cynical and taking God's Word and blessings for granted. He highlights the importance of faith and belief in |
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Rejoice! by Basilea Schlink | In this sermon, Basilia Schlink delivers a message of hope and encouragement to those who are feeling sad or despairing. She emphasizes that God is the Father of goodness and that |
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Isaiah by J.B. Rowell | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the satisfaction that Jesus had in saving souls and transforming lives. He encourages the congregation to be channels of blessing and to live |
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Old Testament Survey - Part 3 by Dick Woodward | This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding the Bible as the word of God amidst modern skepticism and attacks on its credibility. It highlights the significance of knowi |
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Do Not Faint by Mack Tomlinson | This sermon focuses on the theme of spiritual weariness and fainting, drawing from Isaiah 40:28-31. It emphasizes the reality of weariness in the Christian life, the various challe |
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Old Testament Survey - Part 26 by Dick Woodward | This sermon delves into the book of Joshua as a powerful illustration of faith, contrasting it with the book of Numbers which focuses on unbelief. It highlights the perpetuation of |