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Psalms 50

BSB·23 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1The Mighty Oneאֵ֤ל׀’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →, Godאֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֡ים’ĕlō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְֽהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, speaksדִּבֶּ֥רdib·ber — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → and summonsוַיִּקְרָא־way·yiq·rā- — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → the earthאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → from where the sun risesמִמִּזְרַח־mim·miz·ra·ḥō·še- — east; direction of the sunrise; eastern regionH4217 — Full Word Study → toעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → where it setsמְבֹאֽוֹ׃mə·ḇō·’ōw — entrance, entry point, way of accessH3996 — Full Word Study →. 2From Zionמִצִּיּ֥וֹןmiṣ·ṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study →, perfectמִכְלַל־miḵ·lal- — completeness, perfection, wholenessH4359 — Full Word Study → in beautyיֹ֗פִיyō·p̄î — Beauty, comeliness, or splendorH3308 — Full Word Study →, Godאֱלֹהִ֥ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → shines forthהוֹפִֽיעַ׃hō·w·p̄î·a‘ — to shine forth, become light, appear brilliantlyH3313 — Full Word Study →. 3Our Godאֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → approachesיָ֤בֹ֥אyā·ḇō — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → and will notוְֽאַל־wə·’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → be silentיֶ֫חֱרַ֥שׁye·ḥĕ·raš — to engrave, plow, devise, or keep silentH2790 — Full Word Study →! Consumingתֹּאכֵ֑לtō·ḵêl — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → fireאֵשׁ־’êš- — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → precedes Himלְפָנָ֥יוlə·p̄ā·nāw — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →, and a tempestנִשְׂעֲרָ֥הniś·‘ă·rāh — to fear greatly; to tremble in terrorH8175 — Full Word Study → rages around Himוּ֝סְבִיבָ֗יוū·sə·ḇî·ḇāw — around, on all sides, encirclingH5439 — Full Word Study →. 4He summonsיִקְרָ֣אyiq·rā — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → the heavensהַשָּׁמַ֣יִםhaš·šā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study → aboveמֵעָ֑לmê·‘āl — above, over, upon; the Most HighH5920 — Full Word Study →, and the earthהָ֝אָ֗רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, that He may judgeלָדִ֥יןlā·ḏîn — to judge, govern, or execute judgmentH1777 — Full Word Study → His peopleעַמּֽוֹ׃‘am·mōw — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →: 5Gatherאִסְפוּ־’is·p̄ū- — to gather, assemble, collectH622 — Full Word Study → to Me My saintsחֲסִידָ֑יḥă·sî·ḏāy — The pious one; one characterized by faithfulness and covenant loyaltyH2623 — Full Word Study →, who madeכֹּרְתֵ֖יkō·rə·ṯê — To cut; to make a covenantH3772 — Full Word Study → a covenantבְרִיתִ֣יḇə·rî·ṯî — A binding agreement or covenant between partiesH1285 — Full Word Study → with Meעֲלֵי־‘ă·lê- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → by sacrificeזָֽבַח׃zā·ḇaḥ — sacrificial offering; animal sacrificeH2077 — Full Word Study →.” 6And the heavensשָׁמַ֣יִםšā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study → proclaimוַיַּגִּ֣ידוּway·yag·gî·ḏū — to tell, declare, make knownH5046 — Full Word Study → His righteousnessצִדְק֑וֹṣiḏ·qōw — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study →, forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Godאֱלֹהִ֓ים׀’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → Himselfה֣וּאhū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → is Judgeשֹׁפֵ֖טšō·p̄êṭ — to judge, govern, or execute justiceH8199 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 7Hearשִׁמְעָ֤הšim·‘āh — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study →, O My peopleעַמִּ֨י׀‘am·mî — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →, and I will speakוַאֲדַבֵּ֗רָהwa·’ă·ḏab·bê·rāh — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study →, O Israelיִ֭שְׂרָאֵלyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →, and I will testifyוְאָעִ֣ידָהwə·’ā·‘î·ḏāh — to testify, witness, or solemnly affirmH5749 — Full Word Study → agaiאָנֹֽכִי׃’ā·nō·ḵî — I, myself (first-person singular pronoun)H595 — Full Word Study →nst you: I am Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, your Godאֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. 8I do notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → rebukeאוֹכִיחֶ֑ךָ’ō·w·ḵî·ḥe·ḵā — To rebuke, reprove, or correct with reasoningH3198 — Full Word Study → you forעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → your sacrificesזְ֭בָחֶיךָzə·ḇā·ḥe·ḵā — sacrificial offering; animal sacrificeH2077 — Full Word Study →, and your burnt offeringsוְעוֹלֹתֶ֖יךָwə·‘ō·w·lō·ṯe·ḵā — burnt offering; ascending sacrificeH5930 — Full Word Study → are everתָמִֽיד׃ṯā·mîḏ — continually, perpetually, alwaysH8548 — Full Word Study → before Meלְנֶגְדִּ֣יlə·neḡ·dî — before, in front of, in the presence ofH5048 — Full Word Study →. 9I have noלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → needאֶקַּ֣ח’eq·qaḥ — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → for a bullפָ֑רp̄ār — Young bull or bullock; a sacrificial animalH6499 — Full Word Study → from your stallמִבֵּיתְךָ֣mib·bê·ṯə·ḵā — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → or goatsעַתּוּדִֽים׃‘at·tū·ḏîm — male goat; leader or chiefH6260 — Full Word Study → from your pensמִ֝מִּכְלְאֹתֶ֗יךָmim·miḵ·lə·’ō·ṯe·ḵā — Enclosure for sheep; pastoral fold or penH4356 — Full Word Study →, 10forכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → everyכָל־ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → beastחַיְתוֹ־ḥay·ṯōw- — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study → of the forestיָ֑עַרyā·‘ar — Forest; woodland; honeycombH3293 — Full Word Study → is Mine— the cattleבְּ֝הֵמ֗וֹתbə·hê·mō·wṯ — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study → on a thousandאָֽלֶף׃’ā·lep̄ — A thousand; a large military unit or census numberH505 — Full Word Study → hillsבְּהַרְרֵי־bə·har·rê- — mountain, hill, elevated terrainH2042 — Full Word Study →. 11I knowיָ֭דַעְתִּיyā·ḏa‘·tî — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → everyכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → birdע֣וֹף‘ō·wp̄ — birdH5775 — Full Word Study → in the mountainsהָרִ֑יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study →, and the creaturesוְזִ֥יזwə·zîz — abundance, fullness, wild beastH2123 — Full Word Study → of the fieldשָׂ֝דַ֗יśā·d̲ai — A field; cultivated or open landH7704 — Full Word Study → are Mine. 12Ifאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → I were hungryאֶ֭רְעַב’er·‘aḇ — to hunger, be famished, suffer hungerH7456 — Full Word Study →, I would notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → tellאֹ֣מַר’ō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → you, forכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the worldתֵ֝בֵ֗לṯê·ḇêl — The inhabited earth; the worldH8398 — Full Word Study → is Mine, and the fullness thereofוּמְלֹאָֽהּ׃ū·mə·lō·’āh — Fullness, abundance, or that which fillsH4393 — Full Word Study →. 13Do I eatהַֽ֭אוֹכַלha·’ō·w·ḵal — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → the fleshבְּשַׂ֣רbə·śar — Flesh; body; meat; human natureH1320 — Full Word Study → of bullsאַבִּירִ֑ים’ab·bî·rîm — mighty one, strong warrior, or powerful bullH47 — Full Word Study →, or drinkאֶשְׁתֶּֽה׃’eš·teh — to drink; consume liquidH8354 — Full Word Study → the bloodוְדַ֖םwə·ḏam — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study → of goatsעַתּוּדִ֣ים‘at·tū·ḏîm — male goat; leader or chiefH6260 — Full Word Study →? 14Sacrificeזְבַ֣חzə·ḇaḥ — to slaughter an animal as a sacrifice or offeringH2076 — Full Word Study → a thank offeringתּוֹדָ֑הtō·w·ḏāh — Thanksgiving; grateful praise and acknowledgment to GodH8426 — Full Word Study → to Godלֵאלֹהִ֣יםlê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, and fulfillוְשַׁלֵּ֖םwə·šal·lêm — to complete, make peace, repayH7999 — Full Word Study → your vowsנְדָרֶֽיךָ׃nə·ḏā·re·ḵā — A solemn promise or vow made to GodH5088 — Full Word Study → to the Most Highלְעֶלְי֣וֹןlə·‘el·yō·wn — Most High, elevated, supremeH5945 — Full Word Study →. 15Call upon Meוּ֭קְרָאֵנִיū·qə·rā·’ê·nî — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → in the dayבְּי֣וֹםbə·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of troubleצָרָ֑הṣā·rāh — Distress, trouble, adversityH6869 — Full Word Study →; I will deliver youאֲ֝חַלֶּצְךָ֗’ă·ḥal·leṣ·ḵā — to strip off; to arm; to deliverH2502 — Full Word Study →, and you will honor Meוּֽתְכַבְּדֵֽנִי׃ū·ṯə·ḵab·bə·ḏê·nî — to honor, glorify, or make heavy/weightyH3513 — Full Word Study →.” 16To the wicked, howeverוְלָ֤רָשָׁ֨ע׀wə·lā·rā·šā‘ — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study →, Godאֱלֹהִ֗ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → saysאָ֘מַ֤ר’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “What rightמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → have you to reciteלְסַפֵּ֣רlə·sap·pêr — To count, record, or declareH5608 — Full Word Study → My statutesחֻקָּ֑יḥuq·qāy — A statute or decree; an appointed rule or lawH2706 — Full Word Study → and to bearוַתִּשָּׂ֖אwat·tiś·śā — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → My covenantבְרִיתִ֣יḇə·rî·ṯî — A binding agreement or covenant between partiesH1285 — Full Word Study → onעֲלֵי־‘ă·lê- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → your lipsפִֽיךָ׃p̄î·ḵā — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →? 17For youוְ֭אַתָּהwə·’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → hateשָׂנֵ֣אתָśā·nê·ṯā — to hate, despise, regard with hostilityH8130 — Full Word Study → My instructionמוּסָ֑רmū·sār — Discipline, instruction, or correctionH4148 — Full Word Study → and castוַתַּשְׁלֵ֖ךְwat·taš·lêḵ — to throw, cast, or hurlH7993 — Full Word Study → My wordsדְּבָרַ֣יdə·ḇā·ray — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → behind youאַחֲרֶֽיךָ׃’a·ḥă·re·ḵā — after, behind, followingH310 — Full Word Study →. 18Whenאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → you seeרָאִ֣יתָrā·’î·ṯā — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → a thiefגַ֭נָּבḡan·nāḇ — thief; one who stealsH1590 — Full Word Study →, you befriendוַתִּ֣רֶץwat·ti·reṣ — to accept, be pleased with, delight inH7521 — Full Word Study → himעִמּ֑וֹ‘im·mōw — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study →, and throw in your lotחֶלְקֶֽךָ׃ḥel·qe·ḵā — portion, allotment, flatteryH2506 — Full Word Study → withוְעִ֖םwə·‘im — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → adulterersמְנָאֲפִ֣יםmə·nā·’ă·p̄îm — to commit adultery; to act unfaithfully in marriageH5003 — Full Word Study →. 19You unleashשָׁלַ֣חְתָּšā·laḥ·tā — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → your mouthפִּ֭יךָpî·ḵā — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study → for evilבְרָעָ֑הḇə·rā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → and unharness your tongueוּ֝לְשׁוֹנְךָ֗ū·lə·šō·wn·ḵā — Tongue; language; speechH3956 — Full Word Study → for deceit. 20You sitתֵּ֭שֵׁבtê·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → and malignתְדַבֵּ֑רṯə·ḏab·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → your brotherבְּאָחִ֣יךָbə·’ā·ḥî·ḵā — Male sibling; brother; kinsmanH251 — Full Word Study →; youתִּתֶּן־tit·ten- — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → slanderדֹּֽפִי׃dō·p̄î — slander, defamation, evil reportH1848 — Full Word Study → your own mother’sאִ֝מְּךָ֗’im·mə·ḵā — mother; female parentH517 — Full Word Study → sonבְּבֶֽן־bə·ḇen- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →. 21You have doneעָשִׂ֨יתָ׀‘ā·śî·ṯā — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → these thingsאֵ֤לֶּה’êl·leh — These; those; the onesH428 — Full Word Study →, and I kept silentוְֽהֶחֱרַ֗שְׁתִּיwə·he·ḥĕ·raš·tî — to engrave, plow, devise, or keep silentH2790 — Full Word Study →; you thoughtדִּמִּ֗יתָdim·mî·ṯā — To resemble, liken, or compareH1819 — Full Word Study → I wasהֱֽיוֹת־hĕ·yō·wṯ- — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → just like youכָמ֑וֹךָḵā·mō·w·ḵā — Like; according to; asH3644 — Full Word Study →. But now I rebuke youאוֹכִיחֲךָ֖’ō·w·ḵî·ḥă·ḵā — To rebuke, reprove, or correct with reasoningH3198 — Full Word Study → and accuse youוְאֶֽעֶרְכָ֣הwə·’e·‘er·ḵāh — to arrange, set in order, prepareH6186 — Full Word Study → to your faceלְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃lə·‘ê·ne·ḵā — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →. 22Nowנָ֣אnā — Please, I beseech, I prayH4994 — Full Word Study → considerבִּֽינוּ־bî·nū- — To understand, discern, perceiveH995 — Full Word Study → thisזֹ֭אתzōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study →, you who forgetשֹׁכְחֵ֣יšō·ḵə·ḥê — to forget, neglect, lose memory ofH7911 — Full Word Study → Godאֱל֑וֹהַּ’ĕ·lō·w·ah — God; divine being; deityH433 — Full Word Study →, lestפֶּן־pen- — lest, that not, for fear thatH6435 — Full Word Study → I tear you to piecesאֶ֝טְרֹ֗ף’eṭ·rōp̄ — To tear, rend, or devour preyH2963 — Full Word Study →, with no oneוְאֵ֣יןwə·’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → to rescue youמַצִּֽיל׃maṣ·ṣîl — to rescue, deliver, or snatch awayH5337 — Full Word Study →: 23He who sacrificesזֹבֵ֥חַzō·ḇê·aḥ — to slaughter an animal as a sacrifice or offeringH2076 — Full Word Study → a thank offeringתּוֹדָ֗הtō·w·ḏāh — Thanksgiving; grateful praise and acknowledgment to GodH8426 — Full Word Study → honors Meיְֽכַ֫בְּדָ֥נְנִיyə·ḵab·bə·ḏā·nə·nî — to honor, glorify, or make heavy/weightyH3513 — Full Word Study →, and to him who rights his way, I will showאַ֝רְאֶ֗נּוּ’ar·’en·nū — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → the salvationבְּיֵ֣שַׁעbə·yê·ša‘ — Salvation, deliverance, safetyH3468 — Full Word Study → of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →.”
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 50
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 50 presents God as the supreme Judge who calls His covenant people to account. Written by Asaph, this psalm opens with a magnificent theophany—God appearing in glory to address both His people and the nations. The central message challenges believers to move beyond mere outward religious performance (sacrifices and rituals) toward genuine worship rooted in thanksgiving, obedience, and a right heart. The psalm concludes with a stark contrast between those who honor God through right living and those who rebel against Him, ultimately calling all who "forget God" to repentance.

Verses 1–6: God's Majestic Summons

The psalmist opens with overwhelming declarations of God's sovereignty and imminent arrival. God "hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof" (v. 1)—a phrase emphasizing His universal authority over all creation and all peoples. Verse 2 identifies Zion as the place from which God's glory radiates, "the perfection of beauty," establishing Jerusalem as the center of divine revelation. Verses 3–4 depict God coming not in silence but with fire and tempest, summoning "the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people." The message is clear: the Almighty God is arriving as Judge, and none can escape His notice. Verse 6 reinforces that "the heavens shall declare his righteousness; for God is judge himself"—God needs no human validation; His righteousness is self-evident and vindicated by all creation.

Application: This opening reminds believers that God is not distant or indifferent. He actively judges and holds His people accountable. We should approach worship with reverence, remembering that we stand before the holy Judge of all the earth.

Verses 7–15: The Real Issue—the Heart, Not the Ritual

Here God directly addresses His people ("Hear, O my people, and I will speak"). The surprising declaration in verses 8–13 redirects our understanding of acceptable worship. God does not rebuke them for their sacrifices; rather, He explains that He never intended animal sacrifices to be the point. He owns all the animals—"every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills" (v. 10). He would never hunger or thirst (vv. 12–13), so the physical offering itself profits Him nothing. The psalmist uses rhetorical questions to expose the absurdity of thinking God needs or wants the flesh of bulls.

Instead, God's true desire is stated clearly in verses 14–15: "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble." The emphasis shifts from external ritual to internal reality—thanksgiving (gratitude from the heart), vow-keeping (integrity), and prayer (dependence). This teaches a foundational biblical principle: God desires obedient hearts far more than perfect external performance.

Application: Contemporary believers must ask themselves: Am I going through religious motions, or am I worshiping with authentic gratitude and genuine reliance on God? Sincere praise and a committed life honor God far more than any outward display.

Verses 16–23: Warning to the Wicked and Call to Repentance

The tone shifts sharply in verse 16 as God addresses "the wicked." These are not unbelievers outside the covenant but those who claim covenant membership while living in hypocrisy. They speak God's statutes and invoke His covenant (v. 16) but their lives contradict their profession. Verses 17–20 catalog their sins: hating instruction, despising God's Word, consenting with thieves, committing adultery, speaking lies, and slandering others. The cutting indictment in verse 21 notes that God had been silent, but the wicked mistakenly thought "I was altogether such an one as thyself"—they presumed upon God's patience and imagined He approved of their behavior.

Verse 22 issues a solemn warning to "ye that forget God," threatening severe judgment. Yet verses 23 concludes with grace: those who offer praise and "ordereth his conversation aright" will experience God's salvation. The contrast is absolute—genuine worship paired with righteous living brings deliverance; hypocrisy and wickedness bring judgment.

Application: This passage calls us to honest self-examination. Do our words match our walk? Does our worship reflect genuine devotion, or are we merely performing?

Application for Today

Psalm 50 powerfully confronts nominal Christianity. God is not impressed by church attendance, tithes, or eloquent prayers offered by those living in secret sin or indifference. True worship demands authentic gratitude, kept promises, genuine prayer, and a life increasingly conformed to God's holiness. The psalm invites us to align our entire existence—thought, word, and deed—with our worship of the living God.

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