Psalm 11 3

Psalm 11:3 kjv

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Psalm 11:3 nkjv

If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?

Psalm 11:3 niv

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

Psalm 11:3 esv

if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

Psalm 11:3 nlt

The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
What can the righteous do?"

Psalm 11 verses

Psalm 11 3 Meaning

Psalm 11:3 conveys a rhetorical question, born of human desperation or the counsel of fearful companions, concerning the perceived futility of righteousness when the very foundations of societal order, justice, and truth are dismantled. It posits a scenario where the pillars that support an upright way of life have collapsed, leading to a profound sense of helplessness and uncertainty about what value or action a righteous person could possibly hold or undertake. It articulates the deep disquiet experienced when the basic framework of a just world seems to have vanished.

Psalm 11 3 Context

Psalm 11 presents a dramatic tension between David's trust in God and the advice of those who counsel fear and flight. The preceding verses (1-2) establish that David is under immense threat, with adversaries lying in wait like archers shooting "in darkness" at the upright. This verse, Psalm 11:3, serves as the fearful query from his well-meaning advisors, or perhaps David's own internal grappling with the dire circumstances. It posits the seemingly impossible situation where the very structures of justice and moral order—the "foundations"—are under assault or being dismantled. In the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel, these "foundations" referred to the established laws, divinely ordained justice, moral uprightness, and societal norms that constituted a righteous kingdom or community. If these foundational principles crumbled due to corruption or anarchy, the question implicitly suggests that righteous action would be meaningless or ineffectual. The subsequent verses of the Psalm (4-7) offer God's direct, countering answer, affirming His unchanging throne and active justice, thereby refuting the despair encapsulated in verse 3.

Psalm 11 3 Word analysis

• כִּֽי (kî): "If," or "For." In this context, it introduces a condition or premise, highlighting a hypothetical scenario of existential crisis. It sets the stage for a desperate question, functioning like a "suppose that..."
• הַשָּׁת֣וֹת (haššātōwṯ): "the foundations." Derived from the root šāṯat (to set, lay, establish), this word primarily refers to the structural bases of buildings. Here, however, it is used metaphorically to denote the fundamental principles, moral order, laws, and systems of justice upon which a society or nation is built. It speaks of the essential elements that provide stability and a framework for righteous living.
• יֵֽהָרֵ֑סוּן (yēhārēsûn): "are destroyed," "be demolished," or "overthrown." This verb, from the root hāras (to break down, demolish, tear down), is in the passive voice, indicating that these foundations are being actively dismantled or have already collapsed, implying intentional subversion, widespread corruption, or a complete breakdown of order. It's not a natural decay but an aggressive ruination.
• צַ֝דִּ֗יק (ṣaddîq): "the righteous one," or "a righteous person." This term denotes someone who lives in alignment with God's revealed will, adhering to principles of justice, truth, and moral uprightness. It represents the one who stands apart from those causing the destruction, holding to integrity.
• מַה־ (mah): "What?" An interrogative particle expressing perplexity, bewilderment, or a desperate plea for direction. It underscores the seeming powerlessness in the face of such overwhelming devastation.
• פָּעָֽל (pāʿal): "has he done/accomplish/effect?" From the verb pāʿal (to work, act, accomplish). In this phrase, it raises a stark question about the efficacy or utility of righteousness in a lawless or anarchic environment. It questions what positive impact or constructive action the righteous can make when the very framework for such action is eradicated.

Words-group analysis

• "If the foundations are destroyed": This phrase paints a picture of societal breakdown at its most fundamental level. It extends beyond mere governmental corruption to the very pillars of moral absolutes, legal integrity, and spiritual truth being systematically undermined or overthrown. It speaks to a profound crisis where the basic understanding of right and wrong, or justice and injustice, becomes inverted or nullified.
• "what can the righteous do?": This rhetorical question highlights the utter despondency and apparent futility from a human perspective. It expresses the sentiment that when all the protective structures are gone, when treachery triumphs and justice is mocked, the righteous person appears isolated, vulnerable, and powerless to affect any positive change or even to preserve their own uprightness in a world turned upside down. It anticipates the despair that prompts fleeing, an action immediately countered by the divine perspective that follows in the Psalm.

Psalm 11 3 Bonus section

• The despairing question in Psalm 11:3 is primarily a human perspective, directly challenged and overturned by God's perspective presented in the very next verse (Psalm 11:4). It illustrates the stark contrast between earthly fears and heavenly reality.
• This verse provides crucial insight into the worldview of those who would counsel flight: they believe that when earthly systems collapse, God's people are left defenseless. The Psalm as a whole powerfully refutes this notion, emphasizing God's transcendence and His unwavering judgment from His holy temple.
• The "foundations" can also be interpreted as the very tenets of God's law and covenant with Israel. Their destruction would signify a complete apostasy or corruption of the nation, making adherence to God's path seem impossible.
• For the believer, this verse underscores the ultimate necessity of placing trust not in societal structures, however noble, but in God Himself, who is the unchanging foundation through all generations. He is the anchor when the storms of moral decay threaten to capsize all else.

Psalm 11 3 Commentary

Psalm 11:3 captures a raw human sentiment: the anguish of seeing the moral and judicial bedrock of society erode or crumble. When truth is dismissed, justice is perverted, and integrity is scoffed at, the question arises, "What good is righteousness then? What can one person, committed to what is right, achieve in such chaos?" This verse vividly portrays the isolation and despair that can overwhelm a righteous soul when surrounded by pervasive ungodliness. It is the moment of deep questioning, perhaps even doubt, about the practical value or impact of one's commitment to God's ways when those ways seem utterly incompatible with the world's reality. Yet, this question, though humanly valid, serves to prepare the reader for the radical divine reassurance that immediately follows. God remains enthroned, observant, and ultimately active in judgment, irrespective of earth's tumultuous foundations.

• Example: Imagine a child growing up in a home where parental love and rules (the foundations) are inconsistent or absent. What hope does that child have of building a stable character, despite their inherent goodness? Or consider a church where biblical doctrine is consistently undermined. How can believers grow strong in their faith if the truth is destroyed?