Psalm 11:6 kjv
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
Psalm 11:6 nkjv
Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.
Psalm 11:6 niv
On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.
Psalm 11:6 esv
Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
Psalm 11:6 nlt
He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,
punishing them with scorching winds.
Psalm 11 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 19:24 | Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven. | Prototype of divine judgment with fire/brimstone |
| Ex 9:23-24 | The Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth... | God's use of natural elements for judgment |
| Num 16:35 | Fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men... | Divine fire consuming the rebellious |
| Deut 29:23 | The whole land burned with brimstone and salt, no sowing... like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah. | Lingering desolation from judgment |
| Ps 7:11 | God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. | God's ongoing attribute as judge |
| Ps 75:8 | For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, with foaming wine, full of mixture; He pours it out... | The "cup" as a symbol of divine wrath |
| Ps 94:23 | He will bring back their iniquity upon them and destroy them... | God's justice against the wicked |
| Isa 13:19-20 | Babylon... will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. | Future judgment compared to past patterns |
| Isa 30:27-28 | Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar... with overflowing flood... for a winnowing fan to sift the nations. | God's wrath as a consuming force |
| Isa 51:17 | Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of His wrath. | "Cup" of wrath for covenant people |
| Jer 25:15-16 | Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and cause all the nations... to drink it. | Universal judgment via the "cup" |
| Ezek 38:22 | With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him overflowing rain... hail-stones, fire and brimstone. | Fire/brimstone in end-times judgment |
| Amos 4:11 | I overthrew some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah... | Historical judgment invoked as a warning |
| Nah 1:6 | Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire. | God's fiery, irresistible wrath |
| Matt 7:19 | Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. | Impending judgment for unfruitfulness |
| Luke 17:28-30 | ...just as it happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking... But on the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven... | Warning based on Sodom judgment |
| Rom 2:8-9 | ...to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. | The destiny of those who reject truth |
| Heb 10:26-27 | ...there remains no longer a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. | Fierce judgment for wilful sin |
| 2 Pet 2:6 | ...and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes... an example for those who would live ungodly lives thereafter. | Sodom as an enduring example of judgment |
| Jude 1:7 | ...Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having indulged in gross immorality... are displayed as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. | Sodom's eternal fire as an example |
| Rev 14:10 | ...he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. | Eternal punishment with fire and brimstone |
| Rev 16:19 | The great city was split into three parts... and God remembered Babylon the great, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. | The "cup" of God's final wrath |
| Rev 20:10 | ...and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. | Ultimate torment for the wicked |
Psalm 11 verses
Psalm 11 6 Meaning
Psalm 11:6 proclaims God's certain and devastating judgment upon those who persistently defy Him. It depicts a divine visitation of calamities, specifically likened to snares, consuming fire, destructive brimstone, and a furious tempest. These elements represent an inescapable, total, and terrifying punishment. The verse concludes by declaring that this catastrophic destiny, marked by divine wrath, is the allotted "portion of their cup," signifying that it is their rightful and inevitable outcome, a bitter fate they must drink to its fullest. This statement contrasts sharply with the "cup" of blessing and salvation offered to the righteous, establishing a clear division in ultimate destinies.
Psalm 11 6 Context
Psalm 11 portrays King David facing profound pressure and temptation to flee from powerful adversaries. The preceding verses (11:1-3) depict a scenario where the wicked are "bending their bow" and "fitting their arrow" to attack the upright, causing the "foundations" to be destroyed. David's response, "In the Lord I put my trust; how can you say to my soul, 'Flee as a bird to your mountain?'" sets the stage for a declaration of unwavering faith in God as the ultimate arbiter and sovereign ruler. This specific verse (11:6) serves as David's reaffirmation that despite the apparent chaos and the perceived triumph of evil, the Lord is enthroned in heaven (11:4) and sees all, and His righteous judgment is sure to fall upon the wicked. It offers assurance to the beleaguered righteous by vividly describing the predetermined downfall of their oppressors, thus bolstering faith rather than advocating flight.
Psalm 11 6 Word analysis
- Upon the wicked: (Hebrew: עַל רְשָׁעִים, ‘al r’sha'im) - The preposition "upon" (עַל) indicates a direct, intentional targeting. "Wicked" (r’sha'im) refers to those who are morally and spiritually in opposition to God's ways, His law, and His people. They are not merely "bad" people but active perpetrators of evil and injustice, particularly towards the righteous. This identifies the precise recipients of God's wrath.
- he shall rain: (Hebrew: יַמְטֵר, yamṭēr) - This verb emphasizes God as the sovereign agent of judgment. "Raining" implies an overwhelming, continuous, and inescapable deluge. It signifies that the judgment is a divine act, not a random occurrence, and it is a forceful, divinely ordained outpouring. This also suggests abundance and inescapable force, much like a natural storm.
- snares: (Hebrew: פַּחִים, pachim) - This plural noun refers to traps or nets used by hunters. Here, it is a metaphor for unexpected, inescapable calamities or spiritual traps that catch the wicked unaware, leading to their downfall. The imagery suggests being ensnared in their own evil devices or by the direct action of God.
- fire: (Hebrew: אֵשׁ, esh) - A primary biblical symbol of God's purifying holiness, wrath, and destructive judgment. It consumes, purifies, and demonstrates God's formidable power. Its pairing with brimstone immediately brings to mind the famous judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.
- and brimstone: (Hebrew: וְגָפְרִית, v’gofrit) - Sulfur, known for its strong, pungent odor when burning, indicates a vile, sickening, and complete destruction. Together with "fire," it evokes the most absolute and recognizable biblical depiction of divine, consuming judgment, symbolizing irreversible desolation.
- and an horrible tempest: (Hebrew: וְרוּחַ זַעֲפוֹת, v’ruach za'afot) - Literally "wind of furies" or "wind of storms/fury." Ruach can mean wind, breath, or spirit. Za'afot denotes wrath, indignation, or violent tempests. This signifies a furious, raging storm—a destructive whirlwind—representing a terrifying, overwhelming, and disorderly force of judgment that sweeps everything away, leaving no escape.
- this shall be the portion: (Hebrew: זֶה מְנָת, zeh m'nat) - "This" refers to the collective calamities just described. "Portion" (m’nat) signifies an assigned share or an allotted destiny. It implies that this outcome is a deserved, justly allocated share that the wicked have earned by their actions. It is their just due.
- of their cup: (Hebrew: כּוֹסָם, kosam) - The "cup" is a powerful metaphor throughout scripture for one's destiny or fate, often specifically denoting a share of suffering, wrath, or divine judgment. Drinking from the cup implies fully experiencing and exhausting the appointed consequence. This emphasizes that the judgment is unavoidable and personally consumed by the wicked.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone:" This phrase establishes God as the active and sovereign punisher. The specific elements "snares, fire, and brimstone" collectively describe an inescapable, total, and intensely destructive judgment. The rain imagery suggests an overwhelming deluge of these specific calamities.
- "and an horrible tempest:" This expands on the nature of the judgment, adding the imagery of a violent, furious storm that leaves nothing untouched. It underscores the overwhelming and terrifying nature of the divine wrath, which sweeps away all resistance and provides no refuge.
- "this shall be the portion of their cup." This final statement acts as a summary and conclusion of their ultimate fate. The phrase "portion of their cup" concretely declares that the described horrific judgment is their certain and allotted destiny. It's their inescapable lot, which they must metaphorically drink down to the dregs, representing the fullness of their deserved punishment.
Psalm 11 6 Bonus section
The strong visual language of Psalm 11:6 serves not only as a deterrent but as a powerful source of comfort and theological assurance for the righteous. In times when the wicked seem to prosper and mock divine authority, this verse firmly reasserts God's active involvement in human affairs and His ultimate sovereignty over justice. The specific details of judgment—snares, fire, brimstone, and tempest—are all manifestations of God's control over creation, turning what might seem like natural occurrences into tools of His purposeful retribution. This underlines the polemical idea against any belief system that denies God's power over "nature" or His ultimate authority in judgment. It reinforces that the Lord is not an indifferent deity but a holy Judge who will exact justice for His kingdom.
Psalm 11 6 Commentary
Psalm 11:6 is a vivid declaration of divine justice, ensuring that the persistent wickedness observed by the psalmist will not go unpunished. The imagery chosen is both potent and deliberately intertextual. "Fire and brimstone" immediately evokes the historical cataclysm of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19), an ultimate historical paradigm of swift, total, and irreversible judgment upon gross sin. This ancient historical event serves as an enduring prophetic type for God's action against the impenitent. The "snares" suggest a trapping or incapacitation, an ironic turn as the wicked often lay snares for the righteous, only to fall into their own traps (Ps 9:15). The "horrible tempest" adds to the sense of an overwhelming, chaotic, yet divinely directed force of destruction.
The "portion of their cup" is a crucial metaphorical summation. In ancient cultures, a cup represented one's fate or destiny. To drink a cup meant to accept and fully experience that fate, whether of joy, sorrow, or, in this context, divine wrath. For the righteous, God is their "portion" and "cup" of salvation and blessing (Ps 16:5; Ps 23:5); but for the wicked, their "cup" is full of consuming wrath. This highlights God's righteousness, not only in delivering the just but in meting out proper punishment to the wicked, providing comfort to the faithful who trust in His ultimate control, even amidst the triumph of evil. This verse reassures believers that God's justice is perfect and inevitable.