Psalm 34:21 kjv
Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
Psalm 34:21 nkjv
Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
Psalm 34:21 niv
Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
Psalm 34:21 esv
Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
Psalm 34:21 nlt
Calamity will surely destroy the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
Psalm 34 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 7:15-16 | He makes a pit and digs it out... his mischief comes down on his own head. | Wickedness boomerangs |
| Ps 9:15-16 | The nations have sunk... in the net which they hid... | Traps for wicked turn on them |
| Ps 11:5-6 | The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked... he hates... | God's disdain for wicked, judgment |
| Ps 37:9-10 | For evildoers shall be cut off... a little while and the wicked will be no more. | Future cut-off of wicked |
| Ps 52:5-7 | God will pluck you up... you trusted in your wickedness... | Consequences of trusting in evil |
| Prov 11:5-6 | The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. | Wickedness causes one's own downfall |
| Prov 13:21 | Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous good shall be repaid. | Sin's inescapable pursuit |
| Prov 14:32 | The wicked is banished in his wickedness, but the righteous has a refuge in his death. | Fate contrast for wicked and righteous |
| Prov 28:18 | Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, but one who is perverse in his ways will fall at once. | Swift fall for crooked path |
| Isa 3:10-11 | Say to the righteous that it shall be well... Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill... for what he has done shall be done to him. | Direct retribution for both |
| Jer 2:19 | Your own evil will correct you; your backslidings will rebuke you. | Inner consequence of evil |
| Mal 3:18 | Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked... | Clear distinction in divine judgment |
| Job 4:8 | Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. | Iniquity brings same trouble |
| Hos 8:7 | For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. | Severe reaping from minimal sowing |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness... | God's wrath on unrighteousness |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Sin's ultimate payment |
| Gal 6:7-8 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh... will from the flesh reap corruption. | Universal law of sowing and reaping |
| Jas 1:15 | Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. | Sin's progression to death |
| 2 Pet 2:9 | Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly... and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment. | God distinguishes and judges |
| Heb 10:30 | For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord. | God's declaration of final judgment |
| Rev 20:12-15 | And I saw the dead, small and great... judged, each one according to his works. | Judgment according to deeds |
| Rev 22:12 | Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. | Final reckoning for all |
Psalm 34 verses
Psalm 34 21 Meaning
Psalm 34:21 conveys a profound principle of divine justice: wickedness is inherently self-destructive and leads to the demise of those who practice it. Furthermore, it asserts that those who harbor antagonism and persecute the upright will inevitably face ruin and be condemned by the righteous judgment of God. This verse declares that God's moral order ensures the ultimate undoing of the wicked, particularly those who oppose His people.
Psalm 34 21 Context
Psalm 34 is a thanksgiving psalm by David, likely composed after his encounter with Achish (Abimelech) in Gath (1 Sam 21:10-15), where he feigned madness to escape. David uses this personal experience of deliverance to exhort others to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (v. 8). The psalm largely functions as a wisdom instruction, highlighting the blessings of fearing the Lord and contrasting the divine care for the righteous with the ultimate demise of the wicked. Verse 21 appears within a segment that sharply distinguishes between the destinies of the righteous and the unrighteous, reassuring believers that though they may suffer (v. 19), their persecutors will not ultimately prevail.
Psalm 34 21 Word analysis
- Evil (רָשָׁע - rasha): In this specific context, the Hebrew term primarily refers to wickedness as an inherent quality, rather than an evil entity. It describes acts, intentions, and character that are morally corrupt and rebellious against God's laws and nature. Here, it is almost personified, as an active agent bringing destruction.
- Shall slay (תְּמוֹתֵת - tə-mō-ṯêṯ): An intensive form of the verb "to die" or "to put to death." It indicates causing death or destruction. The force of "slay" emphasizes a decisive and final end. This is not just a passive failure but an active undoing caused by the nature of evil itself.
- The wicked (רָשָׁע - rasha): The same root word as "evil" at the beginning of the verse. This refers to the wicked person or persons, whose very identity and actions are characterized by opposition to God. The phrase underscores that the wicked are destroyed by the very evil they embody and commit.
- And they that hate (שֹׁנְאֵי - shō-nə-ʾê): This term signifies active enmity, intense animosity, and opposition. It points to a deep-seated antagonism against a person or a cause, going beyond mere dislike to open hostility and persecution.
- The righteous (צַדִּיק - tzaddiq): This Hebrew word describes those who are just, upright, vindicated, or in right standing with God. It speaks to a moral character and a relationship with God marked by adherence to His ways.
- Shall be desolate (יֶאְשָׁמוּ - yeʾšamū): This powerful verb carries multiple layers of meaning: to incur guilt, to be held guilty, to pay the penalty for guilt, or to suffer the consequences leading to ruin or desolation. It implies not just an emotional state but a state of condemnation, often resulting in physical or existential emptiness, ruin, and punishment.
Words-group analysis:
- "Evil shall slay the wicked": This phrase dramatically portrays the self-destructive nature of wickedness. It asserts that evil is not merely an external force, but it contains within itself the seeds of destruction for those who embrace it. This is a powerful statement about moral causation: the very essence of ungodliness will bring about the ruin of the ungodly, either directly or as a consequence of divine justice.
- "and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate": This second clause is a parallel assertion, focusing on a specific manifestation of wickedness: active opposition to those who live righteously before God. Such hatred reveals a heart in opposition to God Himself, and the result is desolation, condemnation, and ultimate ruin. This links the personal moral condition of the wicked to their specific actions against God's people, ensuring that their malicious intent backfires.
- The Parallelism: The two clauses function in antithetical parallelism. The first states a general principle regarding wickedness and its self-destructive nature. The second specifically addresses those who persecute God's chosen, declaring their inescapable fate. Together, they powerfully declare the certainty of God's justice in avenging His righteous ones and bringing judgment upon His adversaries.
Psalm 34 21 Bonus Section
- God's Immanent Justice: This verse speaks to a form of justice that is often inherent in the moral fabric of the universe. While God may intervene, evil actions also have natural, destructive consequences built into His creation. The "evil" itself brings about the slaying, implying that wickedness devours its own.
- Vindication of the Righteous: For those facing opposition or suffering because of their righteousness, this verse offers immense comfort and reassurance. It asserts that their oppressors will not have the final victory, as God's divine order guarantees their ultimate downfall.
- A Call to Discernment: The contrast between the wicked and the righteous is stark and serves as an implicit call to examine one's own path and choose the way of righteousness, which leads to life (as implied by other verses in Psalm 34, e.g., v. 22).
Psalm 34 21 Commentary
Psalm 34:21 offers a firm declaration of God's unswerving justice, forming a crucial part of the psalmist's instruction regarding the differing destinies of the righteous and the wicked. The verse asserts that evil, rather than prospering indefinitely, intrinsically carries the instruments of its own demise. This isn't merely a statement about poetic justice, but about a divinely ordained moral order where actions have consequences. Those whose lives are characterized by ungodliness, represented by "the wicked," will inevitably fall prey to the very destructive forces they unleash. This judgment is often expressed as the natural outcome of sin, yet it is ultimately guided and allowed by a righteous God. The second part of the verse hones in on a specific manifestation of wickedness: the active hatred and persecution of "the righteous." This animosity against God's people is an offense against God Himself, ensuring a divine reckoning. To be "desolate" means to suffer profound consequences, ranging from experiencing a barren, unproductive existence to facing divine judgment, condemnation, and ruin. This verse provides reassurance for the persecuted righteous, affirming that God sees their suffering and will bring recompense, while serving as a sobering warning to those who oppose His truth and His people. It reveals a foundational truth about God's character: He is a God who rewards righteousness and justly punishes evil.