Psalm 37:12 kjv
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
Psalm 37:12 nkjv
The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.
Psalm 37:12 niv
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
Psalm 37:12 esv
The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
Psalm 37:12 nlt
The wicked plot against the godly;
they snarl at them in defiance.
Psalm 37 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 10:2-4 | In arrogance the wicked hunt down the poor... they plot evil schemes... | Wicked scheme against the vulnerable. |
| Ps 31:13 | I hear the slander of many... they conspire against me... | Plotting and conspiracy against the innocent. |
| Ps 35:16 | Like godless mockers at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me. | Direct parallel to gnashing teeth in malice. |
| Ps 64:2-6 | Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throngs of evildoers. | Wicked's concealed evil plots. |
| Pr 1:11 | "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood..." | Invitation to partake in wicked plotting. |
| Pr 24:19-20 | Do not fret because of evildoers... for the evildoer has no future hope. | Advice not to fret, wicked's end is near. |
| Jer 11:19 | But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter... they devised schemes against me. | Plots against God's chosen prophet. |
| Lam 2:16 | All your enemies open their mouths wide against you; they scoff and gnash their teeth... | Enemies express extreme rage and scorn. |
| Eze 22:27 | Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey... | Leaders engage in wicked, destructive plots. |
| Mic 2:1 | Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! | Condemnation of those who premeditate evil. |
| Mt 8:12 | But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside... where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | Gnashing as a sign of post-judgment anguish. |
| Mt 13:42 | And throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | Gnashing in eternal suffering for the wicked. |
| Mt 13:50 | And throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | Same motif of despair and torment. |
| Mt 22:13 | Then throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | Exclusion and torment for those found wanting. |
| Mt 24:51 | ...and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | Punishment for unfaithful servants. |
| Mt 25:30 | And throw that worthless servant outside... where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | Final judgment for neglected stewardship. |
| Jn 15:18 | If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. | Anticipation of the world's hatred for believers. |
| Acts 7:54 | When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. | Physical manifestation of intense hatred at Stephen's witness. |
| Rom 12:19 | Do not take revenge... Leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. | Encouragement to trust God's ultimate justice. |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. | Persecution is expected for the righteous. |
| Ps 2:4 | The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. | God's sovereign dismissal of wicked schemes. |
| Ps 37:13 | But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. | Immediate context: God's view of the wicked's futility. |
Psalm 37 verses
Psalm 37 12 Meaning
Psalm 37:12 describes the intense and persistent malice directed by the ungodly towards those who live righteously according to God's ways. The verse highlights two specific actions: active scheming or devising harm against the righteous, and a physical manifestation of extreme anger, frustration, and hostile contempt, indicated by the gnashing of teeth. It vividly portrays the adversarial nature of the wicked in their opposition to virtue.
Psalm 37 12 Context
Psalm 37 is a wisdom psalm by David, structured as an acrostic poem (though somewhat imperfectly). Its central theme is a profound meditation on the problem of evil and the prosperity of the wicked in this life, encouraging the righteous not to "fret" (verse 1). It counsels patience, trust in God, and continued righteousness, assuring that God will ultimately administer justice, vindicating the godly and punishing the wicked. Verse 12 vividly describes the real and present danger posed by the wicked, setting the stage for the psalmist's subsequent assurances that God sees and will act on behalf of His own. Historically, this struggle was a common experience for believers in ancient Israel, often facing opposition from within and outside their community for their commitment to Yahweh and His laws.
Psalm 37 12 Word analysis
- The wicked (Hebrew: רָשָׁע - rasha'): This term denotes not merely bad or ungodly people, but those who are actively and stubbornly rebellious against God's law and will. They are not merely morally lax but inherently hostile to righteousness, often seeking to harm or undermine those who embody it. Their nature is diametrically opposed to God's order.
- plot (Hebrew: זָמַם - zamam): This verb means to devise, to intend, or to scheme. It implies premeditation, careful planning, and malicious intent. It's not a sudden outburst of anger but a calculated effort to bring about harm or destruction. This word highlights the depth of their hostility; their malice is not accidental but engineered.
- against the righteous (Hebrew: צַדִּיק - tzaddiq): This refers to those who are upright, just, and conforming to God's standards and will. They are righteous not by their own perfect merit but by living in a covenant relationship with God, seeking to follow His ways. The opposition is specifically targeted at their way of life, not merely at their person.
- and gnash (Hebrew: וַיִּחֲרָק - vayicharaq, from חָרַק - charaq): This is a powerful, almost onomatopoeic verb describing the grinding or clashing of teeth. It signifies intense, unrestrained rage, malicious hatred, frustration, or fierce animosity. It's a violent physical expression of seething internal hostility, often implying a desperate, impotent fury when their plots do not succeed immediately.
- their teeth (Hebrew: שִׁנֵּיהֶם - shinneihem): This further emphasizes the physical, visceral nature of the expression. It portrays the wicked as so filled with animosity that it overflows into a raw, primitive display of their malevolent intent and intense inner torment.
- Words-group: "The wicked plot against the righteous": This phrase encapsulates the strategic, malevolent intent of the wicked. Their opposition is not accidental or sporadic; it is a calculated, persistent campaign aimed at disrupting or destroying the lives of the righteous. It speaks to the spiritual battle where goodness faces active resistance.
- Words-group: "and gnash their teeth at them": This vivid imagery paints a picture of visceral rage and impotence. While "plotting" shows cold, calculating malice, "gnashing teeth" reveals an underlying, unrestrained fury that boils over, especially when their schemes fail or are thwarted. It is a sign of deep-seated animosity and possibly bitter envy.
Psalm 37 12 Bonus section
The "gnashing of teeth" imagery has significant theological progression within the biblical narrative. While in the Old Testament it signifies intense human malice, rage, or frustration (as seen here and in Job 16:9, Ps 35:16), it becomes a recurrent motif in the New Testament, particularly in Jesus' parables about judgment (Mt 8:12, 13:42, etc.). There, "weeping and gnashing of teeth" consistently depicts the anguish, despair, and futile rage of those cast out from God's presence into eternal condemnation. This suggests that the earthly malice of the wicked against the righteous is a precursor to their ultimate, eternal torment and futile regret in judgment. The malice they unleash against the righteous now foreshadows their own self-inflicted anguish in eternity.
Psalm 37 12 Commentary
Psalm 37:12 lays bare the bitter reality of the conflict between the forces of good and evil in the world. The wicked, those in active rebellion against God's principles, do not passively exist alongside the righteous; they actively and deliberately plot evil schemes against them. This is premeditated malice, demonstrating a deep-seated antagonism toward righteousness itself. Their hatred is so profound that it finds violent physical expression in the "gnashing of their teeth"—a display of raw, seething fury, frustration, and possibly despair at the enduring faith or steadfastness of the righteous. This isn't merely anger but a potent mix of resentment and an almost animalistic aggression directed at those who reflect God's light. However, the psalmist's greater context, as seen in subsequent verses (Ps 37:13), reminds the righteous that while such enmity is real, it is ultimately futile in the sight of the Lord, who laughs at the wicked's short-lived triumph, knowing their day of judgment is certain. This verse serves to affirm the reality of spiritual opposition but implicitly urges patience and trust in God's ultimate justice rather than retaliation. It encourages believers to persevere in righteousness even in the face of such intense hostility, understanding that the wicked's rage often stems from their inability to overcome the truth or integrity of God's people.