Psalm 50 21

Psalm 50:21 kjv

These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

Psalm 50:21 nkjv

These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes.

Psalm 50:21 niv

When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.

Psalm 50:21 esv

These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.

Psalm 50:21 nlt

While you did all this, I remained silent,
and you thought I didn't care.
But now I will rebuke you,
listing all my charges against you.

Psalm 50 verses

Psalm 50 21 Meaning

Psalm 50:21 declares God's righteous judgment against those who persist in unrepentant sin while misinterpreting His silence. The verse reveals that the Lord has witnessed their illicit deeds and, rather than immediately intervening, has demonstrated long-suffering. However, this divine forbearance was wrongly perceived by the wicked as indifference or even complicity, leading them to believe that God was like them – sharing their corrupt moral standards or being powerless to act. The verse forcefully corrects this blasphemous error, announcing that God will definitively rebuke and expose their actions clearly before their very eyes, laying bare their hypocrisy and sin.

Psalm 50 21 Context

Psalm 50 presents a majestic, dramatic divine judgment scene, often referred to as a "liturgical prophecy" or "covenant lawsuit" (riv). God, portrayed as a formidable judge and fire, summons all of creation to bear witness as He pronounces judgment upon His people, Israel. He begins by addressing their misunderstanding of true worship, critiquing their focus on external sacrifices without internal righteousness (Ps 50:7-15). He then turns His attention to their moral transgressions, particularly those who engage in outright sin while still participating in rituals (Ps 50:16-20). Verse 21 specifically addresses these hypocritical or rebellious individuals who believe their hidden sins go unpunished because God has remained silent. It is a severe warning against presuming upon God's patience and misunderstanding His holy nature.

Historically and culturally, ancient Israel was bound by the Mosaic Covenant. Sacrifices and ritual purity were central to their religious life. However, God, through His prophets and psalmists, consistently emphasized that these outward forms of worship were meaningless without a corresponding heart of obedience, justice, and righteousness. This psalm serves as a polemic against the idea that God could be appeased by mere ritual, or that He was blind to the deep-seated sins of His people, much like pagan deities who were thought to be manipulated by offerings or rituals.

Psalm 50 21 Word analysis

• אֵלֶּה ('elleh) - these things: A demonstrative pronoun. It points directly back to the catalogue of transgressions mentioned in verses 17-20: associating with thieves, consenting to adulterers, filling one's mouth with evil, slandering, and setting traps. It emphasizes that God is aware of the specific, tangible actions committed.
• עָשִׂיתָ ('asita) - you have done: From the verb asah (עָשָׂה), "to do, make, accomplish." This is a direct, personal accusation in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action. It highlights the individual's direct responsibility for their sinful deeds.
• וְהֶחֱרַשְׁתִּי (vehecherashti) - and I kept silent: From the verb charash (חָרַשׁ), which means "to be silent, deaf, mute." The prefixed waw (וְ) indicates "and" or "but." The Hiphil stem denotes "to cause to be silent" or "to keep silent." This word is central; it describes God's forbearance, His seemingly passive state in the face of sin. It's His intentional withholding of immediate judgment, allowing time.
• דִּמִּיתָ (dimmita) - you thought / you imagined / you compared: From the verb damah (דָּמָה), meaning "to compare, to be like, to imagine, to reckon, to devise." In the Piel stem, it means "to liken, imagine, think." This word captures the profound cognitive error or false conclusion drawn by the transgressors. They constructed a distorted view of God.
• הֱיוֹתִי (heyoti) - My being / that I was: The infinitive construct of hayah (הָיָה), "to be, to exist." Combined with the pronominal suffix for "My," it refers to God's very essence or nature.
• כָמוֹךָ (kamokha) - like you: A compound preposition (ke, "as/like") and pronoun (mokha, "you"). This is the heart of the blasphemous mischaracterization. They perceived God as having the same values, blind spots, or tolerance for evil as they themselves did. This is a profound failure to understand God's holiness and justice.
• אוֹכִיחֲךָ (okhikakhah) - I will reprove you / I will convict you: From the verb yakach (יָכַח), meaning "to prove, to decide, to correct, to rebuke, to chide, to contend with." The Hiphil stem indicates causing conviction or proof. It signifies an active, definitive, and persuasive confrontation from God. He will expose their guilt, not merely tell them they are wrong.
• וְאֶעֶרְכָה (ve'e'erka) - and arrange / set in order / lay bare: From the verb arakh (עָרַךְ), meaning "to set in order, to arrange, to prepare, to array (as for battle), to compare." Here, in the context of judgment, it implies God will systematically present their sins, lay them out clearly, or bring charges against them in an orderly fashion for everyone, including themselves, to see.
• לְעֵינֶיךָ (le'eyneykha) - before your eyes: A preposition (le, "to/before") and the noun ayin (עַיִן), "eye." This phrase signifies a direct, unmistakable, and undeniable exposure. Their sins will be displayed not covertly, but plainly, leaving no room for denial or escape.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "אֵלֶּה עָשִׂיתָ וְהֶחֱרַשְׁתִּי" (These things you have done and I kept silent): This clause sets up a dramatic contrast. On one side are humanity's specific, deliberate actions of rebellion and transgression. On the other is God's response of prolonged silence and patient forbearance. The silence, however, is not passive indifference but an active choice to delay immediate judgment.
• "דִּמִּיתָ הֱיוֹתִי כָמוֹךָ" (You thought that I was like you): This reveals the fatal error of presumption. The divine silence was interpreted through a self-serving lens, leading to the blasphemous conclusion that God either condoned their sin, was too weak to act, or shared their corrupted morality. This implies an utter lack of reverence and a failure to comprehend God's holy and just character, twisting Him into a projection of their own sinful nature.
• "אוֹכִיחֲךָ וְאֶעֶרְכָה לְעֵינֶיךָ" (I will reprove you and set them in order before your eyes): This declaration signals the end of God's silence and the initiation of His active judgment. The "reproof" is not just a gentle correction but a definitive legal conviction and exposure. "Setting them in order" vividly pictures God meticulously arraying every charge and every sinful act, making it undeniable and undeniable "before your eyes." This ensures a full reckoning where no sin will remain hidden.

Psalm 50 21 Bonus section

The profound error "You thought that I was like you" highlights a central spiritual problem: fallen humanity's tendency to remake God in its own image rather than striving to reflect God's holy character. This verse strongly pushes back against a transactional or superstitious view of worship, where outward offerings or rituals are believed to earn divine favor or overlook unrepentant sin. Unlike mute idols, Yahweh actively sees, remembers, and will definitively respond. This passage therefore stands as a significant theological statement regarding the unwavering moral character of God, His omniscience, and the certainty of His justice, underscoring that His forbearance is designed for repentance, not as a license for sin.

Psalm 50 21 Commentary

Psalm 50:21 serves as a stark warning against the peril of misinterpreting divine patience. Those who continued in open or hidden transgression, perhaps participating outwardly in religious rites, mistakenly concluded that God's long-suffering meant He approved of their sin or was indifferent to it. This led to a profound and dangerous anthropomorphism – they imagined God to be just like themselves, unbothered by unrighteousness. However, God asserts His distinct nature, declaring that His silence was forbearance, not complicity. The time for silent observation has ended; the season of explicit reckoning has begun. God will act as a prosecuting attorney, bringing every hidden deed to light, laying out the charges clearly, and executing His righteous judgment, making their sin undeniable before them. It is a powerful reminder that while God is gracious and slow to anger, His justice is perfect and will ultimately be revealed.

Practical examples:

• A person secretly engaging in dishonest business practices, yet believing their "good luck" or lack of immediate consequence means God approves or simply doesn't see.
• Someone in a church leadership position speaking with flattery and deceit behind closed doors, assuming their outward piety shields them from divine scrutiny.
• An individual indulging in lustful thoughts or gossip, reasoning that since no one else knows, God must not care enough to intervene.