Psalm 52 7

Psalm 52:7 kjv

Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

Psalm 52:7 nkjv

"Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness."

Psalm 52:7 niv

"Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!"

Psalm 52:7 esv

"See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!"

Psalm 52:7 nlt

"Look what happens to mighty warriors
who do not trust in God.
They trust their wealth instead
and grow more and more bold in their wickedness."

Psalm 52 verses

Psalm 52 7 Meaning

Psalm 52:7 pronounces a definitive judgment on the individual who rejected reliance on the Almighty. It condemns the person who, instead of finding security in God, placed unwavering confidence in their accumulated wealth and drew strength from their inherent depravity or destructive desires. This verse underscores the foundational difference between trust in divine provision and the misguided trust in earthly possessions and personal wickedness as sources of power. It serves as a stark warning about the consequences of spiritual misalignment, where material gain and inner evil supersede God's rightful place as refuge.

Psalm 52 7 Context

Psalm 52 is a Michtam (a golden poem or epigram) of David. The superscription attributes it to the historical event recounted in 1 Samuel 22:9-19, where Doeg the Edomite, King Saul's chief herdsman, informed Saul that the priest Ahimelech had aided David. This malicious report led Saul to order the massacre of the priests of Nob, a deed carried out by Doeg himself when Saul's own servants refused. David wrote this psalm from the perspective of one witnessing and suffering under such wicked betrayal. Psalm 52:7 is a direct accusation against "the man" (Doeg), outlining his fundamental error: replacing divine reliance with confidence in his material wealth and fostering a corrupt heart. It is a polemic against the worldview where self-interest, wealth, and depravity are seen as sources of strength, contrasted with God as the sole true refuge. The psalm portrays Doeg as emblematic of all those who choose wickedness over righteousness and self-reliance over dependence on God.

Psalm 52 7 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה, hinnēh): An interjection used to draw attention, to emphasize what follows, or to present something suddenly or emphatically. It sets a solemn, declarative tone, indicating the speaker is about to make a profound statement or reveal a truth. It is like pointing a finger directly at "the man."
• this is the man (גֶּבֶר זֶה, gever zeh):
  • man (גֶּבֶר, gever): Refers to a strong man, a male person, often used for a specific individual. Here, it denotes Doeg the Edomite, yet extends metaphorically to anyone who exhibits such traits. It highlights his perceived power or influence.
  • this (זֶה, zeh): A demonstrative pronoun, again pointing specifically to the subject previously mentioned or implied (the boastful, wicked person from Psa 52:1-4).
• who would not make God his refuge (לֹא יָשִׂים אֱלֹהִים מָעֻזּוֹ, lo' yaśîm 'ĕlōhîm māʿuzzô):
  • would not make (לֹא יָשִׂים, lo' yaśîm): The negation (לֹא, lo') with the verb "to set, to place" (sîm). It conveys a deliberate, volitional refusal or failure to act. This wasn't an oversight, but a conscious decision not to place God in that role.
  • God (אֱלֹהִים, 'ĕlōhîm): The generic Hebrew word for God, referring here to the supreme Creator and Sovereign. This points to the very foundation of his misplaced trust.
  • his refuge (מָעֻזּוֹ, māʿuzzô): From maʿoz (מָעוֹז), meaning stronghold, place of safety, defense, protection, security. This word implies a fortress, a strong defense against danger. The wicked man actively chose to not consider God his ultimate protector and security, turning instead to other sources.
• but trusted (כִּי בָּטַח, kî bāṭaḥ):
  • but (כִּי, kî): A conjunction here introducing a contrasting clause, showing the alternative choice.
  • trusted (בָּטַח, bāṭaḥ): To trust, rely on, be confident in. This verb implies a deep sense of security and confidence derived from the object of trust. It highlights the internal attitude and conviction of the wicked person.
• in the abundance of his riches (בְּרֹב עָשְׁרוֹ, bᵉrov ʿošrô):
  • abundance (רֹב, rov): Quantity, multitude, greatness. Emphasizes that it was not just having riches, but their vastness or excess, that became the basis of his confidence.
  • riches (עָשְׁרוֹ, ʿošrô): From osher (עֹשֶׁר), meaning wealth, possessions, opulence. This specifies the material nature of his misplaced trust.
• and grew strong (וַיָּעֹז, wayyāʿoz): From the root ʿāzaz (עזז), meaning to be strong, to grow mighty, to become stubborn or defiant. This implies an active process of gaining power, influence, or resilience. Often used positively for God's strength, here it describes a strength cultivated independently of, or even in opposition to, God.
• in his evil desire / in his wickedness / in his ruin (בְּהַוָּתוֹ, bᵉhavvātô): This is a crucial and complex word.
  • From havvāh (הַוָּה): Meaning ruin, destruction, calamity, mischief, depravity, wickedness. It refers to something profoundly destructive, either internal (depravity) or external (that which causes ruin). Some scholars emphasize the meaning of "insatiable lust" or "greedy destruction," suggesting an inner evil impulse that fuels outward actions and leads to ruin. This word speaks not just of doing evil, but of being intrinsically directed towards harm, reflecting a deep corruption that finds strength in its own destructive tendencies. It captures the essence of Doeg's character: deriving strength not merely from riches but from the active pursuit of his destructive intentions and corrupt desires. It underscores the active embrace of his own wickedness, rather than any divine power.

Psalm 52 7 Bonus section

• Polemics against pagan beliefs: The ancient world often equated wealth and power with divine favor or the blessing of local deities. By asserting that the man "would not make God his refuge but trusted in the abundance of his riches and grew strong in his evil desire," David critiques any belief system that attributes enduring strength or protection to material prosperity or a self-willed destructive power, rather than the One True God (Yahweh). It implicitly rebukes the notion that one's personal might, wealth, or even innate 'dark' power can truly secure one's future or offer a lasting foundation, positioning these as false gods leading to inevitable ruin, a fate utterly distinct from God's steadfastness.
• Wisdom Literature Connection: This verse aligns deeply with themes in Old Testament wisdom literature (like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes), which consistently warn against the deceptive nature of wealth and the folly of self-sufficiency. It illustrates the spiritual danger of loving money and finding security in it, rather than seeking wisdom and fearing the Lord.
• The Irony of "Strong": The wicked man "grew strong" (wayyāʿoz), but this strength is rooted in a destructive desire (havvāh) and ultimately leads to his downfall, as declared in the surrounding verses of Psalm 52 (e.g., Psa 52:5, "God will break you down forever"). His strength is self-defeating and inherently weak from a divine perspective. The power he wields, divorced from God, becomes the very instrument of his own ruin.

Psalm 52 7 Commentary

Psalm 52:7 serves as a pointed indictment of the one who replaces God with earthly sources of security and personal depravity. It vividly contrasts two ways of living: one rooted in divine trust and another in self-reliance fueled by wealth and inherent evil. The phrase "Behold, this is the man" immediately singles out the subject of judgment, highlighting their stark refusal to seek God as their "refuge." This rejection is not passive but an active choice to substitute the Almighty's protective care with a perceived sense of security found in "the abundance of his riches." Such misplaced confidence implies a profound spiritual blindness, where the fleeting nature of wealth is overlooked for its apparent stability. Furthermore, the man's strength is described as emanating from "his evil desire" or "his wickedness," revealing an internal corruption that gives him impetus. This isn't merely doing bad things, but thriving on an inner propensity for destruction and malice. The verse thus condemns a life characterized by spiritual apostasy, materialistic idolatry, and inherent moral perversion, ultimately predicting the ruin that awaits such a one as shown later in the psalm. It stands as a timeless caution against allowing temporal possessions and one's own corrupt nature to usurp God's supreme authority and role as the ultimate protector and source of strength.