Psalm 53 4

Psalm 53:4 kjv

Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.

Psalm 53:4 nkjv

Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon God?

Psalm 53:4 niv

Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on God.

Psalm 53:4 esv

Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?

Psalm 53:4 nlt

Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread
and wouldn't think of praying to God.

Psalm 53 verses

Psalm 53 4 Meaning

Psalm 53:4 identifies a specific group: "workers of iniquity" or those whose actions consistently define them by wickedness. The verse questions their lack of spiritual discernment, asserting that they are utterly ignorant of divine truth and ethical principles. This spiritual blindness manifests in their brutal oppression of God's people, whom they consume with the same natural ease and lack of conscience as one consumes bread. A critical identifier of these evildoers is their ultimate detachment from God, evidenced by their failure to acknowledge Him or "call upon God" for guidance, judgment, or help.

Psalm 53 4 Context

Psalm 53 is a Wisdom Psalm and a near-duplicate of Psalm 14, indicating its universal and timeless applicability. The chapter begins by declaring the fundamental folly of those who say in their hearts, "There is no God," and describes the ensuing corruption of humanity. Verse 4 vividly describes the ethical outcome of such a godless perspective: active wickedness coupled with oppressive actions against "my people." The historical context often points to generalized human sinfulness, though it could also refer to specific periods of Israel's oppression by external nations or corrupt leadership within Israel itself. The phrase "eat up my people as they eat bread" stands as a polemic against the cold, unfeeling nature of those who exploit others, suggesting a society where the weak are routinely devoured by the powerful, as if it were a natural and ordinary act. This mindset lacks any moral or divine accountability.

Psalm 53 4 Word analysis

• Do all workers of iniquity:

  • Original Word: כָּל־פֹּעֲלֵי אָ֫וֶן (kol-po’ăle āwen)
  • kol: "all," "every." Emphasizes the universal scope of this characteristic among this specific group.
  • po’ăle: "workers," "doers." Derived from the Hebrew root pa'al (to act, to do). This signifies individuals whose primary engagement and defining characteristic are the execution of evil. Their wickedness is not incidental but fundamental to who they are.
  • āwen: "iniquity," "wickedness," "trouble," "idolatry," "vanity." This word encapsulates moral evil, spiritual corruption, and often the trouble or pain caused by such deeds.
  • Significance: Describes those whose entire lifestyle and disposition are centered on perpetrating wickedness.

• have no knowledge:

  • Original Word: לֹא יָדְעוּ (lo yāḏe‘ū)
  • lo: "no," "not." A definitive negative.
  • yāḏe‘ū: "they know" (from yada). This "knowledge" extends beyond mere intellectual understanding; it implies experiential, relational, and moral knowledge. It suggests a lack of discernment, wisdom, and, crucially, a practical recognition of God and His truth.
  • Significance: Their ignorance is deep and culpable. It is a refusal to acknowledge God and His ways, leading directly to their corrupt behavior. They willingly suppress the truth.

• who eat up my people:

  • Original Word: אֹכְלֵי עַמִּי (’ōḵĕlê ‘ammî)
  • ’ōḵĕlê: "those who eat," "devour" (from ’āḵal). Used metaphorically for violent, destructive exploitation.
  • ‘ammî: "my people" (referring to God's chosen covenant community, Israel).
  • Significance: A graphic and disturbing metaphor depicting ruthless and complete destruction, as if the wicked consume God's special possession without care. It highlights the vulnerability and severe oppression faced by the righteous.

• as they eat bread:

  • Original Word: אָכְלוּ לֶחֶם (’āḵĕlû leḥem)
  • ’āḵĕlû: "they eat" (habitual or natural action).
  • leḥem: "bread," basic sustenance.
  • Significance: This powerful simile emphasizes the ease, commonality, and lack of conscience with which the wicked inflict harm. It is as natural and routine for them to oppress God's people as it is to consume daily food. It implies a dehumanization of their victims.

• and do not call upon God:

  • Original Word: וְאֵל אֱלֹהִים לֹא קָרָאוּ (wĕ’ēl ’ĕlōhîm lō’ qārā’ū)
  • wĕ’ēl ’ĕlōhîm: "and unto God" (generic term for God).
  • lo: "no," "not."
  • qārā’ū: "they call" (from qara’). To "call upon God" implies seeking His presence, acknowledging His sovereignty, depending on Him through prayer, or submitting to His authority.
  • Significance: This reveals the fundamental spiritual deficit. Their failure to seek or acknowledge God removes any moral or divine restraint, allowing their wickedness and cruelty to proliferate unchecked. It marks a practical atheism or radical independence from God.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "Do all workers of iniquity have no knowledge": The rhetorical question serves to assert the stark truth: their "no knowledge" is not a mere intellectual oversight but a profound spiritual blindness tied directly to their active practice of evil. They choose to ignore God and His truth, and this choice is central to their character.
  • "who eat up my people as they eat bread": This devastating description illustrates the casual, thoughtless brutality of the wicked. They treat the destruction of others as an everyday, necessary act, revealing a profound lack of empathy, conscience, or recognition of their victims as God's cherished creation. It signifies their absolute contempt for God and His children.
  • "and do not call upon God": This phrase illuminates the source of their unrestrained depravity. By failing to acknowledge God, seek His will, or fear His judgment, they operate without any divine anchor for morality or justice. Their actions are unchecked because God holds no sway in their lives, underscoring the vital link between a relationship with God and ethical conduct.

Psalm 53 4 Bonus section

• The rhetorical question structure (common in Hebrew poetry) implies a definite "no," powerfully asserting that the wicked possess a deep, inexcusable spiritual ignorance.
• The "my people" designation highlights God's ownership and protective care over His covenant community, underscoring that the mistreatment of His people is a direct offense against Him.
• Psalm 53 is labeled as a maskil, indicating it's intended to be a didactic or instructional psalm, designed to impart wisdom regarding human depravity and divine justice.
• The phrase "eating bread" often symbolizes a basic human necessity; its perversion here to represent the destruction of others emphasizes the ingrained and normalized nature of their cruelty.
• The Psalm's almost identical nature to Psalm 14, with slight word choices like Elohim (God) being more prevalent in Psalm 53 than YHWH (LORD), subtly shifts the theological focus, potentially making it more broadly applicable beyond Israel's specific covenant name for God, to humanity's general rebellion against the Creator.

Psalm 53 4 Commentary

Psalm 53:4 delves into the spiritual pathology of those who oppose God. It asserts that "workers of iniquity"—those whose lives are defined by active wickedness—are characterized by a fundamental lack of spiritual "knowledge." This isn't just ignorance, but a willful suppression of divine truth that manifests in egregious actions. Specifically, they "eat up my people as they eat bread," portraying their oppression of the righteous as a callous, natural, and everyday act, devoid of any conscience or restraint. The ultimate root of this destructive behavior and moral apathy is their failure to "call upon God." Their refusal to acknowledge God's existence, authority, or presence means they are unaccountable to a higher power, leaving them free to perpetrate evil without fear of divine judgment, thereby highlighting the indispensable role of a God-centered life in fostering righteousness and protecting against oppression.