Psalm 55 19

Psalm 55:19 kjv

God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

Psalm 55:19 nkjv

God will hear, and afflict them, Even He who abides from of old. Selah Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God.

Psalm 55:19 niv

God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change? he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

Psalm 55:19 esv

God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.

Psalm 55:19 nlt

God, who has ruled forever,
will hear me and humble them. Interlude
For my enemies refuse to change their ways;
they do not fear God.

Psalm 55 verses

Psalm 55 19 Meaning

Psalm 55:19 declares that God, the eternal and unchangeable one, will hear the cries of the afflicted and execute judgment upon the wicked. The reason for this divine action is attributed to the wicked's undisturbed prosperity and lack of hardship, which leads them to live without any reverence or fear of God, believing they are exempt from His authority.

Psalm 55 19 Context

Psalm 55 expresses the deep distress of David (or the Psalmist) due to treachery and opposition from within his trusted circle, potentially during Absalom's rebellion when Ahithophel betrayed him (2 Sam 15-18). The Psalmist is surrounded by violence and strife in the city, leading him to wish for escape (v. 4-8). His sorrow intensifies with the betrayal of a close friend (v. 12-14), prompting a call for God's swift judgment on the wicked. Verse 19 shifts from a description of distress and specific enemies to a profound theological reflection on God's nature as the ultimate judge and the reason for the wicked's hubris. It follows David's confident declaration that God will hear and deliver him (v. 16-18), strengthening his faith in God's eventual righteous intervention despite the apparent flourishing of evil.

Psalm 55 19 Word analysis

• God / אֱלֹהִים ('Elohim): The majestic and powerful general name for God in the Hebrew Scriptures, denoting His might and sovereignty over creation and all nations. It underscores that it is the true, sovereign God who acts.
• will hear / יִשְׁמַע (yishma'): From the verb sham'a, meaning to hear, listen, heed, and respond. Here, it signifies more than auditory perception; it implies an active, responsive listening that leads to divine intervention and action in judgment, in contrast to the wicked who "do not hear" God.
• and afflict / וְיַעֲנֵם (v'ya'anem): From the verb anah, meaning to humble, bring low, answer, or afflict. In this context, it speaks of God's direct, judgmental action to bring hardship, punishment, or retribution upon the wicked. It indicates the just consequences delivered by God.
• them / נְפִיעִם (nphiim): Refers to the previously mentioned wicked and deceitful enemies who cause the Psalmist's distress and spread violence in the city (e.g., v. 9-11, 15, 23).
• even He who abides of old / וְיוֹשֵׁב קֶדֶם (v'yoshev qedem):
  • וְיוֹשֵׁב (v'yoshev): And He who sits, dwells, or abides. Implies a stable, reigning presence, signifying authority, majesty, and unshakeable reign, as one seated on a throne.
  • קֶדֶם (qedem): Means from ancient times, of old, eternity, primeval. This profoundly emphasizes God's eternal existence, His timelessness, and His unchanging nature. It establishes that His judgment is not a whim but an act of an ancient, consistent, and foundational authority, unlike fleeting human powers.
• Selah / סֶלָה (selah): A musical or liturgical technical term often appearing in the Psalms, instructing a pause for musical interlude, deep reflection, or emphasizing the preceding statement. Here, it calls for meditation on the weighty truth of God's eternal, unchangeable sovereignty and the certainty of His justice.
• Because / כִּי (ki): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the wicked's lack of reverence and subsequent divine judgment.
• they have no changes / אֵין חֲלִיפוֹת לָמוֹ (ein khalifot lamo):
  • אֵין (ein): No, nothing.
  • חֲלִיפוֹת (khalifot): This noun refers to changes, substitutions, shifts, or reversals. Here, in the plural, it denotes a consistent state of uninterrupted well-being, freedom from adversity, and lack of reversals or misfortunes. It describes a life marked by continuous ease and prosperity.
  • Significance: This phrase points to the complacency and self-assurance that develops in the wicked due to their apparent uninterrupted success. They face no setbacks that might cause them to humble themselves, repent, or turn to God.
• therefore / לָכֵן (lakhen): A conclusive adverb linking the condition (no changes) to the outcome (no fear of God).
• they fear not God / לֹא יָרְאוּ אֱלֹהִים (lo yare'u 'Elohim):
  • לֹא (lo): Not.
  • יָרְאוּ (yare'u): From yare', meaning to fear, revere, be afraid, or hold in awe.
  • Significance: This describes the ultimate spiritual condition of the wicked. Because their lives lack any significant 'changes' (hardship or divine intervention), they fail to develop a proper reverence for God. They do not acknowledge His authority, judgment, or existence in a meaningful way, leading to practical atheism or irreverence manifest in their actions. This lack of reverential fear prevents them from embracing wisdom or seeking righteousness.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "God will hear, and afflict them": This highlights God's active engagement and righteous response. His 'hearing' is not passive but implies a definitive intent to intervene. The 'affliction' is His just and certain judgment against those who oppose His ways and His people. It expresses divine justice in action.
• "even He who abides of old. Selah.": This clause emphasizes the foundational basis of God's judgment: His eternal, unchanging nature. His timelessness ensures that justice will prevail, regardless of how long the wicked prosper. The "Selah" directs profound meditation on this divine attribute, reassuring the afflicted that their eternal God remains fully capable and willing to act righteously.
• "Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.": This reveals a profound spiritual dynamic: unbroken prosperity can harden the heart, leading to self-sufficiency and a dangerous disregard for God. Without facing humbling experiences or the consequences of their actions, the wicked perceive no need for God and consequently refuse to acknowledge His authority or live in reverent submission to Him. This sequence links complacency directly to spiritual rebellion.

Psalm 55 19 Bonus section

• Polemics against Complacency: The verse implicitly stands against the ancient (and modern) belief that continuous worldly prosperity is a sure sign of divine favor, regardless of one's conduct. It corrects the misunderstanding that outward ease equates to righteousness or spiritual security. Instead, it asserts that such ease can lead to hardening of the heart and greater spiritual peril.
• Divine Immortality and Judgment: The phrase "He who abides of old" directly points to God's self-existence and eternality as the ultimate guarantor of justice. His justice is not subject to historical trends, cultural shifts, or the passage of time. This concept ensures the steadfastness of His moral governance over the universe.
• The Paradox of Prosperity: The verse highlights the tragic irony that what many people seek—uninterrupted good fortune—can become a primary spiritual impediment. Without the humbling and formative experiences of "changes" (trials, adversity, setbacks), the human heart tends to swell with pride and forgets its Creator, losing the very fear (reverence) that is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10).

Psalm 55 19 Commentary

Psalm 55:19 provides a crucial theological statement about divine justice and the spiritual blindness caused by uncheckered prosperity. The Psalmist affirms that God, often addressed as 'Elohim, the majestic and powerful One, does not passively observe the injustice and wickedness in the world. Instead, He "hears" – meaning He perceives and prepares to act – and "afflicts" those who transgress. The bedrock for this certain judgment is God's eternal nature, articulated as "He who abides of old" (yoshev qedem). This descriptor emphasizes His timelessness, His unchanging character, and His perpetual reign as the supreme Judge. This foundational truth assures believers that divine justice, though sometimes delayed, is as certain as God's eternal existence. The "Selah" punctuation invites the reader to pause and deeply reflect on the weight of this truth.

The verse then unmasks the spiritual pathology of the wicked: "Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God." The wicked, accustomed to uninterrupted ease and worldly success ("no changes" or misfortunes), develop a dangerous complacency. This continuous prosperity, far from leading them to gratitude or humility, fosters arrogance, self-reliance, and an absence of reverence for God. They believe their continued comfort implies God's approval or His non-existence, emboldening them to persist in their ungodly ways. The Psalmist reveals that outward stability, if devoid of God-awareness, is not a blessing but a path to spiritual destruction, culminating in the complete disregard of divine authority. This verse offers comfort to those oppressed by the apparently prosperous wicked, assuring them that God, the eternal arbiter of justice, sees, knows, and will ultimately intervene.