Psalm 58 10

Psalm 58:10 kjv

The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

Psalm 58:10 nkjv

The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,

Psalm 58:10 niv

The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.

Psalm 58:10 esv

The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.

Psalm 58:10 nlt

The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged.
They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.

Psalm 58 verses

Psalm 58 10 Meaning

Psalm 58:10 describes the satisfaction of the righteous in witnessing divine justice being executed upon the wicked. The verse is highly symbolic, portraying a scene where God's just judgment definitively ends the oppressive power of evildoers. The "rejoicing" is not born of a vengeful spirit, but from the vindication of God's perfect righteousness and the ultimate triumph of justice over profound wickedness. The vivid imagery of washing feet in blood symbolizes the complete and absolute victory over those who defy God's righteous standards.

Psalm 58 10 Context

Psalm 58 is an imprecatory psalm, a fervent plea to God for justice against those who wield power wickedly and unjustly. The psalmist confronts a group of corrupt judges or rulers (Psa 58:1-2) who, despite their positions of authority, act with inherent malice and pervert justice from birth (Psa 58:3). They are described with harsh animal metaphors—poisonous snakes, deaf adders—highlighting their imperviousness to truth and wisdom (Psa 58:4-5). The psalmist calls upon God to utterly break their power and bring about their swift destruction (Psa 58:6-8), and he prays for their rapid disappearance, like a snail melting or a stillborn child (Psa 58:8-9). This severe request for divine intervention sets the stage for verse 10, which foresees the righteous community's reaction to such a decisive act of God's righteous judgment. The chapter culminates in the universal recognition that there truly is a God who executes justice on the earth (Psa 58:11). Historically, this context speaks to periods when corrupt leadership afflicted Israel, perverting God's covenant laws and oppressing the vulnerable. The psalm implicitly counters any pagan belief systems that depicted gods as capricious or indifferent to human justice, strongly asserting the Israelite God's unwavering commitment to righteousness.

Word Analysis

• The righteous (Hebrew: צַדִּיק, tsaddîq): Refers to those who are morally upright, just, innocent, and in a right standing before God according to His covenant. It implies not a sinless perfection, but a character aligned with divine truth and justice, walking in His ways.
• will rejoice (Hebrew: יִשְׂמַח, yishmaḥ): To be glad, to delight, to celebrate. This is not depicted as a malicious or gleeful pleasure in the suffering of others for its own sake, but rather a profound satisfaction and affirmation that divine justice has prevailed. It is a joy that stems from seeing God's righteousness upheld and the restoration of order.
• when he sees (Hebrew: כִּי־יִרְאֶה, kî-yir’eh): This implies more than just casual observation; it suggests beholding, perceiving, understanding, or even experiencing the outcome. The act of seeing validates God's active involvement in human affairs and His ultimate justice.
• the retribution (Hebrew: נְקָם, nəqām): Vengeance, punishment, or recompense. In the context of the Bible, divine retribution is an act of God's holy justice against sin and wickedness, often viewed as the necessary restoration of moral order rather than personal vindictiveness. It confirms God's attribute as a righteous judge.
• he will wash his feet (Hebrew: יִרְחַץ פְּעָמָיו, yirḥaṣ p‘āmāw): "Wash his feet" is a highly symbolic phrase. In ancient cultures, washing the feet could signify cleansing after a journey, hospitality, or even preparation for sacred acts. Here, in the context of "blood," it is a graphic metaphor for triumphant purification. It signifies that the righteous will participate in or bear witness to a victory so complete that all traces of the wicked's defilement and oppression are utterly purged. It suggests absolute victory and cleanliness from the pollution caused by injustice.
• in the blood (Hebrew: בְּדַם, bədam): This imagery is hyperbolic, meaning an extreme exaggeration for emphasis. It represents the utter, complete, and decisive defeat and destruction of the wicked. It implies that the defeat is so total and final that the evidence of it is widespread. It should not be interpreted literally as the righteous physically engaging in gruesome acts, but metaphorically as the deep and pervasive manifestation of God's judgment.
• of the wicked (Hebrew: רָשָׁע, rāšā‘): Those who are guilty, evil, unrighteous, defiant towards God's law, and oppressive. These are the ones whose corrupt ways had created distress for the righteous.

Word-group analysis:

• The righteous will rejoice when he sees the retribution: This phrase underscores the theme of divine vindication. The joy is rooted in the affirmation of God's character and His promise to set things right, rather than personal vengeance. It’s a joyful acknowledgment of God as the just Judge of the earth.
• he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked: This phrase functions as a powerful, hyper-visual metaphor for the thoroughness of God's judgment and the resulting triumphant purity of the righteous. It conveys an image of complete victory, where the pervasive corruption of the wicked is utterly removed, allowing the righteous to move forward unhindered and undefiled. The extreme nature of the image emphasizes the absolute nature of God's triumph over evil.

Psalm 58 10 Bonus section

• Imprecatory Nature: Psalm 58 belongs to a category of psalms known as imprecatory psalms. These psalms contain prayers for God's judgment and destruction upon the wicked. They reflect a strong biblical emphasis on divine justice and the psalmist's passionate commitment to God's holiness, asserting that God must act to vindicate His name and people. They are not expressions of personal hatred but rather appeals to God, who alone holds the right and power to execute perfect judgment.
• Eschatological Overtones: While immediately applicable to the psalmist's present circumstances, the vivid imagery of absolute victory and righteous rejoicing often points to a future, ultimate judgment when God will definitively cast down all evil. This aligns with New Testament prophecies of Christ's return, the Great White Throne Judgment, and the establishment of a new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells.
• Contrast with NT Ethics: The intensity of Psalm 58:10 can seem challenging when viewed through the lens of New Testament commands to love enemies and pray for persecutors (Matt 5:44, Rom 12:14). However, the Old Testament psalms are prayers to God, reflecting trust that God, not humans, will render final judgment. The New Testament calls for personal restraint from vengeance while simultaneously affirming the certainty of God's future judgment (Rom 12:19). Thus, both Testaments affirm God's righteous character as judge, with the Old Testament emphasizing the hope for His decisive intervention and the New Testament focusing on the righteous's responsibility in the present fallen world.

Psalm 58 10 Commentary

Psalm 58:10 is a strong expression of the deep longing for divine justice inherent in God's people when facing unbridled evil. The psalmist's language, though jarring to modern ears, encapsulates the biblical truth that God is not indifferent to wickedness; He is the righteous Judge who will ultimately repay evil. The "rejoicing" is theological, not carnal—it is the celebration of God's righteous nature being upheld, His holiness being vindicated, and His promises to protect the just being fulfilled. The shocking image of washing feet in blood is a powerful hyperbole depicting a decisive and thorough victory over evil, symbolizing the complete eradication of wicked influence and the full triumph of God's justice. It conveys that the oppression caused by the wicked will be entirely removed, and the righteous will be fully cleansed and freed from its effects. It serves as a stark reminder of the finality and comprehensiveness of divine judgment, assuring those who suffer under injustice that a day of complete recompense will come. This passage resonates with prophetic visions of future judgment, where all things will be made right.