Psalm 59 8

Psalm 59:8 kjv

But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

Psalm 59:8 nkjv

But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision.

Psalm 59:8 niv

But you laugh at them, LORD; you scoff at all those nations.

Psalm 59:8 esv

But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.

Psalm 59:8 nlt

But LORD, you laugh at them.
You scoff at all the hostile nations.

Psalm 59 verses

Psalm 59 8 Meaning

Psalm 59:8 proclaims God's supreme sovereignty and contempt for the futile schemes of His enemies. It signifies that while wicked people rage and conspire against His chosen, the LORD observes their actions from His transcendent position with dismissive laughter and scorn. Their rebellion and power are utterly inconsequential to Him, ultimately subject to His derision and sure judgment. This verse assures the persecuted that God remains in sovereign control, mockingly viewing His adversaries and their powerless opposition.

Psalm 59 8 Context

Psalm 59 is a Michtam of David, written when King Saul sent men to watch his house to kill him (1 Sam 19:11). The preceding verses (v. 1-7) detail David's urgent plea for deliverance from his murderous enemies, whom he vividly describes as prowling "dogs" eager to devour him, speaking arrogant words with their mouths. This reflects the immediate, life-threatening situation David faced, feeling utterly surrounded and helpless before his pursuers.

Verse 8 marks a dramatic shift in tone from supplication and description of his predicament to a declaration of confident trust in God's sovereign response. David moves from expressing his fear and vulnerability to asserting God's power. It stands as the confident answer to the enemies' vain plotting. Historically, David was unjustly pursued by a jealous king, experiencing firsthand the malevolence of human adversaries. Culturally, the people of God looked to Yahweh as their ultimate protector and vindicator against powerful human and national threats. The verse implicitly serves as a polemic against the perceived power and boasts of those who oppose God and His chosen, asserting that their strength is nothing compared to the Almighty.

Psalm 59 8 Word analysis

• But You (וְאַתָּה, v'attah): The conjunction "but" (וְ) creates a sharp contrast. It stands in direct opposition to the earlier description of the howling, bloodthirsty enemies. "You" (אַתָּה) is emphatic, personalizing God as the ultimate actor. This emphasizes that God is entirely distinct from, and supremely superior to, these human antagonists. His nature and response are opposite to their malicious intent.
• O LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the divine, covenant name of God, revealing Him as the self-existent, eternal, faithful God who keeps His promises. Invoking YHWH highlights His unchanging nature, His relationship with His people, and His authority as the one true God, over and against any earthly power.
• shall laugh (תִּשְׂחַק, tischaq): From the Hebrew root שָׂחַק (sachaq), meaning to laugh, play, or jest. Here, it denotes divine scorn and mockery rather than amusement. It is a powerful anthropomorphism conveying God's utter contempt for the futile efforts of His enemies. It indicates that their threats are seen by God as pathetic and laughable, incapable of truly challenging His will or harming His purpose. This laughter signifies a confident, secure, and unimpressed divine judgment.
• at them (לָהֶם, lahem): Referring to David's enemies described in the preceding verses. The focus remains on these specific adversaries, though the next phrase broadens the scope.
• You shall have all the nations in derision (תִּלְעַג בְּכָל־גּוֹיִם, til'ag b'chol-goyim):
  • You shall have... in derision (תִּלְעַג, til'ag): From the Hebrew root לָעַג (la'ag), meaning to mock, deride, scoff, or scorn. This word intensifies the meaning of "shall laugh." While "laugh" can imply mere amusement, "derision" directly points to contempt, ridicule, and disdain. It underscores God's absolute dismissiveness toward any force that dares to stand against Him.
  • all the nations (בְּכָל־גּוֹיִם, b'chol-goyim): "All nations" here transcends David's immediate persecutors (Saul's men). It extends the principle to encompass all human opposition to God, universalizing God's absolute sovereignty over all kingdoms, peoples, and their collective schemes. It demonstrates that God's authority is not confined to Israel but extends over the entire earth and all its inhabitants, making all their plans utterly vain against His will.

Words-group analysis:

• "But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them": This phrase introduces the central theological pivot of the psalm. It establishes the unassailable contrast between human malice and divine omnipotence. God's response is one of settled superiority and an unthreatened recognition of their ultimate failure.
• "You shall have all the nations in derision": This expands the scope and deepens the conviction. Not just David's enemies, but every nation, every collective human effort that opposes God is already held in ultimate contempt by the Creator. This reveals the universal and timeless nature of God's sovereignty over all human endeavors and pride. It assures that no worldly power can thwart His ultimate plan.

Psalm 59 8 Bonus section

The Michtam title of this Psalm often refers to a "golden song" or "engraving," signifying its lasting importance and precious truth. This verse particularly shines as a "gold piece" of theological assurance within the psalm, shifting from desperate plea to confident declaration of God's majestic control. The dramatic shift in tone highlights a spiritual progression often experienced by believers: moving from focusing on the problem to focusing on the all-powerful Solution. God's "laughter" is a significant motif in Psalms (e.g., Ps 2:4, Ps 37:13) that consistently conveys His unchallenged authority and the certain frustration of any who defy Him. It demonstrates that God's perspective on human affairs, especially acts of rebellion, is fundamentally different from ours. We might fear or despair, but God simply laughs, knowing the inevitable end of all rebellion. This also implicitly sets up a distinction: earthly rulers are limited and often afraid; the Divine King is boundless, secure, and above all fear.

Psalm 59 8 Commentary

Psalm 59:8 reveals the glorious truth of God's unshakable sovereignty amidst human hostility. While the wicked plot with murderous intent and rage, the Eternal One, the covenant LORD, does not merely watch impassively; He laughs and scoffs. This divine laughter is not one of jovial amusement but of ultimate, dismissive scorn. It expresses God's absolute certainty of victory, His utter contempt for the impotence of His enemies, and their certain downfall. He holds not only David's immediate persecutors but "all the nations" who rebel against Him in utter derision. Their plans are but whispers against a tempest; their power, dust before a mighty wind. This verse provides immense comfort and assurance for the beleaguered believer: no matter how fierce or overwhelming human opposition seems, the LORD reigns supreme, viewing every hostile design with divine disdain because it is utterly futile. He is unthreatened, unimpressed, and His will cannot be thwarted.