Psalm 73:3 kjv
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:3 nkjv
For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:3 niv
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:3 esv
For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:3 nlt
For I envied the proud
when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
Psalm 73 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 14:30 | "A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot." | Envy's destructive internal effect. |
| Prov 23:17 | "Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue at all times in the fear of the Lord." | Direct admonition against envying sinners. |
| Ps 37:1-2 | "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers... they soon fade like the grass." | A foundational psalm addressing envy of wicked. |
| Jer 12:1 | "Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper?" | Similar complaint about wicked prospering. |
| Job 21:7 | "Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?" | Questioning God's justice regarding wicked. |
| Ecc 8:14 | "There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous." | Observation of earthly injustice. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry... envy, drunkenness, orgies..." | Envy as a work of the sinful flesh. |
| Jas 3:14-16 | "But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts... This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic... for where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." | Envy linked to worldly, demonic wisdom. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature... For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'" | Emphasizes looking beyond the outward. |
| Luke 16:19-31 | Parable of the rich man and Lazarus. | Illustrates contrasting eternities of rich/poor. |
| Heb 11:24-26 | "By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin." | Choosing suffering with God over fleeting sinful pleasure. |
| Phil 3:18-19 | "For many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things." | Focus on their destructive end, earthly minds. |
| Ps 10:4 | "In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, 'There is no God.'" | Arrogance of the wicked, forgetting God. |
| Rom 1:21-22 | "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him... becoming futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools." | Explains foolishness of rejecting God. |
| Matt 5:5 | "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." | Contrasts true blessing with earthly prosperity. |
| Ps 73:16-17 | "But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end." | Resolution to the psalmist's struggle. |
| Ps 92:6-7 | "The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever." | Stupidity of not seeing the wicked's end. |
| Job 12:6 | "The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure." | Observation of peace among wicked. |
| Mal 3:13-15 | "Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken hard against you?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? We consider the arrogant blessed...’" | Similar complaints about God's injustice. |
| 1 Pet 4:4 | "With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of dissipation, and they malign you." | Believers separating from worldly ways. |
| 2 Cor 4:18 | "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." | Crucial spiritual perspective, beyond sight. |
| Heb 12:1 | "Let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." | Envy is a sin and a weight. |
Psalm 73 verses
Psalm 73 3 Meaning
Psalm 73:3 reveals the direct cause of the psalmist Asaph's spiritual struggle and near collapse of faith: envy. He openly admits that his heart was poisoned by jealousy as he observed the apparent worldly success, comfort, and lack of troubles enjoyed by the arrogant and the wicked. This external observation fueled an internal turmoil, questioning God’s justice and the value of righteous living, creating a severe test of his convictions.
Psalm 73 3 Context
Psalm 73 begins Book 3 of the Psalms and is attributed to Asaph. This chapter forms a pivotal wisdom psalm that grapples with a universal theological dilemma: why do the righteous suffer, while the wicked prosper? The psalmist initiates with an affirmation of God's goodness to Israel (v. 1), which makes his subsequent confession of near-failure all the more startling (v. 2). Verse 3 precisely details the trigger for his crisis of faith. He was consumed by an outward observation of the visible ease, luxury, and apparent invincibility of those who had no regard for God's law. This visible prosperity of the ungodly stood in stark contrast to his own experience as one striving for righteousness, making him question the fairness of God's governance. The historical and cultural context would have included observations of oppressive rulers and wealthy individuals who lived extravagant lives, often at the expense of others, yet seemed to escape divine judgment. This verse lays the groundwork for the psalm's profound theological journey, which finds resolution later when the psalmist enters the sanctuary (v. 17) and perceives the ultimate, often unseen, end of the wicked.
Psalm 73 3 Word analysis
- For (כִּ֣י kî): This Hebrew conjunction serves as a causal link. It explains why the psalmist's steps almost stumbled and his feet nearly slipped, referring back to the preceding verse. It signals that what follows is the fundamental reason for his severe spiritual disequilibrium.
- I was envious (קִ֭נֵּאתִי qinnē'tî): Derived from the root qanah, this verb signifies strong emotion—jealousy, zeal, or envy. Here, it denotes a negative, grudging, and covetous desire that festers into spiritual bitterness. It implies a struggle within, where he coveted the ease and blessings observed in others, instead of trusting God's timing and wisdom. The same root is used for divine zeal against idolatry (e.g., Ex 20:5), but in this context, it describes a harmful human emotion leading to spiritual distress.
- of the arrogant (בְּ֭הוֹלְלִים bəhôlᵉlîm): This term, from the root halal (to boast, act foolishly), describes those who are conceited, presumptuous, and act as though independent of God. They are self-sufficient, boastful in their actions, and often outwardly appear successful and carefree. They are often marked by a moral arrogance, rejecting divine authority, believing themselves above accountability.
- when I saw (כִּֽי־אֶרְאֶ֬ה kî 'er'eʰ): The literal meaning "when I see." This emphasizes that the trigger for his envy was purely observational. It highlights the deceptive nature of outward appearance. His faith was challenged not by divine action or revelation, but by what he perceived with his eyes—the visible, temporal state of the wicked. This shows a limitation of human perspective that needs God's larger viewpoint.
- the prosperity (שְׁל֣וֹם šəlōm): The Hebrew word shalom encompasses peace, wholeness, well-being, completeness, and success. In this context, it refers to their external tranquility, material well-being, apparent freedom from trouble, robust health, and general ease of life. This shalom, often a blessing from God, is observed ironically in the lives of those who deny God, deepening the psalmist's internal struggle.
- of the wicked (רְשָׁעִֽים׃ rəšā'îm): This refers to individuals who are unrighteous, impious, or godless. They habitually violate God's law and live without moral constraint or regard for divine justice. In the Psalms, they are consistently contrasted with the "righteous," creating a theological tension about their differing fates.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "For I was envious": This opening phrase directly links Asaph's near-spiritual fall to an internal sin. It's an honest confession of a deep-seated spiritual ailment. Envy here is not just a passing feeling, but a destructive internal force that undermines faith and contentment in God.
- "of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity": This segment illuminates the specific temptation: observing the visible success and undisturbed ease of those who actively oppose or disregard God. It highlights a common trap for believers – judging spiritual reality by temporal appearances, leading to questioning divine justice. The arrogance and prosperity are intertwined: their success often feeds their hubris.
Psalm 73 3 Bonus section
The "envy" described in this verse is not merely a mild form of wishing one had what others possess. It's a deep-seated spiritual illness that corrupted Asaph's view of God and himself. This form of envy actively diminishes joy and leads to bitter discontentment, as one sees the undeserving (in their view) flourish while they themselves struggle. It signifies a profound questioning of divine justice, essentially accusing God of unfairness. Furthermore, the psalm later reveals that this superficial prosperity observed in the wicked is itself a dangerous trap, akin to placing them on a "slippery path" (v. 18). Asaph's early error was in seeing their earthly success as an indication of God's favor or disregard, rather than a temporary state. This internal battle resonates deeply with believers in every age who witness worldly success uncoupled from godliness, urging a call to look beyond what is seen to discern eternal realities.
Psalm 73 3 Commentary
Psalm 73:3 acts as a raw confession, revealing the specific reason for Asaph's crisis of faith. His stumble was not due to an intellectual disagreement with God, but an emotional and spiritual battle fueled by the direct observation and subsequent envy of the worldly success enjoyed by the arrogant and wicked. He perceived their shalom – their seemingly untroubled, affluent, and comfortable existence – contrasting it sharply with his own experiences as a God-fearing man. This perceived injustice ignited a bitter envy, leading him to doubt the very goodness and justice of God, making him question if striving for righteousness was worthwhile. It vividly portrays how focusing on what ungodly people appear to have can deeply disrupt a believer's peace and stability, highlighting the danger of valuing superficial prosperity over spiritual truth. This initial state of envy is the necessary precursor to the psalm's eventual spiritual breakthrough when he changes his perspective.