Psalm 81:15 kjv
The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
Psalm 81:15 nkjv
The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him, But their fate would endure forever.
Psalm 81:15 niv
Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.
Psalm 81:15 esv
Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever.
Psalm 81:15 nlt
Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him;
they would be doomed forever.
Psalm 81 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Point) |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 30:7 | "The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate you..." | God's enemies defined as those who hate His people/Him. |
| Exod 20:5 | "...for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me." | The seriousness and generational consequence of hating God. |
| Ps 9:17 | "The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God." | The ultimate destiny of the wicked is death and the realm of the dead. |
| Ps 66:3 | "Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.'" | Similar language of enemies' forced submission. |
| Ps 73:27 | "For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you." | Perishing for being unfaithful/far from God. |
| Isa 29:13 | "These people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me..." | Critiques insincere worship/lip service, echoing "pretend obedience." |
| Isa 45:23 | "By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'" | Universal future submission to God's authority. |
| Dan 12:2 | "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt and abhorrence." | Eternal contempt and shame for the wicked. |
| Matt 7:21-23 | "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom... I never knew you..." | Denounces insincere claims of faith, leading to rejection. |
| Matt 15:8-9 | "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me..." | Condemns outward show of piety without inward devotion. |
| Matt 25:41 | "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'" | Eternal separation and punishment for the cursed. |
| Matt 25:46 | "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." | Direct statement of eternal punishment. |
| Mk 9:43, 48 | "...to go to hell, into the unquenchable fire... where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched." | Vivid description of the eternal nature of hell/Gehenna. |
| Lk 19:27 | "But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me." | Jesus' parable depicts decisive judgment for those rejecting His kingship. |
| Jn 15:10 | "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love..." | Contrasts obedience for abiding in love, highlighting consequence of rejection. |
| Rom 14:11 | "For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.'" | Universal submission to God. |
| 2 Thess 1:8-9 | "...inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God... They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord..." | Eternal destruction and separation from God for the disobedient. |
| Phil 2:10-11 | "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess..." | Universal submission and confession to Christ, fulfilling divine authority. |
| Jude 1:7 | "just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities... serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire." | Example of eternal judgment through fire. |
| Rev 14:11 | "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night..." | Description of eternal torment without end for those who worship the beast. |
| Rev 20:10 | "and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur... and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." | Eternal torment in the lake of fire for Satan and others. |
| Rev 20:14-15 | "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire... Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." | The final destination of all rejected by God's judgment. |
Psalm 81 verses
Psalm 81 15 Meaning
Psalm 81:15 states a profound consequence for those who actively oppose the Creator. It reveals that the enemies of the Lord, characterized by their hatred for Him, would eventually be compelled to show a superficial form of obedience or submission. However, this submission would be insincere or born of duress, not true reverence. The verse further declares that their ultimate destiny, or the state of their punishment and rejection, would endure eternally, signifying an unending period of divine consequence for their spiritual rebellion.
Psalm 81 15 Context
Psalm 81 is a passionate address from God to His people, Israel, recalling His mighty acts of deliverance (e.g., from Egypt) and expressing His deep desire for their obedience. The first part of the psalm (vv. 1-7) celebrates God's faithfulness and intervention, possibly linked to a festival like the Feast of Tabernacles or Passover. The latter part (vv. 8-16) takes on a more direct, prophetic tone, recounting God's covenant with Israel and His longing for them to listen to His commands, particularly to worship Him exclusively (vv. 9-10). It highlights Israel's historical stubbornness and refusal to obey (vv. 11-12). Verses 13-14 articulate the incredible blessings – prosperity and victory over enemies – that Israel would have experienced had they only heeded God's voice. Verse 15 then sharply contrasts this unfulfilled blessing with the fate of "those who hate the Lord," concluding the thought by shifting to the inevitable, eternal consequence for those in ultimate rebellion against God, thereby serving as a stark warning within the broader context of God's desire for His people's loyalty.
Psalm 81 15 Word analysis
- מְשַׂנְאֵי (mĕśanʾei) - "Those who hate": Derived from the Hebrew root sane', meaning to hate or be an enemy. This is an active, deeply personal antagonism, not merely indifference. It identifies a distinct group whose core disposition is opposition to the Lord, indicating active hostility to His nature, rule, or covenant.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) - "the LORD": This is God's covenant name, the Tetragrammaton, revealing His personal and eternal being, the God who faithfully revealed Himself and made promises. Hating YHWH specifically signifies rebellion against the one true, living God who delivered and sustained His people, elevating the offense beyond a generic rejection of deity.
- יְכַחֲשׁוּ־לֹוֹ (yᵉkhaḥašū-lōw) - "would pretend obedience to Him" / "cringe before Him": This is a critical word. The root kashash (כָּחַשׁ) carries a dual meaning: "to lie, deny, deceive, show insincerity" or "to shrink, diminish, feign submission, be forced to bow." In this context, it implies a forced or deceitful submission that does not originate from a changed heart. It indicates a coerced yielding due to God's overwhelming power, a pretense of loyalty, or a reluctant surrender born of fear, rather than genuine devotion. This challenges any superficial displays of reverence when the heart is still opposed.
- וִיהִ֣י (wīhī) - "and would be": From the verb hayah, meaning "to be, happen, become." It connects the consequence to the preceding action, establishing a causal link.
- עִתָּ֣ם (ʿittām) - "their time" / "their fate": From 'et (עֵת), meaning "time, season, appointed time." With the possessive suffix "their" (-ם), it refers to their ultimate condition, their allotted period of judgment, or their destiny. In light of the following word, it refers to their eternal state.
- לְעוֹלָ֑ם (lᵉʿōlām) - "forever" / "eternally": From the noun olam, meaning "eternity, ancient time, always, perpetual." When paired with "time" and contextually with punishment, it denotes an unending, ceaseless duration. It highlights the irreversible and permanent nature of the ultimate consequence for God's enduring enemies.
Word-group analysis:
- "Those who hate the LORD" (מְשַׂנְאֵי יְהוָה): This phrase specifically defines the objects of divine judgment as those harboring deep-seated spiritual enmity towards God Himself, not merely those making mistakes. This differentiates them from God's people who may falter but do not fundamentally hate Him.
- "would pretend obedience to Him" (יְכַחֲשׁוּ־לֹוֹ): This grouping highlights the futility and ultimate inadequacy of insincere or forced homage before God. Despite external gestures of submission, God perceives the underlying animosity or deceit in the heart, rendering such displays meaningless in securing favor or avoiding judgment. It speaks to the integrity required in one's relationship with the Almighty.
- "their time of punishment would last forever" (וִיהִ֣י עִתָּ֣ם לְעוֹלָ֑ם): This entire clause is the pronouncement of their ultimate, unending destiny. "Their time" here is not an opportunity but their final state, their lasting doom or punishment. The combination with "forever" underlines the permanence and irreversibility of the divine verdict against those whose hearts remain hateful toward God, contrasting starkly with the blessings offered for true obedience.
Psalm 81 15 Bonus section
- The verse implies a significant theological point: genuine relationship with God requires heart-level devotion, not mere outward conformity. For the wicked, their forced "submission" serves only to reveal their unchangeable rebellious nature, not to win God's favor.
- This verse provides a clear Old Testament articulation of eternal consequences for the unredeemed, laying a foundational concept further expounded upon in the New Testament regarding eternal punishment (e.g., Matt 25:46; Rev 20:10). It demonstrates continuity in biblical teaching regarding final judgment.
- The Psalm implicitly presents two possible 'times' or destinies: an 'eternal time' of blessings and prosperity for those who truly listen to God (vv. 13-14), and an 'eternal time' of punishment for those who hate Him. The choice presented is stark and has eternal implications.
Psalm 81 15 Commentary
Psalm 81:15 delivers a profound and sober declaration about the destiny of God's most resolute adversaries. While the preceding verses highlight God's yearning for Israel's obedience and the abundant blessings contingent on their faithfulness, this verse turns to the stark reality for those diametrically opposed to Him. The phrase "those who hate the LORD" defines the deepest spiritual rebellion—not just disobedience, but active enmity against God Himself. Their compelled, insincere submission ("pretend obedience" or "cringe") underscores the Lord's absolute sovereignty: eventually, even His enemies must acknowledge His power, though not out of genuine repentance or love. This forced bowing brings no redemptive benefit to them; rather, it solidifies their position. The concluding declaration, "their time of punishment would last forever," signifies the eternal, unalterable nature of their ultimate consequence. It stands as a solemn warning that a heart hostile to God leads to an unending state of separation from Him and enduring divine judgment, reinforcing the principle of divine justice against the backdrop of conditional covenant blessings offered to His chosen people.