There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just say "God is with the righteous," but that God is "in the generation of the righteous." This subtle but profound distinction means God's presence isn't merely alongside them, but deeply imbedded within their community, their lineage, and their shared life, making their defiance of Him a direct threat to His own habitation.
There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist has just described the wicked who foolishly believe there is no God and mock those who trust in Him. This verse reveals the sudden, overwhelming terror that strikes these same wicked people, not because of any natural danger, but because they realize God is present with the righteous, ready to defend them. This realization brings fear to the godless, highlighting their ultimate vulnerability in contrast to God’s protective presence with His faithful followers.
Imagine being in your own safe space, maybe your home, your office, or even just a quiet moment, and suddenly being gripped by overwhelming fear. That's the picture here.
The verse paints a vivid scene: "There they are in great terror." The word "there" points to the very place where the wicked were living out their ungodly lives, where they felt secure in their rebellion against God. Yet, it's precisely in that place that terror strikes them. This isn't just a future judgment; it's a present reality of fear that overtakes them unexpectedly.
This sudden fear isn't necessarily from an external enemy they can fight. It's a deep, internal dread. It suggests that even when their circumstances seem peaceful and secure, an unseen force—God Himself—can unleash a panic that shatters their false sense of safety. They are essentially terrified by their own consciences and the undeniable presence of a holy God.
This is the God who can turn a person's supposed security into their greatest source of dread.
What's the ultimate secret weapon of the godly? It's not their cleverness or strength, but who stands with them.
The core reason for the wicked's terror is revealed: "for God is with the generation of the righteous." This isn't just a passive presence; it's an active, defensive one. It means God's favor, His power, and His protection are aligned with those who walk uprightly.
When God is "with" a generation – whether that means His people collectively or individuals who live righteously – it changes everything. For the righteous, it's a source of profound peace and boldness, knowing they are never truly alone. Their righteousness isn't self-achieved perfection, but a reflection of their trust in God's provided righteousness.
Ask a follow-up
For the wicked, however, this same truth is terrifying. If God is the ultimate defender of the righteous, then He is inherently opposed to those who oppress or disregard them. Their fear stems from the inescapable reality that their actions are being judged by the very One who champions the godly. Their perceived strength crumbles when faced with the power of God siding with His own.
Understand the original words
pachad · Hebrew Noun
Great fear, dread, or trembling, often brought about by divine judgment or the realization of God’s holiness and power.
tsaddiq · Hebrew Adjective
Those who are in right standing with God, not by their own perfection, but by faith and obedience to His Word. They are characterized by a life aligned with God's moral requirements.
While this psalm speaks to a general truth about God's protection of the righteous, it echoes with profound resonance from the foundational moments of Israel's history, particularly the conquest of Canaan, where the fear of the wicked was a direct result of witnessing God's power siding with His people.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt, marking a pivotal moment where God's power is displayed in their liberation and the destruction of their oppressors in the Red Sea.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Conquest of Canaan
As the Israelites enter and conquer Canaan, the surrounding nations experience great fear due to God's manifest presence and power with His people.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to exile and demonstrating God's judgment on unfaithfulness, while His presence with the faithful remnant is tested.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and exile much of the population. This severe judgment shows the consequences of turning from God, while the faithful in exile await His deliverance.
c. 539 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Under Cyrus the Great, the Jews are permitted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, illustrating God's faithfulness to His promises even after judgment.
1st Century AD
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus, the Righteous One, brings God's presence to humanity, but faces rejection. His death and resurrection demonstrate God's ultimate victory over sin and death, bringing terror to those who oppose Him.
This passage vividly illustrates the 'great terror' that strikes the wicked when God intervenes. Just as the Egyptians were struck with fear and confusion at the Red Sea, so too the wicked in Psalm 14 face a sudden, divine dread.
1 Samuel 17:45-47David's encounter with Goliath shows the stark contrast between the wicked's boasting and the righteous' confidence rooted in God. Goliath's terror at David's declaration that God is with him mirrors the fear of the wicked in Psalm 14 when they realize God defends the righteous.
Matthew 27:24-25While not a direct parallel of terror, this passage shows the ultimate rejection and destruction that befalls those who stand against God's people. The cry, 'His blood be on us and on our children,' foreshadows the inescapable judgment that Psalm 14:5 warns against.
Romans 8:31-39This powerful passage assures believers that nothing can separate them from God's love. It echoes the sentiment of Psalm 14:5 by highlighting that God's presence with the righteous makes them more than conquerors, a truth that would instill terror in their enemies.
1 Thessalonians 5:3The idea of sudden destruction ('Peace and safety!') coming upon the wicked when they least expect it directly relates to the fear described in Psalm 14:5. This verse shows that the wicked's confidence is misplaced, leading to their ultimate downfall.
calvinPsalms 14:5-6: "There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous."
- There did they tremble with fear, The prophet now encourages himself and all the faithful with the best of all consolations, namely, that God will not forsake his people even to the end, but will at length show himself to be their defender. Some explain the adverb of place there, as meaning that God will take vengeance on the wicked in the presence of his saints, because they exercised their tyrann…
gillPsalms 14:5: "There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous."
There were they in great fear,.... This, shows that they had some knowledge of God, and consciousness of guilt, which they endeavoured to banish out of their minds by their fears of punishment; and these fears men of the most atheistic principles cannot get rid of. In Psalm 53:5 it is added, "where no fear was": that is, any cause or reason for it: such men are often frightened at their own shadows, afr…
The verse doesn't just say "God is with the righteous," but that God is "in the generation of the righteous." This subtle but profound distinction means God's presence isn't merely alongside them, but deeply imbedded within their community, their lineage, and their shared life, making their defiance of Him a direct threat to His own habitation.
The psalmist has just described the wicked who foolishly believe there is no God and mock those who trust in Him. This verse reveals the sudden, overwhelming terror that strikes these same wicked people, not because of any natural danger, but because they realize God is present with the righteous, ready to defend them. This realization brings fear to the godless, highlighting their ultimate vulnerability in contrast to God’s protective presence with His faithful followers.
The psalmist has just described the wicked who foolishly believe there is no God and mock those who trust in Him. This verse reveals the sudden, overwhelming terror that strikes these same wicked people, not because of any natural danger, but because they realize God is present with the righteous, ready to defend them. This realization brings fear to the godless, highlighting their ultimate vulnerability in contrast to God’s protective presence with His faithful followers.
"There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous." — The verse doesn't just say "God is with the righteous," but that God is "in the generation of the righteous." This subtle but profound distinction means God's presence isn't merely alongside them,…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026