Psalms 36:12
There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 36:12
There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The word "There" isn't just a location; it's a pointed finger, indicating that these wicked doers fall precisely where they were plotting and acting out their evil. Their downfall is so complete that it's irreversible, unlike the temporary stumbles of the righteous who always rise again.
This verse concludes a prayer where the Psalmist asks God to continue His mercy and righteousness to those who know Him, while protecting him from the arrogant and wicked. He pleads for divine intervention against those who plot against him, and then expresses unwavering confidence in God's judgment, seeing the certain downfall of his enemies. The certainty of their ruin, depicted as an irreversible fall, offers assurance to the faithful amidst their struggles.
Have you ever felt like evil seems to triumph and good people suffer? This verse offers a powerful perspective on the ultimate outcome.
The phrase "There the evildoers lie fallen" isn't just a description of a past event. It's a declaration of certainty, seen with the "eye of faith," as some commentators note. The word "There" points to the very place where their wickedness was being enacted. It's as if David is saying, 'Look, right here, where they thought they were winning, they are already defeated!' This isn't wishful thinking; it's a prophetic certainty of God's judgment.
We all make mistakes and stumble, but there's a profound difference in how Scripture describes the fall of the wicked.
The verse powerfully states, "they are thrust down, unable to rise." This isn't a temporary setback or a lesson learned. The language implies a forceful, decisive action by God that renders the wicked utterly incapable of recovering their position or status. Unlike the righteous, who may fall but are ultimately raised by God's hand (Psalm 37:24), the wicked face a final, unrecoverable ruin. Their fall is absolute, their destruction complete.
Understand the original words
po'ale 'awen · Hebrew Noun Phrase
Those who habitually practice wrong, actively engaging in transgression against God’s commands and the welfare of their neighbors.
naphal · Hebrew Verb
To be forcefully cast down or overturned, signifying total defeat, divine judgment, and the inability to recover power or influence.
dachah · Hebrew Verb
To be forcefully pushed or repelled; in a theological context, it often refers to being driven out by the decisive, authoritative intervention of God.
This psalm's powerful declaration of the wicked's irreversible downfall finds its deepest resonance in the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction and the Babylonian exile, a time when the utter ruin of those who opposed God's people was a stark reality, contrasting sharply with the hope of the righteous.
c. 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire at its Zenith
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire dominated the Near East, known for its military might and brutal tactics. This era saw significant expansion and consolidation of power, impacting the political landscape for Israel and Judah.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants and scattering them throughout the empire. This event marked a devastating blow to the northern tribes and instilled fear in Judah.
c. 626-609 BC
Neo-Babylonian Empire Rises
Following the decline of Assyria, the Neo-Babylonian Empire emerged as a major power under rulers like Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar II. They challenged Assyrian dominance and began to exert influence over the Levant.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II, after defeating Egyptian forces, besieged Jerusalem and deported a contingent of Judean nobility and skilled workers, including Daniel. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
This passage echoes the sentiment that though the wicked may plot and scheme, they will ultimately fall and be unable to recover, mirroring the finality of the downfall described in Psalms 36:12.
Luke 10:18Jesus speaks of Satan's fall as a definitive event, comparing it to lightning, which resonates with the idea of a sudden, unrecoverable descent for those who oppose God's kingdom.
2 Thessalonians 1:9This verse describes a punishment for those who do not know God, that they will face destruction and be shut out from the Lord's presence, reinforcing the irreversible nature of the judgment on the ungodly.
Revelation 18:21The imagery of Babylon being cast down with a mighty force and never to be found again powerfully illustrates the complete and final destruction prophesied for the workers of iniquity.
Galatians 6:7This principle of 'reaping what you sow' provides the divine logic behind the irreversible fall of the wicked; their actions have sown to destruction, leading to an inescapable outcome.
calvinPsalms 36:10-12: "O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart."
Prolong [11] thy mercy to them that know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. 11. Let not the foot of pride come upon me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. 12. There the workers of iniquity are fallen: they are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.
Prolong thy mercy to them that know thee. David now sets himself to pray. And, first,…
clarkePsalms 36:12: "There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise."
There are the workers of iniquity fallen - There, in Babylon, are the workers of iniquity fallen, and so cast down that they shall not be able to rise. A prophecy of the destruction of the Babylonish empire by Cyrus. That it was destroyed, is an historical fact; that they were never able to recover their liberty, is also a fact; and that Babylon itself is now blotted out of the map of th…
The word "There" isn't just a location; it's a pointed finger, indicating that these wicked doers fall precisely where they were plotting and acting out their evil. Their downfall is so complete that it's irreversible, unlike the temporary stumbles of the righteous who always rise again.
This verse concludes a prayer where the Psalmist asks God to continue His mercy and righteousness to those who know Him, while protecting him from the arrogant and wicked. He pleads for divine intervention against those who plot against him, and then expresses unwavering confidence in God's judgment, seeing the certain downfall of his enemies. The certainty of their ruin, depicted as an irreversible fall, offers assurance to the faithful amidst their struggles.
This verse concludes a prayer where the Psalmist asks God to continue His mercy and righteousness to those who know Him, while protecting him from the arrogant and wicked. He pleads for divine intervention against those who plot against him, and then expresses unwavering confidence in God's judgment, seeing the certain downfall of his enemies. The certainty of their ruin, depicted as an irreversible fall, offers assurance to the faithful amidst their struggles.
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597 BC
Second Deportation and Siege of Jerusalem
Despite earlier deportations, King Jehoiachin of Judah rebelled, leading to another siege of Jerusalem. Jehoiachin and many more leaders and artisans were exiled to Babylon.
587/586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar's forces finally destroyed Jerusalem and its temple, devastating the land and exiling the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This event is the backdrop for much of the later prophetic and poetic literature.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, ushering in a new era. He famously issued a decree allowing the exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands.
"There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise." — The word "There" isn't just a location; it's a pointed finger, indicating that these wicked doers fall precisely where they were plotting and acting out their evil. Their downfall is so complete th…