There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The seemingly simple phrase "There" isn't just indicating a location; it's like David is pointing with his finger, saying, "Look right there, in the very place where they thought they were winning, they've fallen." This isn't just an observation of future doom, but a confident declaration of immediate, on-the-spot destruction for the wicked, right where their evil plans were unfolding.
There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse concludes a psalm that contrasts God's steadfast love with the deceitful plans of the wicked. Having pleaded for God's protection against those who oppose him, the psalmist now confidently declares the inevitable downfall of his enemies, seeing their ruin as a certainty already established by God's judgment.
Ever feel like the 'bad guys' get away with it? This verse offers a powerful perspective on the ultimate outcome of wickedness.
The psalm concludes with a resounding declaration about the fate of those who actively work against God's ways. The repetition of 'fallen' and 'cast down' emphasizes a complete and utter defeat.
A Definitive End
The phrase 'unable to rise' isn't just about a temporary setback; it signifies an irreversible condition. Unlike the righteous, who may stumble but are always helped back up by God, the wicked face a final, unrecoverable downfall.
Faith's Perspective
The word 'There' is key. It's not just a location, but a point of assurance. The psalmist, by faith, sees this destruction not just as a future possibility, but as a present reality, as if pointing to a scene already unfolding. This confidence comes from knowing God's character and His promises.
Where do the wicked fall? The text suggests they fall right where they've been practicing their evil.
The adverb 'There' in this verse is more than just a place marker. It points to the very scene of their iniquity. The wicked are overthrown and defeated precisely in the arena where they thought they were sovereign and successful.
The Irony of Judgment
Imagine a builder whose own faulty construction collapses on him. Or a criminal caught in the very trap he set for others. This is the essence of the wicked falling 'there' – their downfall is intrinsically linked to their wicked deeds, happening on their own turf.
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A Visible Defeat
This isn't a hidden judgment. The psalmist sees it as a visible, demonstrable outcome. It’s a clear sign to all observers of God’s power and justice, a stark contrast to the boastful prosperity the wicked may flaunt.
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 likely reflects the deep anxieties and hopes of Israel during periods of intense geopolitical turmoil, particularly the Assyrian and Babylonian oppressions, where the triumph of wicked oppressors seemed inevitable, yet the Psalmist held firm to the belief in their ultimate, irreversible downfall.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Empire's Dominance
The powerful Assyrian Empire exerted significant influence and control over the region, often leading to political instability and military conflict for smaller kingdoms like Judah.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah, capturing many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event deeply impacted the people and the Psalmist's perspective on the vulnerability of the righteous against powerful oppressors.
Mid-7th Century BC
Assyrian Decline and Babylonian Rise
The Assyrian Empire began to weaken, giving rise to the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which would eventually conquer Assyria and exert its own dominance over the region.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon conquered Judah and began deporting portions of the population, including skilled laborers and elites, to Babylon. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, leading to a second, more extensive deportation of the Jewish people. This was a catastrophic event for Israel's national and religious life.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ushering in a new era for the Jewish exiles, as Cyrus decreed they could return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
This passage echoes Psalm 36:12 by warning against lingering in evil places and declaring that though the righteous may fall seven times, they will rise, but the wicked will fall permanently.
Luke 10:18Jesus speaks of Satan's fall, comparing it to lightning from heaven, which powerfully illustrates the sudden and irreversible downfall of those who oppose God, just as the wicked are described as unable to rise in Psalms.
Revelation 18:21This passage describes the mighty angel casting a great millstone into the sea, symbolizing Babylon's complete and final destruction, mirroring the idea in Psalms that the wicked are 'thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.'
1 Samuel 2:9Hannah's prayer speaks of God preserving the lives of His saints while the wicked perish or are silenced, highlighting the ultimate fate of the wicked as unable to rise, contrasted with the steadfastness of God's people.
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 seemingly simple phrase "There" isn't just indicating a location; it's like David is pointing with his finger, saying, "Look right there, in the very place where they thought they were winning, they've fallen." This isn't just an observation of future doom, but a confident declaration of immediate, on-the-spot destruction for the wicked, right where their evil plans were unfolding.
This verse concludes a psalm that contrasts God's steadfast love with the deceitful plans of the wicked. Having pleaded for God's protection against those who oppose him, the psalmist now confidently declares the inevitable downfall of his enemies, seeing their ruin as a certainty already established by God's judgment.
This verse concludes a psalm that contrasts God's steadfast love with the deceitful plans of the wicked. Having pleaded for God's protection against those who oppose him, the psalmist now confidently declares the inevitable downfall of his enemies, seeing their ruin as a certainty already established by God's judgment.
"There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise." — The seemingly simple phrase "There" isn't just indicating a location; it's like David is pointing with his finger, saying, "Look right there, in the very place where they thought they were winning,…
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Last reviewed October 2026