Psalm 37:12-13
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The phrase "gnashes his teeth" paints a visceral picture, not just of anger, but of a wild, almost animalistic rage, like a cornered beast driven to impotent fury. It highlights how the wicked's opposition to the righteous is often rooted in a primal, irrational hatred, not just calculated malice.
The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears within Psalm 37, a didactic psalm that contrasts the prosperity of the wicked with the eventual inheritance of the righteous. David is addressing the temptation to fret or become envious when seeing evildoers seemingly thrive. He acknowledges the intense malice and schemes the ungodly direct against God's people, setting the stage for God's eventual intervention and the wicked's downfall.
Ever feel like the world is spinning out of control, with bad guys getting ahead? This verse paints a picture of that frustration.
The psalmist describes the wicked as actively 'plotting' against the righteous. This isn't just passive dislike; it's deliberate scheming, forming plans to harm those who walk with God. The phrase 'gnashes his teeth' amplifies this, moving beyond mere planning to intense, visceral rage. Think of a predator locked onto its prey, teeth bared, filled with a furious desire to attack. This imagery highlights the deep-seated, almost animalistic hatred the wicked harbor. Their actions are not random acts of malice but calculated attempts to undermine and destroy the righteous.
While the wicked are in a frenzy, what is God doing? The answer might surprise you.
In stark contrast to the wicked's rage, God's reaction is one of calm and assured control. The commentaries point out that God 'laughs' at the wicked. This isn't a cruel mockery, but a profound declaration of His sovereignty and their ultimate futility. He 'sees' their day coming – not just their immediate plans, but the appointed time of their judgment and downfall. This divine perspective means God isn't caught off guard or overwhelmed by the wicked's schemes. His laughter signifies His deep understanding that their power is temporary and their ultimate end is destruction. He's not flustered; He's in command, observing the inevitable outcome with perfect knowledge and certainty.
Understand the original words
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rasha · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who depart from God's moral standards, living in defiance of His laws and oppressing others. They are characterized by hostility toward God and His people.
tsaddiq · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who are in a right relationship with God, characterized by integrity, faithfulness, and living in accordance with His revealed will.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel who is sovereign over all creation and history, especially in His judgment of evil.
sachaq · Hebrew Verb
In this context, a symbol of God's absolute sovereignty and scorn for the futile efforts of human rebellion against His divine order.
This psalm, likely composed during or shortly after the Babylonian exile, reflects the deep-seated conflict between the faithful remnant and those who opposed them. The 'wicked' are not just abstract evil-doers but often represent oppressive powers or internal factions who actively persecuted the righteous, highlighting the very real dangers faced by God's people.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
The reign of King David, to whom many psalms are attributed, established a united Israelite kingdom and a central sanctuary in Jerusalem. This period saw both internal consolidation and external threats.
c. 970-931 BC
Reign of Solomon
Solomon's reign brought a period of peace and prosperity, marked by the construction of the First Temple. However, his later years saw signs of religious decline and political division.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom split into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah, leading to increased internal conflict and external vulnerabilities.
c. 8th Century BC
Prophetic Warnings
Prophets like Isaiah and Amos warned both Israel and Judah of impending judgment due to social injustice, idolatry, and corruption, highlighting the tension between the wicked and the righteous.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of its population. This event served as a stark warning to the Kingdom of Judah.
c. 597-586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian Empire conquered Judah, destroying Jerusalem and the First Temple, and exiling many of its people. This period of immense suffering profoundly shaped Israelite theology and identity.
Post-Exilic Period— this verse
Return and Reconstruction
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, many Jews returned to Judah to rebuild the Temple and their communities. This era continued to grapple with faithfulness amidst lingering opposition and hardship.
This passage shows Stephen facing a similar scene of violent opposition, where his accusers gnashed their teeth at him, mirroring the wicked's rage against the righteous in Psalms.
Psalms 35:16David himself describes his enemies as 'gnashing their teeth at me' in this psalm, highlighting the personal experience of such malice and reinforcing the emotional intensity of the verse.
Psalms 37:13Immediately following the description of the wicked's plotting, this verse offers God's perspective, showing that He 'shall laugh at him,' providing a divine counterpoint to the human fury.
Psalms 37:14This verse further illustrates the wicked's intent, detailing how they 'draw their sword and bend their bow' to harm the vulnerable, expanding on the 'plotting' mentioned in verse 12.
Job 16:9Job recounts how his enemies 'gnash upon me with their teeth,' offering another example from Scripture of this fierce, animalistic rage directed at an innocent sufferer.
calvinPsalms 37:12-15: "The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth."
The wicked plotteth against the righteous, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13. But the Lord [27] shall laugh at him; for he seeth that his day is coming. 14. The wicked draw their sword, and bend their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay those that are of upright ways. 15. But their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bow shall be broken.
The wicked plotteth…
jfbPsalms 37:12: "The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth."
- gnasheth … teeth—in beastly rage.
The phrase "gnashes his teeth" paints a visceral picture, not just of anger, but of a wild, almost animalistic rage, like a cornered beast driven to impotent fury. It highlights how the wicked's opposition to the righteous is often rooted in a primal, irrational hatred, not just calculated malice.
This verse appears within Psalm 37, a didactic psalm that contrasts the prosperity of the wicked with the eventual inheritance of the righteous. David is addressing the temptation to fret or become envious when seeing evildoers seemingly thrive. He acknowledges the intense malice and schemes the ungodly direct against God's people, setting the stage for God's eventual intervention and the wicked's downfall.
This verse appears within Psalm 37, a didactic psalm that contrasts the prosperity of the wicked with the eventual inheritance of the righteous. David is addressing the temptation to fret or become envious when seeing evildoers seemingly thrive. He acknowledges the intense malice and schemes the ungodly direct against God's people, setting the stage for God's eventual intervention and the wicked's downfall.
"The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming." — The phrase "gnashes his teeth" paints a visceral picture, not just of anger, but of a wild, almost animalistic rage, like a cornered beast driven to impotent fury. It highlights how the wicked's oppo…
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Last reviewed October 2026
