You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse points to the deliberate and calculated nature of slander, highlighted by the word "sittest," which suggests it’s not a spontaneous outburst but a planned activity. Furthermore, the emphasis on "your own mother's son" underscores the profound brokenness when someone attacks their closest kin, revealing a deep moral corruption that even disregards the most fundamental human bonds.
You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage confronts those who perform religious duties outwardly but live corruptly. God is speaking through the Psalmist, exposing the hypocrisy of people who meticulously follow rituals while harboring malice and deceit in their hearts. The verses before describe how God rejects their sacrifices, and the verses following show that those who disregard God will ultimately face His judgment, contrasting them with those who genuinely offer praise and seek Him.
When we speak ill of others, are we acting on impulse or settling in for a malicious session?
The verse highlights the deliberate nature of slander. The phrase "Thou sittest" suggests a settled, comfortable practice. It's not a fleeting moment of anger, but a chosen posture. Imagine someone not just casually gossiping, but actively choosing to take a seat, to settle in, to dwell on tearing someone else down.
This isn't about accidental slips of the tongue. It's about the calculated and often enjoyable way some people engage in slander. It implies a comfort level with malice, a lack of remorse, and a willingness to make it a regular part of their life.
Who hurts you the most? Often, it's not the stranger, but the one closest to home.
The progression from "brother" to "your own mother’s son" is crucial. In a culture where polygamy was common, "brother" could refer to a half-brother (same father, different mother). But "your own mother’s son" signifies the absolute closest familial bond – sharing both parents.
This isn't just about family ties; it's about the violation of trust. When we slander those closest to us – our literal brothers and sisters, our spouses, our children, or even our closest friends who feel like family – we inflict wounds that are far deeper and harder to heal. It shows a profound lack of natural affection and a willingness to betray the most intimate relationships for personal gain or malice.
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lashan · Hebrew Verb
False, malicious, or damaging statements made about others. It is viewed as a sin that destroys relationships and neighborly love, reflecting a heart lacking in charity.
This psalm speaks powerfully to the reality of religious hypocrisy, particularly during times of national crisis or rebuilding, like the Babylonian exile. The call to 'speak no evil' extends even to one's closest family, highlighting that true worship demands integrity in all relationships, not just outward ritual.
c. 1000 BC - 500 BC
Psalms Composed and Compiled
The book of Psalms was compiled over centuries, reflecting the worship and experiences of ancient Israel. This psalm likely addresses internal religious hypocrisy and social discord common during the monarchical and post-exilic periods.
c. 930 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel split into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This division fueled ongoing political and social tensions.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The northern Kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the deportation of many Israelites. This event underscored the consequences of national disobedience and internal strife.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The southern Kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonians, its temple destroyed, and its people exiled. This period intensified reflection on sin and faithfulness, including the dangers of false worship and broken community.
c. 539 BC
Return from Exile
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, exiled Judeans were permitted to return to Jerusalem. Rebuilding the community and the temple required addressing ongoing issues of hypocrisy and fractured relationships.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Psalm 50:20 by highlighting the breakdown of familial trust and the prevalence of slander, even within one's own household.
Proverbs 18:21This proverb directly links the power of our words to destructive outcomes, much like the slander described in Psalm 50:20, emphasizing that what we 'eat' (speak) can lead to our ruin.
James 3:6James powerfully describes the tongue as a destructive force, capable of setting the whole course of life ablaze, which resonates with the grave and deliberate slander of speaking against one's own kin.
Matthew 7:1-5Jesus' teaching on judging others and the speck in your brother's eye directly addresses the hypocrisy of condemning others while overlooking one's own faults, a theme present in Psalm 50:20 where outward piety masks inner corruption.
pulpitPsalms 50:20: "Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son."
Verse 20. - Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother. Professor Cheyne understands by "brother" any fellow-Israelite; but the parallel in the second hemistich - Thou slanderest thine own mother's son - implies that an actual brother is intended. It is one of the special characteristics of the reprobate to be "without natural affection" (Romans 1:31).
poolePsalms 50:20: "Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son."
Thou dost not only speak evil in a sudden passion, or upon some great provocation, but this is thy constant and deliberate practice and business, which thou dost pursue with great facility and complacency; all which this phrase implies. Thy brother; strictly so called, as the next clause explains it; which is a great aggravation of the sin, and a proof of his inveterate and obstinate wickednes…
This verse points to the deliberate and calculated nature of slander, highlighted by the word "sittest," which suggests it’s not a spontaneous outburst but a planned activity. Furthermore, the emphasis on "your own mother's son" underscores the profound brokenness when someone attacks their closest kin, revealing a deep moral corruption that even disregards the most fundamental human bonds.
This passage confronts those who perform religious duties outwardly but live corruptly. God is speaking through the Psalmist, exposing the hypocrisy of people who meticulously follow rituals while harboring malice and deceit in their hearts. The verses before describe how God rejects their sacrifices, and the verses following show that those who disregard God will ultimately face His judgment, contrasting them with those who genuinely offer praise and seek Him.
This passage confronts those who perform religious duties outwardly but live corruptly. God is speaking through the Psalmist, exposing the hypocrisy of people who meticulously follow rituals while harboring malice and deceit in their hearts. The verses before describe how God rejects their sacrifices, and the verses following show that those who disregard God will ultimately face His judgment, contrasting them with those who genuinely offer praise and seek Him.
"You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son." — This verse points to the deliberate and calculated nature of slander, highlighted by the word "sittest," which suggests it’s not a spontaneous outburst but a planned activity. Furthermore, the emphas…
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Last reviewed October 2026