Psalms 58:10
The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse uses powerful imagery of bathing feet in blood to convey a profound sense of victory and vindication, not personal revenge. It speaks to the deep satisfaction the righteous feel when God's justice is seen to triumph, confirming His sovereignty and care for His people.
This psalm is a strong plea to God against wicked rulers and judges who pervert justice. The psalmist describes their corruption in vivid terms and asks for divine intervention to stop their evil deeds. The concluding verses offer a vision of God's ultimate justice and the righteous rejoicing as a result.
When God punishes the wicked, the righteous rejoice. But does this mean Christians are supposed to be bloodthirsty?
This verse paints a vivid picture, but it's crucial to understand the kind of joy described. It's not a sadistic pleasure in suffering. Instead, it's a deep satisfaction that God's justice is finally being served.
A Holy Satisfaction
When we see evil triumph, it grieves us because it goes against God's character. So, when God steps in to execute judgment, the righteous rejoice because:
This joy is pure because it aligns with God's own perfect justice and love for righteousness. It's about seeing God's will done, not about personal revenge.
The image of 'bathing feet in blood' is intense. What does this powerful metaphor truly signify?
The imagery of washing feet or hands in the blood of the wicked is a hyperbole, a strong figure of speech used to convey the absolute and complete destruction of God's enemies.
Victory and Cleansing
Imagine a battlefield after a great victory. The ground is covered. For the victorious warrior, wading through the aftermath might literally mean their feet touching the blood of the fallen enemy.
This picture signifies:
Understand the original words
tsaddiq · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
The absolute moral integrity and right standing before God that is granted to those who have faith in Him. In the Psalms, the righteous are those who walk in obedience to God's law and seek His justice.
naqam · Hebrew Noun
The retributive justice of God carried out against those who oppose Him and His people. It is a divine prerogative, often depicted in Scripture as God vindicating His holiness and establishing His kingdom by removing evil.
rasha · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Those who act in opposition to God's law and will. They are characterized by a lack of fear of God and an inclination toward evil and rebellion against divine order.
This passage echoes the sentiment of rejoicing over judgment, framing it as a divine act that vindicates God's people and righteousness.
Isaiah 63:3This verse uses similar imagery of treading through blood, highlighting God's powerful and decisive judgment against His enemies, which brings deliverance to His people.
Psalm 68:23This passage also speaks of treading in blood, reinforcing the imagery of complete victory and the utter destruction of enemies as a sign of God's power.
Romans 12:19While Psalm 58 speaks of rejoicing in God's vengeance, Romans 12 reminds us that vengeance belongs to God alone and calls believers to be merciful, showing the tension between divine justice and human response.
ellicottPsalms 58:10: "The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked."
(10) Wash his feet. —So in Psalm 68:23 . “Wading deep in blood” is the picture suggested.
calvinPsalms 58:10-11: "The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked."
- The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth [358] the vengeance; he shall wash his hands in the blood of the wicked. [359] 11. And a man shall say, Verily there is a reward [literally fruit [360] ] for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance It might appear at first sight that the feel…
The verse uses powerful imagery of bathing feet in blood to convey a profound sense of victory and vindication, not personal revenge. It speaks to the deep satisfaction the righteous feel when God's justice is seen to triumph, confirming His sovereignty and care for His people.
This psalm is a strong plea to God against wicked rulers and judges who pervert justice. The psalmist describes their corruption in vivid terms and asks for divine intervention to stop their evil deeds. The concluding verses offer a vision of God's ultimate justice and the righteous rejoicing as a result.
This psalm is a strong plea to God against wicked rulers and judges who pervert justice. The psalmist describes their corruption in vivid terms and asks for divine intervention to stop their evil deeds. The concluding verses offer a vision of God's ultimate justice and the righteous rejoicing as a result.
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While the language is graphic, it serves to emphasize the totality of God's judgment and the ultimate security of His people.
"The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked." — The verse uses powerful imagery of bathing feet in blood to convey a profound sense of victory and vindication, not personal revenge. It speaks to the deep satisfaction the righteous feel when God's…
