They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is how the verse doesn't just say they do oppressive things, but that they "speak loftily" about them. This isn't just boasting; it's a proud, almost divine declaration of their power to inflict suffering, as if their oppression is a pronouncement from on high. It reveals a deep-seated arrogance where their cruelty is not just an action but a statement of their perceived superiority.
They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is deeply troubled by the apparent prosperity and ease of wicked people, which seems to mock God’s justice. He describes how these ungodly individuals are free from common human suffering, live in arrogance and pride, and openly boast about their cruel and violent actions. This verse highlights their arrogant speech and threats against others, as they seemingly operate with impunity.
The psalmist isn't just observing the wicked; he's detailing their attitude and speech. What does it mean to 'speak wickedly concerning oppression' and 'speak loftily'?
This verse paints a stark picture of the ungodly. They don't just do wicked things; they talk about them with pride and arrogance.
Mocking the Vulnerable
They 'scoff and speak with malice.' This isn't just casual conversation; it's a deliberate mockery of what is good and right. They find amusement in the suffering of others, particularly the vulnerable.
Glorifying Oppression
The phrase 'speak wickedly concerning oppression' suggests they don't just commit acts of cruelty, but they vindicate them, even boast about them. They might see their power and ability to oppress as a sign of their own strength or cleverness, rather than a moral failing.
Speaking from a False Height
'Loftily they threaten oppression' reveals their sense of superiority. They speak as if from a position of divine authority, looking down on others and issuing threats of further harm. This arrogance blinds them to their own mortality and God's ultimate judgment.
Why do the wicked speak and act this way? The psalm hints that their outward prosperity fuels their internal corruption.
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While Psalm 73:8 focuses on the speech of the wicked, the surrounding verses (especially 3-7) explain the soil from which this arrogant speech grows.
Prosperity Without Consequence
For a time, the ungodly appear healthy, strong, and free from the typical struggles of life. They aren't 'scourged with other men' (Psalm 73:5). This perceived exemption from hardship and divine discipline leads them to believe they are untouchable.
Pride as Their Garment
This prosperity becomes the very source of their pride. 'Pride compasseth them as a chain; the raiment of violence hath covered them' (Psalm 73:6). Their arrogance isn't just an attitude; it's something they wear, a defining characteristic that leads them to believe they are above all laws, human and divine.
Deluded Self-Importance
Their 'fatness' and success inflate their sense of self-importance. Their eyes 'flash' with insolence, and their imaginations exceed normal bounds (Psalm 73:7). They see themselves as elevated beings, entitled to rule and threaten others.
Understand the original words
maqam · Hebrew Verb
To treat something or someone with contempt, mockery, or scorn; it is the verbal expression of a prideful heart that lacks reverence for God.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
Deep-seated ill will or the desire to inflict harm upon others; it is a manifestation of a heart void of the love of God.
osheq · Hebrew Noun
The act of crushing or exploiting the weak; in biblical theology, it is a great injustice that cries out to God for judgment.
shamayim · Hebrew Noun
The dwelling place of God and the seat of His authority; setting one's mouth against heaven represents a blasphemous challenge to divine sovereignty.
lashon · Hebrew Noun
The instrument of speech; in Scripture, it is a powerful tool capable of both life and death, reflecting the true condition of the speaker's heart.
c. 1000 BC - 700 BC
Rise of Israelite Monarchy and Temple Worship
The establishment of a united monarchy and later divided kingdoms, with the Jerusalem Temple as a central place of worship. This period saw periods of both faithfulness and unfaithfulness to God.
c. 750 BC - 700 BC— this verse
Prophetic Ministry of Isaiah and Micah
During this time, prophets like Isaiah and Micah warned Judah against social injustice, the oppression of the poor, and reliance on corrupt leadership. They spoke out against the arrogance and wickedness prevalent in society.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The powerful Assyrian Empire, under Sennacherib, besieged Jerusalem. This event tested the faith of the people and highlighted the hubris of those who relied on human strength rather than God.
c. 605 BC - 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
Judah's continued unfaithfulness led to multiple deportations to Babylon, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. This was a period of profound national crisis and reflection.
This passage describes the prosperity of the wicked and how they often boast about their power and act as if God is not involved, mirroring the arrogant and oppressive speech seen in Psalm 73:8.
Isaiah 14:13-14This prophetic passage speaks of a powerful ruler who, like the wicked in Psalm 73, boasts about ascending above the heavens and being like the Most High, highlighting the theme of arrogant, god-like speech.
Daniel 3:7In this account, the Chaldeans gather and speak wickedly concerning oppression, pressuring others to bow down to an idol, demonstrating the 'loftily they threaten oppression' aspect of Psalm 73:8.
Luke 18:9-14Jesus contrasts the boastful, self-righteous speech of the Pharisee with the humble prayer of the tax collector, illustrating the stark difference between the proud, oppressive talk of the wicked and genuine humility.
Revelation 13:6This passage describes the beast speaking blasphemies against God and His name, directly connecting to the theme of defiant, heaven-invading speech from those who wield power oppressively.
clarkePsalms 73:8: "They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily."
They are corrupt - ימיקו yamiku, they mock, act dissolutely. And speak wickedly concerning oppression - They vindicate excessive acts of government: they push justice to its rigour. They neither show equity, lenity, nor mercy; they are cruel, and they vindicate their proceedings.
poolePsalms 73:8: "They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily."
They are corrupt; or, dissolved in pleasure. Or, they corrupt themselves. Speak wickedly concerning oppression; wickedly boasting of their oppressions; either of what they have done, or of what they intend to do, in that kind. They speak loftily; arrogantly presuming upon their own strength, and despising both God and men.
What's striking here is how the verse doesn't just say they do oppressive things, but that they "speak loftily" about them. This isn't just boasting; it's a proud, almost divine declaration of their power to inflict suffering, as if their oppression is a pronouncement from on high. It reveals a deep-seated arrogance where their cruelty is not just an action but a statement of their perceived superiority.
The psalmist is deeply troubled by the apparent prosperity and ease of wicked people, which seems to mock God’s justice. He describes how these ungodly individuals are free from common human suffering, live in arrogance and pride, and openly boast about their cruel and violent actions. This verse highlights their arrogant speech and threats against others, as they seemingly operate with impunity.
The psalmist is deeply troubled by the apparent prosperity and ease of wicked people, which seems to mock God’s justice. He describes how these ungodly individuals are free from common human suffering, live in arrogance and pride, and openly boast about their cruel and violent actions. This verse highlights their arrogant speech and threats against others, as they seemingly operate with impunity.
"They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth." — What's striking here is how the verse doesn't just say they do oppressive things, but that they "speak loftily" about them. This isn't just boasting; it's a proud, almost divine declaration of thei…
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Last reviewed October 2026