Psalms 73:8-9
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)
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The verse reveals that these wicked individuals don't just engage in oppression; they actively boast about it, even threatening it with arrogant pronouncements. Their speech isn't merely descriptive of their actions but a proud declaration of their power and contempt for others.
This psalm begins with the psalmist wrestling with the apparent prosperity of the wicked, which leads him to question God's goodness. He describes these godless people as physically healthy, free from trouble, and consumed by pride and violence. Verse 8 continues this critique, showing how their unhindered success fuels arrogant speech filled with threats of oppression.
Have you ever noticed how some people seem to delight in tearing others down, or even mocking the things of God? This verse gives us a glimpse into their hearts.
The psalmist describes the ungodly not just as succeeding in life, but as actively engaging in destructive speech. The Hebrew word used here can mean to 'deride,' 'scoff,' or 'mock.' They don't just ignore God; they actively mock His ways and His people. Their words are not just casual chatter; they 'speak of wickedness' and boast about their 'oppressions.' This isn't a quiet sin; it's a loud, arrogant display.
It's one thing to talk about bad things, but what happens when that talk comes from a place of perceived superiority? This verse paints a picture of that dangerous mindset.
The phrase 'they speak loftily' reveals the attitude behind the ungodly's words. They aren't just speaking; they are speaking from a self-appointed 'throne' of arrogance. They see themselves as elevated above others, above the rules, and even above God. This pride fuels their malicious talk and their threats of oppression. Their words are not born from humility or a desire for justice, but from a conviction of their own power and right to dominate.
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.
The psalmist Asaph is writing during a time of great upheaval, likely around the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. He observes the arrogant, oppressive speech of the powerful, who mock God and threaten the vulnerable, and he struggles with why these wicked individuals seem to prosper while the faithful suffer.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy of Israel
The period of Saul, David, and Solomon, marked by relative peace and prosperity after the conquest of Canaan and the establishment of Jerusalem.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, leading to increased internal conflict and external pressures.
c. 730 BC
Reign of Hezekiah
King Hezekiah's reign in Judah was marked by reforms and attempts to secure the kingdom against Assyrian threats, facing significant challenges and divine intervention.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people and a period of instability and fear for the remaining kingdom of Judah.
This passage describes a similar arrogant, boastful attitude, where the oppressor 'says in his heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high.'' This echoes the 'speaking loftily' of Psalm 73:8, as if they themselves are divine.
Job 21:7-14This passage in Job directly addresses the prosperity of the wicked and their subsequent arrogance, including their defiance of God and disregard for others. It provides a parallel narrative to the psalmist's observation of the ungodly in Psalm 73.
Jeremiah 5:5-6This verse describes a similar pattern of oppressive and arrogant speech from those in power who have turned away from God, stating, 'Therefore the lion has gone out from the thicket... Out of the forest a lion has come forth; to make their land desolate, their cities ruined, a wasteland without inhabitants. For this reason, surely they speak with malice.'
Luke 18:9-14Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector powerfully contrasts self-righteous boasting with humble repentance. The Pharisee, like the oppressors in Psalm 73, 'prayed aloud to himself,' showcasing a lofty, self-congratulatory attitude that is ultimately rejected by God.
Proverbs 8:13clarkePsalms 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.
The verse reveals that these wicked individuals don't just engage in oppression; they actively boast about it, even threatening it with arrogant pronouncements. Their speech isn't merely descriptive of their actions but a proud declaration of their power and contempt for others.
This psalm begins with the psalmist wrestling with the apparent prosperity of the wicked, which leads him to question God's goodness. He describes these godless people as physically healthy, free from trouble, and consumed by pride and violence. Verse 8 continues this critique, showing how their unhindered success fuels arrogant speech filled with threats of oppression.
This psalm begins with the psalmist wrestling with the apparent prosperity of the wicked, which leads him to question God's goodness. He describes these godless people as physically healthy, free from trouble, and consumed by pride and violence. Verse 8 continues this critique, showing how their unhindered success fuels arrogant speech filled with threats of oppression.
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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. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Neo-Assyrian Empire under Sennacherib invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. Divine intervention through the angel of the Lord miraculously saves the city, a key event in Judah's history.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
The Neo-Babylonian Empire begins its campaigns against Judah, resulting in the first deportation of Jewish exiles, including Daniel, to Babylon.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Temple Destruction
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the First Temple, with a significant portion of the remaining population taken into exile. This marks a profound crisis of faith for the Jewish people.
This proverb states, 'The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the way of evil and crooked speech I hate.' It directly condemns the very attitudes and speech patterns described in Psalm 73:8, highlighting the sinfulness of such pride and malice.
"They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth." — The verse reveals that these wicked individuals don't just engage in oppression; they actively boast about it, even threatening it with arrogant pronouncements. Their speech isn't merely descriptive…
