Table of Contents
Background and Context: A Cry Against Injustice
Psalm 58 is one of the most intense and difficult psalms in the Bible. It is a powerful imprecatory psalm, which is a type of psalm that calls for God to bring judgment or curses upon the wicked. It is attributed to David, and while it lacks a specific historical setting, it powerfully reflects a situation where those in authority have completely abandoned their duty to uphold justice.
The psalm is addressed to “rulers” or, as the Hebrew ('elim) can be translated, “gods.” This could refer to powerful human judges and officials who were acting with the authority of God but were instead perverting justice for their own gain. This fits well with David’s own experiences with the corrupt court of King Saul. Alternatively, some see this as an address to corrupt spiritual powers or even pagan gods, similar to Psalm 82, rebuking them for their failure to rule the earth with righteousness. In either case, the target is the same: powerful beings who are responsible for justice but are instead the source of violence and oppression.
This psalm is the desperate cry of the oppressed, who see no hope for justice on earth. Their only recourse is to appeal to the supreme Judge of the universe, asking Him to intervene decisively and put an end to evil.
Theological Themes
Understanding this psalm requires grasping several key theological ideas.
The Total Depravity of the Wicked: The psalm does not view the unjust rulers as simply misguided people who have made a few mistakes. It portrays their evil as deep-seated, innate, and deliberate. They are described as being estranged from God “from the womb” and are compared to a “deaf cobra” that willfully refuses to listen to reason or correction. Their wickedness is not just in their actions, but in their very nature.
The Call for Divine Vengeance: The heart of the psalm is a series of shocking prayers for God to destroy the wicked (verses 6-9). This is not a personal, petty desire for revenge. It is a formal, legal appeal to the divine court. The psalmist is asking God to perform His role as the ultimate Judge, to dismantle the power of evil, and to restore order to a world consumed by injustice. It is a prayer that flows from a passion for God’s holiness and righteousness to be vindicated.
Justice, Not Cruelty: The psalmist’s desire to see the wicked judged is not about a love of violence. It is about a love of justice. The graphic language used is meant to convey the complete and total removal of the wicked’s ability to do harm. The joy of the righteous at the end is not sadistic glee but profound relief that God has finally acted, righteousness has prevailed, and the world has been made safe again.
The Ultimate Confidence in God as Judge: In a world where earthly courts fail, this psalm affirms that there is a higher court that will not fail. The final verse declares the moral of the story: when God acts, everyone will see that “there is a God who judges the earth.” The psalm is a powerful expression of faith that evil will not have the last word.
Literary Structure and Genre
Psalm 58 is a legal complaint or lawsuit presented in the form of a psalm. It follows a clear judicial structure.
- The Indictment (verses 1-2): The psalmist directly addresses and accuses the corrupt judges.
- The Evidence of Character (verses 3-5): The psalmist describes the defendants’ inherently evil and incorrigible nature.
- The Plea for Sentencing (verses 6-9): The psalmist petitions the Divine Judge for a specific and decisive sentence.
- The Verdict and its Impact (verses 10-11): The psalmist describes the outcome of the judgment: vindication for the righteous and glory to God.
Verse by Verse Commentary on Psalm 58
Verses 1-2: The Indictment of Unjust Rulers
“Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity? No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands deal out violence on earth.”
The psalm opens like a courtroom drama with two sharp, rhetorical questions. David challenges the powerful rulers directly: “Do you really do your job? Is there any justice in you?” The expected answer is a deafening “No.” They are supposed to be mouthpieces for justice and equity, but they are silent when it comes to truth.
Verse 2 delivers the charge. Instead of upholding the law, their hearts are workshops where they “devise injustice.” Their minds are constantly plotting evil. And what their hearts devise, their “hands deal out.” Their corruption is not just theoretical; it results in real-world “violence on earth.” They are the source of the very chaos they are supposed to prevent.
Verses 3-5: The Incorrigible Nature of the Wicked
“Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may 1be.”
Here, David diagnoses the root of the problem. This is not a recent corruption; it is congenital. The wicked go astray “from birth.” This is a poetic way of saying that their evil is a deep and fundamental part of their character.
He then uses a powerful simile. They are like a venomous snake. Their words and actions are poisonous and deadly. More specifically, they are like a “deaf cobra” that willfully stops its ears. A snake charmer might be able to soothe a normal snake, but this cobra refuses to listen. This means the wicked are not just ignorant; they are willfully resistant to any call for repentance, wisdom, or correction. They cannot be charmed or persuaded. Their choice for evil is deliberate and final. This is why the psalmist sees no hope for their reform, only for their judgment.
Verses 6-9: The Fierce Prayer for Judgment
“Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; LORD, tear out the fangs of those lions! Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. Like a slug that melts away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun. Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.”
This is the difficult heart of the psalm. David prays a series of seven curses, asking God to completely and permanently neutralize the wicked.
- Break their teeth: Like a lion with its teeth and fangs torn out, they will be rendered powerless to devour and destroy.
- Vanish like water: Let them disappear completely and irreversibly, like water spilled on the dry ground.
- Blunted arrows: Let their weapons be made useless and their attacks fail.
- A melting slug: Let them waste away into nothingness, leaving only a trail of slime. The image is of self-destruction.
- A stillborn child: Let their existence be erased, as if they had never lived or seen the light of day.
- Swept away by a storm: Verse 9 is a difficult Hebrew text, but the imagery is of a whirlwind that suddenly sweeps away a traveler’s campfire before the pot can even get warm. The judgment of God will be so swift that the wicked will be destroyed before their evil plans can even begin to cook.
Verses 10-11: The Righteous Response to Justice
“The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then people will say, ‘Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.'”
This final section describes the result of God’s judgment. The “righteous will be glad.” This is not a cruel or sadistic joy. It is the profound relief and vindication that comes from seeing justice done after suffering terribly from injustice.
The image of dipping their feet “in the blood of the wicked” is shocking to modern ears, but it is a common ancient near-eastern metaphor for a total and complete victory over a dangerous enemy. It symbolizes walking over the battlefield after the fight is won, secure in the knowledge that the threat is gone forever. It is the language of vindication, not vengeance.
The psalm ends with the great moral lesson. When people see God’s justice in action, they will draw two conclusions. First, that living a righteous life is not in vain; it “still is rewarded.” Second, and most importantly, they will affirm that the universe is not a chaotic, meaningless place. There is a moral authority, a supreme Judge: “surely there is a God who judges the earth.“
Practical Lessons for Today
Take Injustice to God: When faced with systemic injustice and corrupt power, it is easy to despair or become consumed by rage. This psalm teaches us to turn that outrage into prayer. It channels our cry for justice to the only one who can truly enact it.
Leave Vengeance to the Lord: The imprecatory prayers are a model for entrusting judgment to God. Instead of taking matters into our own hands, we are to appeal to the righteous Judge and leave the “how” and “when” to Him. This is consistent with the New Testament teaching, “Do not take revenge… for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
Evil is Real and Serious: The psalm does not downplay the destructive nature of evil. It takes it seriously, describing it as a deep-seated corruption that is poisonous and deadly. We must not be naive about the reality of wickedness in the world.
Long for God’s Justice: It is right and good to long for the day when God will make all things right. Our hope is not in the failure of earthly systems but in the certainty that there is a God who judges the earth and who will one day establish His kingdom of perfect righteousness.
Cross References
Psalm 82: “God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the ‘gods’: ‘How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?'” This psalm provides a powerful parallel to Psalm 58, as it also depicts God indicting and judging corrupt heavenly or earthly rulers for their failure to uphold justice.
Isaiah 59:14-15: “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” The prophet Isaiah describes a state of society that mirrors the situation in Psalm 58, where justice is completely overturned by those in power.
Romans 12:19: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” This key New Testament verse clarifies the principle behind the Old Testament imprecatory psalms. The psalmist is “leaving room for God’s wrath” by praying for it rather than enacting it himself.
Revelation 19:1-3: “After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.’ And again they shouted: ‘Hallelujah!'” This passage shows the saints in heaven rejoicing at the just judgment of God, providing a New Testament parallel to the joy of the righteous in Psalm 58:10.