Psalms 53:5

5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them.

Psalms 53:5 in Other Translations

KJV
5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
ESV
5 There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
NLT
5 Terror will grip them, terror like they have never known before. God will scatter the bones of your enemies. You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
MSG
5 Night is coming for them, and nightmare - a nightmare they'll never wake up from. God will make hash of these squatters, send them packing for good.
CSB
5 Then they will be filled with terror- terror like no other- because God will scatter the bones of those who besiege you. You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

Psalms 53:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 53:5

There were they in great, fear, [where] no fear was
Before; neither of God nor man, nor any dread of punishment, but the utmost security, ( Revelation 18:7 Revelation 18:8 Revelation 18:10 ) ; also (See Gill on Psalms 14:5);

for God hath scattered the bones of [him] that encampeth [against]
thee;
either against Christ, or against his church and people; who set themselves against the person, office, and grace of Christ, and seek to distress and destroy his interest: "the bones [of such] God will scatter": that is, he will destroy antichrist and his armies, which are his strength, as the bones are the strength of the human body; and make such a carnage of them, that the fowls of the air shall eat their flesh, and their bones shall be scattered here and there; see ( Revelation 19:17-21 ) . So the Targum,

``for God scatters the strength of the armies of the wicked.''

Kimchi interprets it of the bones of the nations that shall encamp against Jerusalem, in the days of Gog; see ( Revelation 20:8 Revelation 20:9 ) ; and Aben Ezra observes, that "thee" respects either God or the Messiah;

thou hast put [them] to shame;
this is either an address of the psalmist unto God, declaring what he had done; or rather of God the Father to his Son Christ Jesus; and so Kimchi and Ben Melech say this refers to the Messiah: and it may be expressive of the shame and confusion that antichrist and his followers will be thrown into, when they shall make war with the Lamb, and he shall overcome them, ( Revelation 17:14 ) ;

because God hath despised them;
or rejected them as reprobates; given them up to a reprobate mind; and being ungodly men, has before ordained them to this condemnation. The Targum is,

``for the Word of the Lord hath rejected them;''

as filthy, loathsome, and abominable, and cast them alive into the lake of fire, ( Revelation 19:20 ) .

Psalms 53:5 In-Context

3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on God.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them.
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Cross References 5

  • 1. S Leviticus 26:17
  • 2. 2 Kings 23:14; Psalms 141:7; Jeremiah 8:1; Ezekiel 6:5
  • 3. 2 Kings 17:20
  • 4. S Job 8:22
  • 5. Jeremiah 6:30; Jeremiah 14:19; Lamentations 5:22
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