Psalms 14:4

Translation
King James Version
¶ Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Have all the workers H6466 of iniquity H205 no knowledge H3045? who eat up H398 my people H5971 as they eat H398 bread H3899, and call H7121 not upon the LORD H3068.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Don't they ever learn, all those evildoers, who eat up my people as if eating bread and never call on ADONAI?
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Berean Standard Bible
Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.
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American Standard Version
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my peopleasthey eat bread, And call not upon Jehovah?
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World English Bible Messianic
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on the LORD?
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Doe not all the workers of iniquitie know that they eate vp my people, as they eate bread? they call not vpon the Lord.
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Young's Literal Translation
Have all working iniquity not known? Those consuming my people have eaten bread, Jehovah they have not called.
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See also
Psalms 79:6Jeremiah 10:25Isaiah 64:7Psalms 82:5Romans 1:28Ephesians 4:17Ephesians 4:18
In the KJVVerse 14,085 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalms 14:4 delivers a searing indictment against those who habitually practice wickedness, revealing their profound spiritual ignorance and willful disregard for God. The verse powerfully depicts their casual and destructive exploitation of God's people, comparing it to the mundane act of eating daily bread. This deep moral depravity is further emphasized by their complete failure to acknowledge or appeal to the Lord, highlighting a self-sufficient rebellion against divine authority and a fundamental lack of relationship with their Creator.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalms 14 is a wisdom psalm, bearing a strong resemblance to Psalm 53, both commencing with the stark declaration that "the fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'". The psalm immediately establishes a bleak picture of universal human depravity, asserting that "there is none who does good, no, not one" (Psalm 14:3). Verse 4 specifically targets the active perpetrators of this depravity, the "workers of iniquity," shifting the focus from a general pronouncement on humanity to a direct accusation against those who oppress the righteous. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, setting the stage for the psalm's concluding hope for divine salvation from Zion (Psalm 14:7), contrasting the present suffering with the anticipation of future divine intervention.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: While Psalms 14 does not specify a precise historical backdrop, its themes resonate deeply with periods of social injustice and oppression prevalent in ancient Israel and the broader Near East. The "workers of iniquity" likely represent those in positions of power or influence who abused their authority—perhaps corrupt officials, wealthy landowners, or even foreign oppressors—who ruthlessly exploited the vulnerable, especially the poor and the righteous within society. The vivid metaphor of "eating up" people reflects a common ancient Near Eastern idiom for ruthless destruction, consumption, or exploitation, often associated with military conquest, economic subjugation, or social predation. The profound failure to "call upon the LORD" signifies a severe societal breakdown where divine law and covenant obligations were openly disregarded, and justice was perverted, leading to a state of moral anarchy where God's name was neither invoked for help nor revered as the ultimate authority.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several foundational themes within the Psalter and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the pervasive theme of human depravity and spiritual blindness, emphasizing that the rejection of God is not merely an intellectual oversight but often a willful choice that inevitably leads to active evil and injustice. Secondly, it highlights the theme of divine observation and justice, affirming God's unwavering awareness of the suffering endured by His people at the hands of oppressors, even when the wicked appear to prosper unchecked. Thirdly, it starkly contrasts the self-sufficiency and godlessness of the wicked with the dependence and piety of the righteous, who are consistently called to "seek the LORD and His strength" and to "call upon Him in the day of trouble". This contrast effectively sets up the ultimate hope for God's redemptive intervention, a recurring and vital motif throughout the Psalms.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Iniquity (Hebrew, ʼâven', H205): This term refers to "nothingness" or "trouble," extending to "vanity, wickedness." It often implies a deliberate perversion of justice or truth, and can even signify an idol or sorrow. In this context, it describes not just isolated acts of sin, but a deep-seated disposition towards evil, a fundamental moral corruption that characterizes the "workers."
  • Eat up (Hebrew, ʼâkal', H398): This primitive root means "to eat" literally or figuratively. Here, it is used metaphorically and hyperbolically to convey a ruthless, destructive, and complete consumption. It implies devouring, destroying, or exploiting someone's resources, livelihood, or very being. The comparison to "eating bread" emphasizes the casual, thoughtless, and habitual nature of this oppression, suggesting that the wicked treat the lives and well-being of God's people with the same indifference and regularity as their daily sustenance.
  • Call (upon) (Hebrew, qârâʼ', H7121): This root means "to call out to," "address by name," or "to call upon." In the Old Testament, to "call upon the LORD" (paired with H3068) denotes an act of worship, dependence, appeal for help, or acknowledgment of God's authority and covenant relationship. The negation in the verse, therefore, reveals a fundamental lack of reverence, relationship, or reliance on God, indicating a self-sufficient, rebellious spirit that lives as if God does not exist or has no claim on their lives.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?": This is a powerful rhetorical question, expressing the Psalmist's profound astonishment, indignation, and lament over the spiritual ignorance or willful blindness of the wicked. It is not a genuine inquiry into their intellectual capacity, but rather a condemnation of their moral and spiritual obtuseness. Despite the clear revelation of God's existence and moral law, they choose to live as if such knowledge is irrelevant or non-existent, which directly leads to their destructive and oppressive behavior.
  • "who eat up my people [as] they eat bread": This clause provides a vivid and chilling metaphorical description of the wicked's actions. "My people" refers to God's covenant people, the righteous, who are vulnerable to oppression. The act of "eating them up as they eat bread" powerfully portrays the casual, unthinking, and habitual nature of their exploitation and destruction. It implies a complete lack of conscience, empathy, or moral restraint, treating human lives and well-being with the same indifference and regularity as a basic, everyday necessity, thereby highlighting the severity and normalized ease of their cruelty.
  • "and call not upon the LORD.": This concluding phrase reveals the ultimate root cause of their iniquity, exploitation, and spiritual blindness: a complete and deliberate disregard for God. Their failure to "call upon the LORD" signifies far more than a mere absence of prayer; it denotes a fundamental lack of relationship, reverence, or appeal to divine authority (H3068, Yᵉhôvâh, "the self-Existent or Eternal"). They live in a state of practical atheism, self-reliant in their wickedness, demonstrating no fear of God, no seeking of His guidance, and no acknowledgment of His ultimate judgment or sovereignty over their lives.

Literary Devices

Psalms 14:4 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its scathing message. The verse opens with a striking rhetorical question: "Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?" This question is not posed to elicit an answer but to express the Psalmist's profound astonishment, indignation, and condemnation of the wicked's deliberate ignorance and moral blindness. It immediately engages the reader, underscoring the absurdity and inexcusability of their godless behavior. Following this, the verse utilizes a powerful simile (often interpreted as a metaphor due to its evocative strength) in "who eat up my people [as] they eat bread." This comparison creates a chilling image of casual, habitual, and utterly destructive exploitation. The mundane and essential act of eating bread makes the comparison to devouring people particularly horrifying, highlighting the wicked's utter lack of conscience and the terrifying ease with which they commit injustice. Finally, the verse employs contrast by implicitly setting the actions of the "workers of iniquity" (who do not call upon the Lord) against the expected behavior of the righteous (who do). This contrast illuminates the profound spiritual chasm between the two groups and emphasizes the essential nature of acknowledging and depending on God. The hyperbole inherent in "eat up" further amplifies the dramatic effect, emphasizing the extreme and devastating nature of their oppression.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Psalms 14:4 profoundly articulates the biblical understanding of human sin, not merely as isolated acts but as a pervasive condition stemming from a fundamental rejection of God. The "knowledge" that the wicked lack is not intellectual, but a relational and moral awareness of God's sovereignty and His just demands. Their casual exploitation of God's people underscores the destructive consequences of godlessness, demonstrating how a heart alienated from God inevitably leads to injustice and oppression against fellow humans. The failure to "call upon the LORD" is the ultimate expression of this alienation, signifying a self-sufficient rebellion that denies God's authority and presence in the world. This verse serves as a stark reminder that true wickedness is rooted in spiritual blindness and a deliberate refusal to acknowledge the Creator, leading to both personal depravity and societal harm.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalms 14:4 serves as a powerful mirror, inviting us to examine the state of our own hearts and to critically observe the world around us. It challenges the contemporary notion that a lack of belief in God is a neutral or benign stance, revealing it instead as a fertile ground for profound moral decay and active injustice. The "workers of iniquity" are not merely abstract figures from ancient times but represent any individual, system, or ideology that exploits others while neglecting or actively rejecting God. This verse calls us to a deep spiritual self-awareness: do we truly acknowledge God in all our ways, or do we, like the wicked, live as if He is irrelevant, treating others with indifference, exploitation, or neglect? It powerfully reminds us that our relationship with God directly and profoundly impacts our treatment of others. Furthermore, it offers a sobering yet comforting perspective on the suffering of the righteous, assuring us that God sees and remembers every act of oppression. Our response, therefore, should be one of steadfast faith, persistent prayer for justice, and active pursuit of righteousness, knowing that God will ultimately vindicate His people and judge the wicked. We are called to be vigilant against spiritual apathy in ourselves and to stand in solidarity with those who are "eaten up" by the world's injustices, always calling upon the Lord for His divine intervention and the establishment of His perfect righteousness.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what ways might I, or the communities I belong to, inadvertently "eat up" others through indifference, exploitation, or neglect, even without conscious malice?
  • How does my daily life demonstrate that I truly "call upon the LORD," or are there areas where I operate in self-sufficiency, akin to the "workers of iniquity"?
  • What specific actions can I take to counter the "spiritual blindness" and "willful ignorance" that lead to injustice in the world today, starting within my own sphere of influence?
  • How does the assurance that God sees the oppression of His people encourage or challenge my response to injustice and suffering in the world?

FAQ

What does "workers of iniquity" mean in this context?

Answer: "Workers of iniquity" refers to individuals whose lives are habitually characterized by evil deeds and moral corruption. The Hebrew phrase (po'alei aven) emphasizes that their actions are not accidental lapses but a consistent, deliberate practice of wickedness, often involving injustice, oppression, and a willful perversion of what is right. It highlights a deep-seated disposition towards evil, contrasting sharply with those who might stumble into sin but genuinely seek God and strive for righteousness.

How can people "eat up" others "as they eat bread"?

Answer: This powerful metaphor describes the casual, habitual, and ruthless exploitation or destruction of God's people. Just as eating bread is a routine, unthinking act of sustenance, the wicked treat the lives, resources, and well-being of the vulnerable with similar indifference and ease. It implies a complete lack of conscience, empathy, or regard for the humanity of those they oppress, consuming them for their own benefit without a second thought. This could manifest as economic exploitation, social marginalization, physical violence, or any form of systemic injustice that diminishes or destroys others. The phrase underscores the severity and normalized nature of their cruelty.

What is the significance of "and call not upon the LORD"?

Answer: This phrase signifies a profound spiritual alienation and practical atheism. To "call upon the LORD" in biblical terms is an act of worship, dependence, prayer, and acknowledgment of God's authority and covenant relationship. Therefore, the failure to do so reveals a complete disregard for God's existence, His commands, or His power. It indicates a self-sufficient, rebellious spirit that lives as if God does not matter, demonstrating no reverence, no seeking of divine guidance, and no appeal to His ultimate judgment or mercy. This spiritual void is presented as the fundamental root cause of their iniquity and their casual exploitation of others.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalms 14:4, with its stark portrayal of human depravity and the exploitation of God's people by those who deny Him, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the divine "knowledge" that the workers of iniquity so tragically lack, for in Him "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). The "workers of iniquity" who "eat up" God's people foreshadow the spiritual enemies and oppressive systems that seek to devour Christ's church throughout history, yet Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, protecting them from all who would harm them (John 10:11). The failure to "call upon the LORD" is decisively overcome by Christ, who perfectly called upon His Father in unbroken communion and now invites all humanity to "call upon the name of the Lord and be saved" (Romans 10:13). Ultimately, Jesus is the one who will return as the righteous Judge, bringing an end to all iniquity and delivering His people from every oppressor, establishing a new heavens and a new earth where "righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13), thereby fulfilling the Psalmist's longing for salvation from Zion (Psalms 14:7).

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Commentary on Psalms 14 verses 4–7

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

In these verses the psalmist endeavours,

I. To convince sinners of the evil and danger of the way they are in, how secure soever they are in that way. Three things he shows them, which, it may be, they are not very willing to see - their wickedness, their folly, and their danger, while they are apt to believe themselves very wise, and good, and safe. See here,

1.Their wickedness. This is described in four instances: - (1.) They are themselves workers of iniquity; they design it, they practise it, and take as much pleasure in it as ever any man did in his business. (2.) They eat up God's people with as much greediness as they eat bread, such an innate and inveterate enmity they have to them, and so heartily do they desire their ruin, because they really hate God, whose people they are. It is meat and drink to persecutors to be doing mischief; it is as agreeable to them as their necessary food. They eat up God's people easily, daily, securely, without either check of conscience when they do it or remorse of conscience when they have done it; as Joseph's brethren cast him into a pit and then sat down to eat bread, Gen 37:24, Gen 37:25. See Mic 3:2, Mic 3:3. (3.) They call not upon the Lord. Note, Those that care not for God's people, for God's poor, care not for God himself, but live in contempt of him. The reason why people run into all manner of wickedness, even the worst, is because they do not call upon God for his grace. What good can be expected from those that live without prayer? (4.) They shame the counsel of the poor, and upbraid them with making God their refuge, as David's enemies upbraided him, Psa 11:1. Note, Those are very wicked indeed, and have a great deal to answer for, who not only shake off religion, and live without it themselves, but say and do what they can to put others out of conceit with it that are well-inclined-with the duties of it, as if they were mean, melancholy, and unprofitable, and with the privileges of it, as if they were insufficient to make a man safe and happy. Those that banter religion and religious people will find, to their cost, it is ill jesting with edged-tools and dangerous persecuting those that make God their refuge. Be you not mockers, lest your bands be made strong. He shows them,

2.Their folly: They have no knowledge; this is obvious, for if they had any knowledge of God, if they did rightly understand themselves, and would but consider things as men, they would not be so abusive and barbarous as they are to the people of God.

3.Their danger (Psa 14:5): There were they in great fear. There, where they ate up God's people, their own consciences condemned what they did, and filled them with secret terrors; they sweetly sucked the blood of the saints, but in their bowels it is turned, and become the gall of asps. Many instances there have been of proud and cruel persecutors who have been made like Pashur, Magormissabibs - terrors to themselves and all about them. Those that will not fear God perhaps may be made to fear at the shaking of a leaf.

II. He endeavours to comfort the people of God, 1. With what they have. They have God's presence (Psa 14:5): He is in the generation of the righteous. They have his protection (Psa 14:6): The Lord is their refuge. This is as much their security as it is the terror of their enemies, who may jeer them for their confidence in God, but cannot jeer them out of it. In the judgment-day it will add to the terror and confusion of sinners to see God own the generation of the righteous, which they have hated and bantered. 2. With what they hope for; and that is the salvation of Israel, Psa 14:7. When David was driven out by Absalom and his rebellious accomplices, he comforted himself with an assurance that god would in due time turn again his captivity, to the joy of all his good subjects. But surely this pleasing prospect looks further. He had, in the beginning of the psalm, lamented the general corruption of mankind; and, in the melancholy view of that, wishes for the salvation which should be wrought out by the Redeemer, who was expected co come to Zion, to turn away ungodliness from Jacob, Rom 11:26. The world is bad; O that the Messiah would come and change its character! There is a universal corruption; O for the times of reformation! Those will be as joyful times as these are melancholy ones. Then shall God turn again the captivity of his people; for the Redeemer shall ascend on high, and lead captivity captive, and Jacob shall then rejoice. The triumphs of Zion's King will be the joys of Zion's children. The second coming of Christ, finally to extinguish the dominion of sin and Satan, will be the completing of this salvation, which is the hope, and will be the joy, of every Israelite indeed. With the assurance of that we should, in singing this, comfort ourselves and one another, with reference to the present sins of sinners and sufferings of saints.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 4–7. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 14
"Shall not all, who work iniquity, know?" [Psalm 14:4]. He threatens the judgment. "Who devour My people as the food of bread:" that is, daily. For the food of bread is daily food. Now they devour the people, who serve their own ends out of them, not referring their ministry to the glory of God, and the salvation of those over whom they are.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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