Psalms 36:12

KJV

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

KJV (with Strong's)

There are the workers {H6466} of iniquity {H205} fallen {H5307}{H8804)}: they are cast down {H1760}{H8795)}, and shall not be able {H3201}{H8804)} to rise {H6965}{H8800)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

There they lie fallen, those evildoers, flung down and unable to rise.

Berean Standard Bible

There the evildoers lie fallen, thrown down and unable to rise.

American Standard Version

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 36:12 serves as a triumphant and prophetic declaration of divine justice, asserting the certain, decisive, and irreversible downfall of those who actively practice wickedness. This verse stands as the climactic conclusion to a psalm that starkly contrasts the pervasive depravity of humanity with the boundless and steadfast character of God, offering profound assurance to the righteous that evil will not ultimately prevail but will face definitive judgment, thereby vindicating God's righteous governance of the world and establishing His supreme authority.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 36 opens with a vivid and disturbing portrayal of the wicked (verses 1-4), whose transgression speaks deeply within their heart, demonstrating a complete lack of the fear of God. Their iniquity is characterized by self-deception, leading them to flatter themselves and to hate and reject what is good and wise. The psalm then undergoes a dramatic and beautiful transition (verses 5-9), shifting focus entirely to extol the glorious and infinite attributes of God: His mercy reaching to the heavens, His faithfulness to the clouds, His righteousness like the mighty mountains, and His judgments like the great deep. This section is a profound meditation on the stark contrast between human depravity and divine excellence, highlighting God as the ultimate source of life and light. Following this celebration of God's character, the psalmist offers a prayer for the continuation of God's steadfast love and righteousness upon those who know Him and are upright in heart (verses 10-11). Verse 12 then functions as the powerful, prophetic conclusion, a triumphant statement confirming the psalmist's trust in God's just and active governance of the world, providing a comforting promise for those who seek God's protection and live righteously. It serves as the ultimate resolution to the tension introduced by the description of the wicked.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Psalms, as the prayer book and hymnbook of ancient Israel, frequently grapple with the tension between the apparent prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous, a theme common in wisdom literature such as [the Book of Job](/job/1 "Job - The Suffering of the Righteous") and [Ecclesiastes](/ecclesiastes/1 "Ecclesiastes - Vanity of Life Under the Sun"). In a covenantal society, there was a strong expectation of divine justice: obedience to God's law brought blessing, and disobedience brought curses (see [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). However, daily experience often challenged this simple formula, leading psalmists to wrestle with God's timing and methods of justice. Psalms 36:12 reflects the deep conviction, rooted in Israel's understanding of God's character, that despite temporary appearances, God is ultimately just and will not allow evil to triumph indefinitely. The "workers of iniquity" represent those who actively defy God's covenant and moral order, often through oppression, deceit, or idolatry, and the psalmist anticipates their certain downfall as an act of divine vindication, affirming God's moral governance in the face of widespread wickedness.
* **Key Themes:**
* **Divine Justice and Retribution:** This verse unequivocally declares the inevitable downfall of the wicked, highlighting God's active role in judging evil. The strong, declarative language ("fallen," "cast down," "shall not be able to rise") underscores the certainty and finality of God's judgment against those who persist in wickedness. It affirms the biblical principle that God is a righteous judge who will not allow injustice to stand forever, ensuring that moral order is ultimately upheld. This theme resonates deeply with other passages that speak of God's righteous judgment, such as [Psalm 9:8](/psalms/9-8 "Psalm 9:8 - God Judges the World in Righteousness") where the Lord judges the world in righteousness.
* **Inevitable Downfall of the Wicked:** The verse emphasizes the absolute certainty and permanence of the wicked's defeat. Their schemes, power, and apparent success are temporary and ultimately destined for irreversible collapse. The imagery of falling and being cast down signifies a sudden and decisive end to their influence and activity, a stark contrast to their earlier self-assuredness. This serves as a powerful reminder that human pride and rebellion against God are ultimately futile, as seen in the ultimate fate of the proud described in [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction").
* **Assurance and Vindication for the Righteous:** For those who live righteously and trust in God, Psalms 36:12 offers immense comfort and hope. It reassures them that despite the apparent prosperity or temporary triumph of the wicked, God's justice will ultimately prevail, and the righteous will be vindicated. This provides a strong foundation for perseverance in faith, knowing that God sees and will act on behalf of His faithful ones. This theme is central to the entire book of [Psalms](/psalms/1 "The Book of Psalms - Songs and Prayers"), which often contrasts the path of the righteous with that of the ungodly, as powerfully articulated in [Psalm 1:6](/psalms/1-6 "Psalm 1:6 - The Way of the Righteous and the Way of the Ungodly").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Workers of iniquity (Hebrew, _po'ale awen'_):** This phrase (פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן, H6466 + H205) literally means "doers of trouble," "practicers of wickedness," or "those who work evil." The root H6466 (_pâʻal'_) signifies doing or making systematically and habitually, especially to practice, indicating that their iniquity is not accidental but an intentional and consistent lifestyle. H205 (_ʼâven'_) denotes "nothingness," "trouble," or "wickedness," often implying futility, deceit, or harm. Together, the phrase describes individuals whose lives are characterized by a deliberate and active pursuit of evil, indicating a deep-seated corruption of character and purpose.
* **Fallen (Hebrew, _nâphal'_):** The verb (נָפְלוּ, H5307) is in the perfect tense, suggesting a completed action with ongoing results. H5307 (_nâphal'_) means "to fall" in a great variety of applications, often implying collapse, overthrow, or perishing. Here, it conveys a sense of sudden, decisive collapse or overthrow. This is not a gradual decline but an abrupt and irreversible fall, indicating that their downfall is already a settled matter in God's divine decree, even if its manifestation is yet to occur in human time.
* **Cast down (Hebrew, _dâchâh'_):** This verb (הֻדְּחוּ, H1760) is in the Hophal stem, indicating a passive action: "they have been pushed down" or "they have been driven out." H1760 (_dâchâh'_) means "to push down," "chase," "drive away," or "overthrow." It implies an external, forceful action acting upon them, specifically God's judgment, which expels them from their position of power or influence. Coupled with "fallen," it intensifies the imagery of complete and forceful removal, signifying a divinely orchestrated expulsion.
* **Rise (Hebrew, _qûwm'_):** The verb (קוּם, H6965) means "to rise" or "to stand up" in various applications, including recovery or restoration. The phrase "shall not be able to rise" (לֹא יוּכְלוּ קוּם, H3201 + H6965) signifies an absolute and permanent inability to recover or regain their former standing. H3201 (_yâkôl'_) means "to be able." The negation "lo" (לֹא) makes it emphatic, underscoring the irreversible nature of their defeat and the finality of God's judgment. There is no hope of restoration or reversal for those who are the "workers of iniquity" once God's judgment falls upon them.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"There are the workers of iniquity fallen":** This opening clause acts as an emphatic declaration, almost as if pointing to an already accomplished fact from God's perspective. The "workers of iniquity" are those whose lives are defined by active, habitual rebellion against God's moral order. The use of the perfect tense "fallen" (נָפְלוּ) conveys the certainty and decisiveness of their collapse; their downfall is not merely a possibility but a divinely ordained reality, already sealed. This sets the stage for the irreversible nature of their judgment.
* **"they are cast down":** This phrase intensifies the imagery of the previous clause, serving as a powerful reinforcement. "Cast down" (הֻדְּחוּ) implies a forceful expulsion or being driven out, suggesting that their fall is not accidental but a deliberate act of divine intervention. It speaks to a complete removal from their position of power, influence, or perceived security, indicating that God actively intervenes to dismantle their wicked enterprises and bring them low. This emphasizes the active role of divine judgment.
* **"and shall not be able to rise":** This concluding statement seals the fate of the wicked with absolute finality. It emphasizes the permanence of their defeat; there will be no recovery, no resurgence, and no reversal of their judgment. Their inability to rise signifies a complete and irreversible loss of power, influence, and hope, underscoring the ultimate triumph of God's justice over all forms of evil and ensuring that their defeat is absolute and eternal.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 36:12 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine justice with emphatic certainty. **Prophetic Perfect** is prominently evident in the verbs "fallen" (נָפְלוּ) and "cast down" (הֻדְּחוּ). Though describing future events, these verbs are in the perfect tense, presenting the downfall of the wicked as a completed action from God's perspective, emphasizing its certainty and inevitability. This gives the declaration the weight of a divine decree, as if the judgment has already occurred in the divine counsel. **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, is present in "fallen" and "cast down," where the second phrase reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first, underscoring the totality and decisiveness of the wicked's collapse. The concluding phrase "shall not be able to rise" functions as a powerful **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the absolute and irreversible nature of their defeat, leaving no room for recovery or reversal. The entire verse also serves as a climactic **Antithesis** to the preceding verses (5-9) that describe the boundless goodness, faithfulness, and righteousness of God, starkly contrasting the stability and permanence of God's character with the instability and ultimate destruction of those who oppose Him.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 36:12 powerfully articulates the theological truth of God's unwavering justice and His ultimate sovereignty over all creation, including the moral order. It reassures believers that despite the often-perplexing reality of the wicked's temporary prosperity or the suffering of the righteous, God remains actively engaged in upholding righteousness and will, in His perfect timing, bring definitive judgment upon all forms of iniquity. This verse underscores that God's character is not only defined by boundless love and faithfulness, as celebrated earlier in the psalm, but also by an unyielding commitment to justice that ensures evil will not have the final word. It reaffirms the divine promise that while the righteous may face trials, their ultimate security rests in God's unfailing care, and the wicked, despite their schemes, are destined for an irreversible downfall. This certainty provides a firm foundation for faith and endurance amidst the challenges of a fallen world.

* [Psalm 37:1-2](/psalms/37-1-2 "Psalm 37:1-2 - Fret Not Because of Evildoers")
* [Proverbs 10:24-25](/proverbs/10-24-25 "Proverbs 10:24-25 - The Fear of the Wicked and the Righteous")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance Belongs to the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 36:12 offers a profound anchor for the soul in a world often marked by injustice and the apparent triumph of evil. It calls believers to cultivate an unwavering trust in God's sovereign justice, reminding us that even when we cannot discern His hand, He is actively working to set all things right. This verse compels us to live with integrity and moral courage, knowing that our actions have eternal consequences, and that aligning our lives with God's righteous character is the only path to true security and lasting blessing. It provides a powerful antidote to despair, strengthening our resolve to persevere in faith and good works, confident that God will ultimately vindicate His people and bring about a world where righteousness reigns supreme. This hope empowers us to resist the temptation to take matters into our own hands or to envy the fleeting success of the wicked, instead fixing our gaze on the unchanging character of God and His certain promises, finding our peace in His unwavering justice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the certainty of God's judgment against "workers of iniquity" impact your perspective on current global or personal injustices?**
* **In what ways might you be tempted to "fret" over the prosperity of the wicked, and how does this verse encourage you to trust God's timing and methods?**
* **What practical steps can you take to more fully align your life with God's righteousness, reflecting the contrast between the wicked and the righteous presented in this psalm?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse imply that the wicked will experience immediate and visible judgment in this life?**

Answer: While Psalms 36:12 declares the *certainty* and *finality* of the wicked's downfall, it does not necessarily promise immediate or always visible judgment in the present life. The perfect tense verbs ("fallen," "cast down") indicate a divinely decreed reality, a settled matter in God's eternal plan, rather than an instant, observable event for all. Often, biblical justice unfolds over time, culminating in ultimate judgment. Many psalms, like [Psalm 73](/psalms/73 "Psalm 73 - The Prosperity of the Wicked"), wrestle with the apparent prosperity of the wicked in this life, only to find resolution in the ultimate, eternal judgment of God. This verse offers assurance of a future, irreversible downfall, which may manifest in various ways—from a loss of influence to eternal separation from God—rather than a guarantee of instant earthly retribution.

**How can I reconcile the "workers of iniquity" with the biblical call for compassion and evangelism?**

Answer: The "workers of iniquity" in Psalms 36:12 refer to those whose lives are characterized by a persistent and active pursuit of evil, often with a complete disregard for God. This verse describes the *inevitable consequence* of such a life, not a call for believers to condemn or abandon hope for individuals. The biblical call for compassion and evangelism remains paramount. God desires that all would come to repentance and knowledge of the truth ([2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is Patient")). The judgment described here is for those who *remain* in their iniquity, refusing to turn to God. Our role is to proclaim the good news of salvation, which offers an escape from this very judgment, inviting all to turn from their wicked ways and find life in Christ, as seen in the Great Commission in [Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19-20 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 36:12, with its declaration of the certain downfall of the "workers of iniquity," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalm anticipates a general divine judgment, Christ's life, death, and resurrection represent the decisive victory over all forms of evil and the powers of darkness that fuel iniquity. The "workers of iniquity" are ultimately those who reject God's rule, and Jesus, through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death, disarmed the spiritual forces of wickedness, triumphing over them on the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). His resurrection is the definitive sign that death and sin, the ultimate manifestations of iniquity, have been conquered, ensuring that those who are "fallen" in their rebellion against God "shall not be able to rise" to challenge His ultimate authority. Conversely, Christ's triumph guarantees that those who trust in Him, though they may fall, will always be able to rise again through His power and grace ([Proverbs 24:16](/proverbs/24-16 "Proverbs 24:16 - The Righteous Fall Seven Times and Rise Again")). The final and complete fulfillment of this verse awaits Christ's glorious return, when every knee will bow and every tongue confess His Lordship, and all who persist in iniquity will face His righteous judgment, being cast down into eternal separation, with no possibility of rising again ([Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow") and [Revelation 20:11-15](/revelation/20-11-15 "Revelation 20:11-15 - The Great White Throne Judgment")). Thus, Psalms 36:12 not only speaks of God's justice but points forward to the Lamb of God who ultimately takes away the sin of the world and establishes His eternal kingdom of righteousness ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 1:5

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Psalms 140:10

Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

Psalms 64:7

¶ But God shall shoot at them [with] an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

Psalms 64:9

And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

Revelation 19:1

¶ And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

Revelation 19:6

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Psalms 55:23

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.