Psalms 50:16

KJV

¶ But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

KJV (with Strong's)

But unto the wicked {H7563} God {H430} saith {H559}{H8804)}, What hast thou to do to declare {H5608}{H8763)} my statutes {H2706}, or that thou shouldest take {H5375}{H8799)} my covenant {H1285} in thy mouth {H6310}?

Complete Jewish Bible

But to the wicked God says: "What right do you have to proclaim my laws or take my covenant on your lips,

Berean Standard Bible

To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?

American Standard Version

But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, And that thou hast taken my covenant in thy mouth,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 50:16 delivers a sharp divine rebuke to those within the covenant community who outwardly profess God's statutes and covenant but whose lives are marked by disobedience and hypocrisy. It is a powerful indictment from God, acting as a judge, challenging the legitimacy of their verbal declarations when their actions contradict the very principles they claim to uphold, emphasizing that true adherence to God's law requires integrity between word and deed.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 50 functions as a divine courtroom scene, with God, the majestic Judge, summoning heaven and earth as witnesses to His indictment of Israel. The psalm begins with a grand display of God's glory and power, establishing His authority to judge. Prior to verse 16, God addresses the righteous, affirming their true worship (vv. 1-6), then pivots to condemn those who offer mere ritual sacrifices without genuine thanksgiving or obedience (vv. 7-15), emphasizing that He desires spiritual offerings over physical ones. Verse 16 then introduces a stark contrast, directly confronting the "wicked" within the covenant community, shifting the focus from inadequate ritual to outright moral and spiritual hypocrisy. The subsequent verses (vv. 17-21) further detail the specific sins of these "wicked" individuals, including theft, adultery, slander, and deceit, highlighting the profound disconnect between their outward religious observance and their inward corruption.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel's relationship with God was defined by the Mosaic Covenant, a binding agreement that stipulated blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Central to this covenant were God's "statutes" (laws, commands) and the expectation of a people set apart for Him. Sacrificial worship was a prescribed means of atonement and communion, but over time, it could become a perfunctory ritual, devoid of genuine repentance or heartfelt devotion. The prophetic tradition, from Moses to the later prophets, consistently warned against such outward religiosity without inward transformation (e.g., [Isaiah 1:10-17](/isaiah/1-10 "Isaiah 1:10-17 - True Worship vs. Empty Ritual")). Psalm 50:16 reflects this long-standing tension, addressing a common spiritual malaise in Israel where verbal adherence to the covenant was divorced from ethical living, a problem that plagued the nation throughout its history and often drew divine judgment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 50 and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent theme is **Hypocrisy Unveiled**, as God exposes the chasm between verbal profession and actual practice. It underscores the biblical emphasis on **Integrity in Faith**, asserting that true devotion is not merely intellectual assent or ritualistic performance, but a holistic commitment that permeates one's actions, character, and inner being, echoing the call for a renewed heart found in [Deuteronomy 6:4-6](/deuteronomy/6-4 "Deuteronomy 6:4-6 - The Shema and Love for God"). Furthermore, it highlights **Divine Authority and Judgment**, as God's rhetorical question is not seeking an answer but is a declaration of His sovereign right to scrutinize and condemn insincere worship and disobedient living. Finally, it speaks to the **True Nature of the Covenant**, reminding the people that the covenant is a living, relational agreement requiring active participation and obedience, not just verbal acknowledgement, a principle that finds its ultimate expression in the New Covenant where God's law is written on the heart ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wicked (Hebrew, _rasha‘_):** This term (רָשָׁע) denotes someone who is guilty, unrighteous, or morally corrupt, often in contrast to the righteous (צַדִּיק, _tsaddiq_). In the context of Psalm 50:16, it is particularly striking because it is applied to individuals *within* the covenant community, those who ostensibly claim to be God's people and speak of His laws. This highlights that "wickedness" here is not merely a state of being outside the covenant, but a profound moral and spiritual failure of those who are supposedly inside, acting contrary to the very principles they profess.
* **Declare (Hebrew, _sapar_):** The verb (סָפַר) means "to count, to recount, to tell, to declare, to relate." It implies a verbal articulation, a public recitation or teaching of God's statutes. The force of God's question is not against the act of declaring His statutes in itself, which is commendable, but against the *right* of the "wicked" to do so, given their contradictory lives. It points to the hypocrisy of speaking God's truth while living a lie.
* **Covenant (Hebrew, _berit_):** This crucial term (בְּרִית) refers to a solemn, binding agreement or treaty, specifically the covenant God made with Israel at Sinai. To "take my covenant in thy mouth" is a vivid metaphor for verbally acknowledging, professing, or even teaching the terms of the covenant. The rhetorical question challenges the integrity of such a verbal act when the life of the speaker is in direct violation of that very covenant.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But unto the wicked God saith,"**: This clause immediately identifies the specific target of God's direct address. The "wicked" are not outsiders, but those within the covenant community whose actions betray their profession. God, the majestic Judge introduced earlier in the psalm, now directly confronts them, signaling a shift from general principles to a pointed indictment.
* **"What hast thou to do to declare my statutes,"**: This is a powerful rhetorical question. It is not an inquiry seeking information, but a forceful challenge to the legitimacy and authority of the wicked to speak about God's laws. The implication is that they have no right, no moral standing, to teach or proclaim God's righteous decrees when their own lives are characterized by unrighteousness. Their words are empty and hypocritical, lacking the integrity required of one who speaks for God.
* **"or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?"**: This second rhetorical question reinforces the first, using a vivid metaphor. To "take the covenant in one's mouth" signifies verbally professing adherence to its terms, perhaps even reciting its provisions or teaching its principles. The question underscores the profound incongruity between the sacredness of God's covenant and the defiled lips and lives of those who outwardly speak of it while inwardly violating it. It highlights the spiritual offense of using holy words as a cloak for unholy living.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 50:16 is rich in literary devices that amplify its powerful message. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "What hast thou to do...?" which is not meant to elicit an answer but to deliver a forceful condemnation and to highlight the absurdity and moral bankruptcy of the wicked's actions. This question serves as a direct challenge to their legitimacy. There is also a strong element of **Contrast** at play, juxtaposing the outward declaration of God's statutes and covenant with the inward reality of the "wicked" person's life. The phrase "take my covenant in thy mouth" functions as a potent **Metaphor** or **Imagery**, vividly portraying a superficial, verbal adherence to sacred truth that lacks genuine heart engagement and obedience. This imagery underscores the idea of hypocrisy, where sacred words are profaned by unholy living. The entire psalm, including this verse, operates within the framework of a **Legal Metaphor** or **Divine Courtroom Scene**, where God is the judge, and the wicked are on trial for their covenant violations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 50:16 powerfully articulates God's demand for authenticity and integrity in the lives of His covenant people, a theme that reverberates throughout Scripture. It underscores that true religion is not merely a matter of outward profession or ritualistic observance, but a profound commitment of the heart that translates into righteous living. God is not impressed by mere words or empty religious displays; He seeks genuine obedience and a life that reflects the values of His covenant. This verse serves as a timeless reminder that hypocrisy is an abomination to God, as it misrepresents His character and undermines the very essence of a relationship built on truth and faithfulness.

* [Proverbs 28:9](/proverbs/28-9 "Proverbs 28:9 - Prayer of the Disobedient")
* [Matthew 7:21](/matthew/7-21 "Matthew 7:21 - Not Everyone Who Says 'Lord, Lord'")
* [Titus 1:16](/titus/1-16 "Titus 1:16 - Professing God but Denying Him by Works")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 50:16 serves as a penetrating mirror for every individual who claims to follow God. It forces us to confront the uncomfortable question of whether our verbal profession of faith is genuinely matched by the integrity of our daily lives. In a world often focused on outward appearances and public declarations, this verse reminds us that God sees beyond the façade, scrutinizing the heart and discerning the true alignment (or misalignment) between our words and our deeds. It calls us to a radical authenticity, where our lives become a living testament to the God we proclaim, ensuring that we do not bring disrepute to His holy name through hypocrisy. This introspection is vital for personal spiritual growth and for maintaining a credible witness to a watching world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might my words about God's statutes or covenant contradict my actions?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater sense of integrity between what I profess to believe and how I actually live?**
* **What does it truly mean to "take God's covenant in my mouth" in a way that honors Him?**
* **How does this verse challenge my understanding of true worship and obedience?**

### FAQ

**Who are the "wicked" referred to in this verse, given they are speaking God's statutes?**

Answer: The "wicked" (Hebrew: _rasha‘_) in this context are not necessarily pagans or those entirely outside the covenant community. Instead, they are individuals *within* Israel who outwardly profess allegiance to God and even speak of His laws and covenant, but whose lives are characterized by moral corruption, disobedience, and hypocrisy. Psalm 50 as a whole is an indictment of God's own people, particularly those who engage in religious rituals without genuine heart transformation or ethical living. They are "wicked" precisely because their actions contradict their verbal declarations, making their religious speech a sham. This is further clarified in the subsequent verses of Psalm 50, which detail their specific sins (e.g., [Psalms 50:17-20](/psalms/50-17 "Psalm 50:17-20 - Specific Sins of the Wicked")).

**What is the significance of the phrase "take my covenant in thy mouth"?**

Answer: This phrase is a powerful metaphor signifying a verbal profession or declaration of adherence to God's covenant. It implies speaking about God's laws, perhaps even teaching them, reciting them, or participating in covenant rituals with one's lips. The significance lies in the profound disconnect between this verbal act and the individual's actual behavior. God is challenging the legitimacy of such a verbal declaration when the speaker's life is in direct violation of the very covenant they are speaking about. It highlights the emptiness and hypocrisy of outward religious observance without inward transformation and obedience, emphasizing that God desires truth in the inward parts ([Psalms 51:6](/psalms/51-6 "Psalm 51:6 - Truth in the Inward Parts")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 50:16, with its piercing indictment of hypocrisy and its call for integrity between word and deed, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant, though righteous, exposed humanity's inability to perfectly declare God's statutes and live out His covenant, often leading to the very hypocrisy condemned here. Jesus, however, is the perfect embodiment of God's statutes, not merely declaring them but living them flawlessly ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). He consistently exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of His day, who, like the "wicked" in Psalm 50, meticulously observed outward rituals and spoke of God's law while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness ([Matthew 23:27-28](/matthew/23-27 "Matthew 23:27-28 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees")). Through His atoning work, Christ inaugurates the New Covenant, where God's law is not merely spoken with the mouth but written on the heart by the Holy Spirit ([Hebrews 8:10](/hebrews/8-10 "Hebrews 8:10 - The New Covenant Written on Hearts")), enabling true obedience and transforming believers from within. Thus, in Christ, believers are empowered to genuinely declare God's statutes and live out His covenant, not by their own flawed efforts, but by the power of the Spirit, reflecting the integrity that God has always desired ([Philippians 2:13](/philippians/2-13 "Philippians 2:13 - God Works in You")).

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 78:36

Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

Psalms 78:38

But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Isaiah 29:13

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Romans 2:17

¶ Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

Romans 2:24

For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Isaiah 55:6

¶ Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Isaiah 55:7

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.