50:16 50:16

Psalms 50:17

50:18 50:18

Bible Versions

Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
Seeing thou hatest {H8130}{H8804)} instruction {H4148}, and castest {H7993}{H8686)} my words {H1697} behind {H310} thee.
when you so hate to receive instruction and fling my words behind you?
For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.
Seeing that thou hatest instruction, And castest my words behind thee?

Psalms 50:17 KJV delivers a powerful indictment from God against those who outwardly claim to follow Him but inwardly reject His fundamental instructions and commands. This verse is part of a larger divine courtroom scene in Psalm 50, where God, the Mighty One, calls all creation to witness His judgment against His own people, not for failing to offer sacrifices, but for their moral and spiritual hypocrisy.

Context

Psalm 50 is a prophetic psalm, often attributed to Asaph, presenting God as a judge summoning Israel. He first clarifies that He does not need their sacrifices for His sustenance (Psalms 50:9-12). Instead, He desires true worship characterized by thanksgiving, vows fulfilled, and reliance upon Him (Psalms 50:14-15). Verse 17 then directly addresses the wicked within the covenant community, those who meticulously perform religious rituals but simultaneously live in open defiance of God's moral law. This divine accusation highlights a critical disconnect between outward religious observance and inward spiritual rebellion.

Key Themes

  • Rejection of Divine Instruction: The core message is that God's people, or at least a significant portion among them, actively despise and discard His guidance. This isn't passive ignorance but an intentional hatred of the discipline and wisdom God offers.
  • Hypocrisy in Worship: The verse exposes the futility of religious acts when the heart is far from God. It underscores the danger of performing rituals while neglecting the very essence of God's will and character.
  • The Value of God's Word: By condemning the rejection of His words, God emphasizes the supreme importance of His law and statutes as the foundation for a righteous life and genuine relationship with Him.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the broader context of Psalm 50 points to the severe judgment awaiting those who persist in such rebellion and refuse to repent.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "instruction" is musar (מוּסָר), which means discipline, correction, or moral instruction. It's not merely intellectual knowledge but guidance intended to shape behavior and character, much like a parent's discipline for a child. To "hate" this instruction implies a deep-seated aversion to being corrected or guided by God's truth.

The phrase "castest my words behind thee" is a powerful idiom. It signifies a deliberate act of dismissal, contempt, and utter disregard. It's not simply forgetting or misunderstanding, but an intentional turning away from and showing disdain for God's commands and statutes. This active rejection stands in stark contrast to the call to keep God's words in one's heart and teach them diligently.

Practical Application

Psalms 50:17 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual complacency and hypocrisy. It challenges believers today to examine their hearts:

  • Beyond Rituals: Are our religious practices (church attendance, prayer, Bible reading) merely outward forms, or do they stem from a genuine desire to obey and honor God? God desires truth in the inward parts, not just external performance.
  • Embracing Correction: Do we welcome God's correction and instruction found in His Word, even when it challenges our comfortable habits or sinful desires? A teachable spirit is essential for spiritual growth.
  • Living the Word: True faith is demonstrated not just by hearing God's words, but by actively integrating them into our daily lives. As James 1:22 says, we must be "doers of the word, and not hearers only."

Ultimately, this verse reminds us that God desires a transformed life that aligns with His character and commands, not just empty religious gestures. Our attitude towards His instruction reveals the true state of our hearts.

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.

  • Nehemiah 9:26

    Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

  • Proverbs 12:1

    ¶ Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof [is] brutish.

  • 2 Timothy 4:3

    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

  • 2 Timothy 4:4

    And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10

    And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:12

    That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

  • Romans 2:21

    Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
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