Psalms 56:7

Shall they escape by iniquity? in [thine] anger cast down the people, O God.

Shall they escape {H6405} by iniquity {H205}? in thine anger {H639} cast down {H3381}{H8685)} the people {H5971}, O God {H430}.

Because of their crime, they cannot escape; in anger, God, strike down the peoples.

In spite of such sin, will they escape? In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.

Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God.

Psalms 56:7 KJV is a fervent plea from David, expressing his desire for divine justice against his persecutors. This verse is situated within Psalm 56, titled a "Michtam of David," a psalm likely composed during a desperate period when he was captured by the Philistines in Gath (1 Samuel 21:10). David, constantly pursued by King Saul and now in the hands of foreign enemies, feels relentlessly surrounded by those who twist his words and plot his harm (Psalms 56:5). This verse reflects his deep cry for God to intervene and punish the injustice he endures.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Retribution: The central question, "Shall they escape by iniquity?", highlights David's frustration with the apparent impunity of his oppressors. He appeals to God's inherent righteousness, believing that wickedness cannot ultimately go unpunished. This underscores a foundational biblical truth: God is a righteous judge who will not allow evil to prevail indefinitely.
  • God's Sovereign Anger: David’s cry, "in thine anger cast down the people, O God," acknowledges God’s supreme power and authority to execute judgment. It signifies a recognition that God's wrath is a just and holy response to sin and injustice, distinct from human vengeance.
  • Vindication of the Righteous: Implicit in David's plea is a profound desire for God to vindicate him and demonstrate His unwavering care for those who trust in Him, even when they face severe persecution.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "iniquity" is ʼāwen (אָוֶן), which carries strong connotations of trouble, sorrow, vanity, and specifically active wickedness, deceit, and injustice. It denotes not merely a passive wrongdoing but an intentional, harmful act. The phrase "cast down" comes from the verb yārād (יָרַד), meaning to descend or bring down, signifying God's decisive act of humbling or destroying the wicked. The "people" (lĕʼōm / לְאֹם) often refers to nations or peoples, particularly those hostile to God's covenant people.

Practical Application

This verse offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Justice: When we face injustice, betrayal, or persecution, this psalm reminds us that God sees and hears our suffering. We are encouraged to bring our pleas for justice to Him, rather than seeking personal retribution. The Bible teaches that vengeance belongs to the Lord.
  • Confidence in God's Sovereignty: Though the wicked may seem to prosper for a time or escape immediate consequences, this verse affirms that they will not ultimately escape God's righteous judgment. This provides comfort and hope that evil does not have the final say.
  • Patience and Prayer: While David expresses a strong desire for immediate justice, the broader context of the Psalms encourages believers to exercise patience and continued prayer, trusting that God will act in His perfect timing and way (Psalms 37:7).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 55:15

    Let death seize upon them, [and] let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them.

  • Isaiah 28:15

    Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

  • Jeremiah 10:25

    Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

  • Jeremiah 18:19

    Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.

  • Jeremiah 18:23

    Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay [me]: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal [thus] with them in the time of thine anger.

  • Psalms 94:20

    Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

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