59:14 59:14

Psalms 59:15

59:16 59:16

Bible Versions

Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
Let them wander up and down {H5128}{H8686)}{H8675)}{H5128}{H8799)} for meat {H398}{H8800)}, and grudge {H3885}{H8799)} if they be not satisfied {H7646}{H8799)}.
They roam about, looking for food, prowling all night if they don't get their fill.
They scavenge for food, and growl if they are not satisfied.
They shall wander up and down for food, And tarry all night if they be not satisfied.

Context

Psalm 59 is a fervent prayer of David, specifically when King Saul sent men to watch his house and kill him (1 Samuel 19:11). This psalm is a lament and an imprecation, where David cries out to God for deliverance from his bloodthirsty enemies. He describes them as dogs prowling the city (v. 6, 14), full of malice and lies. Verse 15 is part of David's petition for divine judgment upon his adversaries, asking that their wicked actions ultimately lead to their own frustrated and restless existence.

Key Themes

  • Divine Retribution and Justice: The verse expresses a plea for God to repay the wicked according to their deeds. It envisions a future where those who pursue evil are themselves pursued by an insatiable hunger and discontent.
  • Unsatisfied Desires: The imagery of "wandering up and down for meat" and "grudging if they be not satisfied" vividly portrays the futility of a life lived apart from God's provision. Unlike the righteous who find contentment and spiritual nourishment (Psalm 23:1), the wicked are depicted as perpetually restless and unfulfilled, never finding true satisfaction.
  • Consequences of Wickedness: The psalm suggests that the very aggression and destructive intent of the enemies will boomerang back upon them, resulting in a state of perpetual want and complaint. This reflects a biblical principle that sin often carries its own self-defeating consequences.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew verb for "wander up and down" is nu` (נוּעַ), which denotes a restless, aimless, or fugitive movement, often associated with instability or a lack of security.
  • "Meat" translates the Hebrew word lechem (לֶחֶם), which broadly refers to "bread" or "food," symbolizing basic sustenance and livelihood. The enemies are depicted as searching for even the most fundamental necessities.
  • "Grudge" comes from the Hebrew lun (לוּן), meaning "to murmur," "grumble," or "complain." This highlights their deep dissatisfaction and resentment even when they do find something, underscoring their inner turmoil.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God is a God of justice who sees the actions of the wicked and will ultimately bring about consequences. It encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate plan, even when facing severe opposition, knowing that the schemes of the ungodly are ultimately self-defeating. While we are called to love our enemies in the New Testament (Matthew 5:44), this psalm validates the cry for divine justice against evil and highlights the inherent emptiness that results from a life alienated from God's truth and provision. It contrasts the restless hunger of the wicked with the deep peace and satisfaction found in Christ.

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.

  • Job 15:23

    He wandereth abroad for bread, [saying], Where [is it]? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

  • Psalms 109:10

    Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek [their bread] also out of their desolate places.

  • Job 30:1

    ¶ But now [they that are] younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

  • Job 30:7

    Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.

  • Deuteronomy 28:53

    And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

  • Deuteronomy 28:58

    If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;

  • Lamentations 5:9

    We gat our bread with [the peril of] our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.
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