Psalms 59:8

¶ But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

But thou, O LORD {H3068}, shalt laugh {H7832}{H8799)} at them; thou shalt have all the heathen {H1471} in derision {H3932}{H8799)}.

But you, ADONAI, laugh at them, you mock all the nations.

But You, O LORD, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations.

But thou, O Jehovah, wilt laugh at them; Thou wilt have all the nations in derision.

Commentary

Psalms 59:8 offers a powerful declaration of God's sovereign authority and His ultimate response to those who oppose Him and His people. This verse pivots from David's desperate plea for deliverance in the preceding verses to an expression of unwavering confidence in God's power.

Context of Psalms 59:8

Psalm 59 is a "Michtam of David," often understood to be written when King Saul sent men to watch David's house and kill him (1 Samuel 19:11). The psalm begins with David crying out to God for rescue from his bloodthirsty enemies, describing their malicious intent and unprovoked aggression. Verses 1-7 detail the threats and evil schemes of his adversaries. Verse 8 marks a dramatic shift, expressing David's profound trust that despite the immediate danger, God remains in supreme control and will ultimately deal with his foes.

Meaning and Key Themes

The core message of Psalms 59:8 is God's absolute sovereignty and the futility of human opposition against His will. The phrase "But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them" is an anthropomorphism, portraying God's contempt and scorn for the powerlessness of His enemies. It's not a laugh of amusement, but of derision, highlighting the utter foolishness and ultimate failure of their schemes against the Almighty. This echoes the similar declaration found in Psalm 2:4, where God laughs at the rebellious nations.

Furthermore, "thou shalt have all the heathen in derision" extends this divine contempt to all nations or individuals who stand against God's purposes. The term "heathen" (Hebrew: goyim) refers to nations, often used in the Old Testament to denote Gentile nations hostile to Israel or those who do not acknowledge God. This emphasizes that no human or national power, no matter how formidable, can stand against the Lord. God's ultimate judgment ensures that their plans will fail, and their boasts will come to nothing. This verse underscores:

  • God's Unchallengeable Sovereignty: He is above all human power and political machinations.
  • Divine Justice: God will not allow the wicked to triumph indefinitely.
  • The Futility of Opposition: Any attempt to thwart God's plans is ultimately laughable in His eyes.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "laugh" (sachaq) can convey not only joy but also mockery or scorn, which is its clear intent here. It signifies God's utter disdain for the enemies' efforts.
  • "Derision" comes from the Hebrew la'ag, meaning mockery, scorn, or contempt. It reinforces the idea that God views their efforts as utterly insignificant and worthy of ridicule.
  • "Heathen" (goyim) typically means "nations" or "peoples." In this context, it refers to those who are ungodly or hostile, signifying that God's authority extends over all peoples and powers, not just David's immediate enemies.

Cross-References and Connections

The concept of God laughing at His enemies is powerfully paralleled in Psalm 2:4, where it speaks of the Lord in heaven laughing at the rebellious nations. This theme of divine judgment and God's ultimate control over the nations is also seen in verses like Isaiah 40:15, where nations are described as a "drop of a bucket" before Him, and Jeremiah 10:10, which declares the Lord is the "true God." For believers facing difficult circumstances, this verse provides assurance of God's protective hand, as seen in Psalm 91:1.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalms 59:8 serves as a profound source of comfort and encouragement. When facing personal opposition, injustice, or even widespread societal evil, this verse reminds us that no enemy, no scheme, and no power is beyond God's ultimate control. We are called to place our trust not in human strength or political solutions, but in the Almighty God who views the greatest human threats with derision. It encourages us to:

  • Trust God's Sovereignty: Remember that God is on His throne, regardless of the chaos around us.
  • Find Peace in His Power: Do not fear human threats, for they are ultimately powerless against God's will.
  • Pray with Confidence: Approach God knowing that He hears and will act in His perfect timing and wisdom, bringing justice.

This verse reinforces the truth that while evil may seem to prevail for a time, God has the final word, and His purposes will never be thwarted.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 2:4

    He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

  • Psalms 37:13

    The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

  • Proverbs 1:26

    I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

  • Psalms 59:5

    Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

  • Matthew 18:17

    And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

  • 1 Samuel 19:15

    And Saul sent the messengers [again] to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

  • 1 Samuel 19:16

    And when the messengers were come in, behold, [there was] an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' [hair] for his bolster.
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