Psalms 73:10

KJV

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore his people {H5971} return {H7725}{H8799)}{H8675)}{H7725}{H8686)} hither {H1988}: and waters {H4325} of a full {H4392} cup are wrung out {H4680}{H8735)} to them.

Complete Jewish Bible

Therefore his people return here and [thoughtlessly] suck up that whole cup of water.

Berean Standard Bible

So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.

American Standard Version

Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a fullcupare drained by them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 73:10 captures a pivotal moment in Asaph's spiritual crisis, where he observes the apparent prosperity of the wicked and its perplexing effect on "his people." This verse, fraught with interpretive ambiguity, describes either the allure of worldly success drawing God's people back to a worldly perspective, or the wicked's followers eagerly partaking in their illicit gains, or even the eventual bitter consequences that are "wrung out" to those who align with or envy the ungodly. It underscores the profound spiritual temptation to question divine justice when faced with the visible ease and influence of those who disregard God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 73 is a wisdom psalm, a deeply personal reflection by Asaph, a chief musician and Levite. It begins as a lament, articulating Asaph's profound spiritual crisis and near stumble ([Psalm 73:2](/psalms/73-2 "Psalm 73:2 - Asaph's Feet Almost Slipped")) as he grappled with the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous. The preceding verses detail the wicked's arrogance, pride, and open defiance of God ([Psalm 73:6](/psalms/73-6 "Psalm 73:6 - The Wicked's Pride"), [Psalm 73:9](/psalms/73-9 "Psalm 73:9 - Their Mouth Against Heaven")). Verse 10 stands as a description of the consequence or impact of this observation, particularly on "his people," setting the stage for Asaph's eventual turning point when he enters the sanctuary of God and gains a divine perspective on their ultimate end ([Psalm 73:17](/psalms/73-17 "Psalm 73:17 - Asaph Enters the Sanctuary")). This verse is crucial in depicting the widespread nature of the spiritual temptation Asaph himself faced.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Asaph, as a Levite and temple musician, would have been deeply immersed in the covenant traditions of Israel, where righteousness was typically associated with blessing and wickedness with judgment. The apparent inversion of this order presented a significant theological challenge, not just for Asaph but for the entire community. The concept of the "cup" as a metaphor for destiny, experience, or judgment was prevalent in ancient Near Eastern thought and biblical literature ([Psalm 11:6](/psalms/11-6 "Psalm 11:6 - Cup of Burning Coals"), [Isaiah 51:17](/isaiah/51-17 "Isaiah 51:17 - Cup of Trembling")). The struggle with theodicy—the question of God's justice in the face of evil and suffering—was a recurring theme in wisdom literature, reflecting the real-life challenges faced by individuals and communities in ancient Israel. The psalm reflects a society where visible prosperity was often interpreted as divine favor, making the wicked's success particularly perplexing and tempting.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within Psalm 73 and broader biblical wisdom literature. Primarily, it highlights **the allure of worldly prosperity** and the dangerous temptation it poses to even faithful individuals to abandon biblical principles or question God's justice. The phrase "his people return hither" vividly portrays how the visible success and ease of the wicked can draw others, including believers, away from steadfast faith and towards a worldly outlook, captivated by their apparent lack of trouble. Secondly, it explores the theme of **spiritual discernment** versus superficial judgment, urging believers to look beyond immediate appearances to God's ultimate truth. Finally, it touches upon the **ultimate destiny of the wicked**, implying that their "full cup" of worldly gain, while seemingly desirable, ultimately leads to a bitter experience, a theme that Asaph fully grasps later in the psalm ([Psalm 73:18](/psalms/73-18 "Psalm 73:18 - Set Them in Slippery Places")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **return hither (Hebrew, שׁוּב, _shuv_):** This verb means "to turn back," "to return," or "to repent." Its usage here is pivotal to the verse's ambiguity. It can imply that the wicked's followers "return" to them, drawn by their prosperity, or that God's own people, observing the wicked, "turn back" (or "turn aside") from their faith or conviction, drawn to question God's ways and perhaps even adopt the wicked's perspective. The "hither" (הֵן, _hen_) points to the place or state of the wicked, underscoring the magnetic pull of their apparent success.
* **wrung out (Hebrew, מָצָא, _matsa'_):** This verb is highly versatile, meaning "to find," "to draw out" (as water from a well), or "to drain." This ambiguity is central to the verse's varied interpretations. If "to draw out," it suggests people eagerly draw from the wicked's abundance. If "to drain" or "to find" (in the sense of experiencing something), it could imply that those who follow the wicked or envy them eventually experience a draining or wringing out of bitter consequences, sorrow, or disillusionment. This dual meaning highlights the tension within Asaph's own struggle.
* **[cup] (Hebrew, כּוֹס, _kos_ - implied):** While supplied in the KJV, the word "cup" is strongly implied by the context of "waters" being "wrung out." The cup is a common biblical metaphor representing destiny, experience, or judgment. A "full cup" can signify overflowing blessing, complete measure of sin, or a full measure of divine wrath or suffering. Here, it likely refers to the wicked's overflowing measure of prosperity or sin, the contents of which are then "wrung out" to others, either as a share of their abundance or as the inevitable bitter fruit of their ways.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore his people return hither":** The "therefore" links this verse to the preceding description of the wicked's arrogance and prosperity. The identity of "his people" is a key interpretive crux. It could refer to the wicked's own followers or adherents, who are drawn to their leader's success. Alternatively, and perhaps more aligned with Asaph's personal struggle, it could refer to God's people who, seeing the wicked's prosperity, are tempted to "return" or turn back to a worldly perspective, questioning God's justice and perhaps even envying the ungodly. The "hither" points to the sphere of the wicked's influence or lifestyle.
* **"and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them":** This clause describes what happens when "his people" return "hither." The "full cup" represents the wicked's overflowing measure—either of their ill-gotten prosperity, their unrestrained sin, or a destined judgment. The "waters" are the contents of this cup. The phrase "are wrung out to them" suggests that these waters are either drawn out and given to "his people" to drink (implying they partake in the wicked's abundance, perhaps even their sin), or that these waters are forcibly drained or experienced by them as a consequence. This latter interpretation suggests that those who align with or envy the wicked will ultimately drink deeply from a cup of bitter experience, sorrow, or disillusionment, as the superficiality of worldly success is exposed.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 73:10 effectively employs several **literary devices** to convey its complex message. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, specifically the "full cup" and its "waters" representing the destiny or experience of the wicked and those drawn to them. This metaphor is rich with biblical precedent, often signifying judgment or suffering, but here it is ambiguous, potentially representing either the wicked's overflowing prosperity or their eventual bitter end. The verse is also characterized by profound **Ambiguity**, particularly concerning the identity of "his people" and the precise meaning of "wrung out." This ambiguity reflects the very spiritual confusion and struggle Asaph himself is undergoing—he is unsure how to interpret the situation of the wicked and its impact. There is also an element of **Irony**, as the apparent "fullness" of the wicked's cup, which seems desirable, is subtly hinted to contain waters that will ultimately be "wrung out" in a way that is not truly beneficial or lasting, foreshadowing their ultimate destruction.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 73:10 stands as a poignant expression of the universal human struggle with the problem of evil and divine justice, a theme explored throughout Scripture. It highlights the deceptive nature of worldly success and the spiritual danger of envy. Theologically, it challenges the simplistic notion that prosperity is always a sign of God's blessing and suffering a sign of His displeasure. Instead, it subtly points towards a deeper, eternal justice that transcends immediate circumstances. The verse serves as a warning against being swayed by superficial appearances and underscores the importance of a faith that trusts God's ultimate sovereignty and righteous judgment, even when His ways are inscrutable. It prompts believers to consider where true satisfaction and security lie – not in the fleeting gains of the wicked, but in an enduring relationship with God.

* [Jeremiah 12:1-3](/jeremiah/12-1-3 "Jeremiah 12:1-3 - Jeremiah's Complaint About the Wicked's Prosperity")
* [Job 21:7-13](/job/21-7-13 "Job 21:7-13 - Job Questions the Wicked's Ease")
* [Psalm 37:1-2](/psalms/37-1-2 "Psalm 37:1-2 - Do Not Fret Because of Evildoers")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 73:10 serves as a powerful mirror for believers in every generation, prompting us to examine our own hearts and the objects of our envy. In a world that often measures success by material wealth, influence, and freedom from apparent trouble, this verse cautions us against adopting a worldly perspective that can lead to spiritual compromise or even a turning away from God. It reminds us that true prosperity is not defined by what we accumulate or how easy our lives appear, but by our relationship with the Living God. When we observe those who disregard God seemingly flourish, this verse calls us to spiritual discernment, urging us to look beyond the immediate and superficial to God's eternal truth and ultimate justice. It encourages us to find our satisfaction and security in Him alone, trusting that His ways are perfect, even when they are mysterious to us. Our focus should not be on the "full cup" of the world, but on the overflowing grace and presence of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I define "prosperity" in my own life, and how does that definition align or conflict with biblical wisdom?**
* **What temptations arise in my heart when I observe others who seem to disregard God yet experience worldly success?**
* **In what ways might I be "returning hither" to a worldly mindset, rather than remaining steadfast in my faith?**
* **How does this verse challenge my assumptions about God's justice and the ultimate destiny of both the righteous and the wicked?**

### FAQ
**Who are "his people" in this verse, and why is that important?**

Answer: The identity of "his people" is one of the key ambiguities in Psalms 73:10. There are two primary interpretations. First, "his people" could refer to the followers or adherents of the wicked themselves, who are drawn to and participate in the wicked's apparent success and influence. This interpretation suggests that the wicked's prosperity is so attractive that it draws others into their sphere. Second, and perhaps more aligned with Asaph's own struggle, "his people" could refer to the people of God (believers) who, observing the prosperity of the wicked, are tempted to "return" or turn away from their steadfast faith and adopt a worldly perspective, questioning God's justice and even envying the ungodly. The ambiguity is important because it highlights the widespread spiritual temptation presented by the wicked's success, affecting both their direct followers and potentially even God's own covenant people.

**What does "waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them" mean?**

Answer: This poetic phrase is also subject to multiple interpretations, largely dependent on the meaning of "wrung out" (Hebrew _matsa'_). One interpretation suggests that the wicked are so abundant in their prosperity (represented by the "full cup") that they dispense or "wring out" these "waters" (i.e., their worldly abundance, influence, or even their sinful ways) to their followers, who eagerly drink from this worldly overflow. This portrays a scene of shared, albeit illicit, prosperity. Another, and arguably more profound, interpretation suggests that those who follow the wicked or envy them will eventually drink deeply from a cup of bitter experience, sorrow, or disillusionment. In this view, the "full cup" represents the wicked's overflowing measure of sin or their destined judgment, and the "wringing out" implies that the negative consequences or the true, bitter nature of their path will ultimately be experienced by those associated with them. Asaph's eventual realization in the sanctuary ([Psalm 73:17](/psalms/73-17 "Psalm 73:17 - Asaph's Understanding in the Sanctuary")) leans towards this latter, more sobering understanding of the wicked's ultimate end.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 73:10, with its depiction of the perplexing prosperity of the wicked and the spiritual struggle it induces, finds its ultimate resolution and fulfillment in Christ. Asaph’s journey from envy to understanding the wicked’s true end ([Psalm 73:17](/psalms/73-17 "Psalm 73:17 - The End of the Wicked")) foreshadows the perfect justice and ultimate triumph embodied in Jesus. Christ Himself experienced the ultimate "full cup" of suffering and judgment, not for His own sin, but for ours ([Mark 14:36](/mark/14-36 "Mark 14:36 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane"), [John 18:11](/john/18-11 "John 18:11 - The Cup the Father Has Given Me")). While the wicked seem to drink from a cup of worldly abundance, their true destiny, as revealed in the New Testament, is one of eternal separation from God ([Matthew 25:41](/matthew/25-41 "Matthew 25:41 - Eternal Fire for the Wicked")). Conversely, those who trust in Christ drink from the "living water" He provides, leading to eternal life and true satisfaction ([John 4:14](/john/4-14 "John 4:14 - Living Water"), [John 7:38](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water")). The apparent paradox of the righteous suffering and the wicked prospering is resolved at the cross and resurrection, where Christ, the perfectly righteous one, suffered unjustly, yet His suffering led to eternal glory and the defeat of sin and death. Through Him, believers are promised not fleeting worldly success, but an imperishable inheritance and a secure future ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Inheritance Imperishable")), demonstrating that true blessedness is found not in a "full cup" of earthly gain, but in the abundant life offered by the Lamb of God ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life")).

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 75:8

For in the hand of the LORD [there is] a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring [them] out, [and] drink [them].