Understand, ye brutish among the people: and [ye] fools, when will ye be wise?
Understand {H995}{H8798)}, ye brutish {H1197}{H8802)} among the people {H5971}: and ye fools {H3684}, when will ye be wise {H7919}{H8686)}?
Take notice, yourselves, you boors among the people! You fools, when will you understand?
Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
Consider, ye brutish among the people; And ye fools, when will ye be wise?
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Psalms 92:6
A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. -
Titus 3:3
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another. -
Psalms 49:10
For he seeth [that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. -
Proverbs 12:1
¶ Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof [is] brutish. -
Romans 3:11
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. -
Deuteronomy 32:29
O that they were wise, [that] they understood this, [that] they would consider their latter end! -
Proverbs 8:5
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Psalms 94:8 is a poignant and direct challenge from the psalmist to those who live in ignorance and arrogance, particularly those who oppress others and disregard God's justice. It serves as a sharp rhetorical question, designed to awaken understanding.
Context of Psalms 94:8
This verse is situated within a psalm that is a fervent appeal to God for vengeance and justice against wicked rulers and oppressors who believe God is oblivious to their deeds. The psalmist describes their arrogant disregard for divine accountability (Psalms 94:7). In verse 8, the psalmist directly confronts these individuals, urging them to abandon their foolish and brutish ways and embrace wisdom, recognizing God's active role in the world.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The KJV uses strong terms to convey the psalmist's exasperation:
Practical Application
Psalms 94:8 serves as a timeless challenge for all people to examine their understanding and attitudes. It prompts us to consider: