Salmos 52
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 52
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Notice this Psalm is addressed to wicked people (use of COLLECTIVE SINGULAR). Most Psalms are addressed to God. This Psalm is a series of strophes that contrast the plight of the wicked with the security of the righteous. Notice it is the speech of the two groups that reveals their hearts (motives, cf. Matt. 12:34-37).
Salmos 52:1-4
52:1 This is antithetical parallelism (see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY, III. A. #2). Throughout the Psalm the wicked and the righteous are contrasted (JPSOA). The LXX makes the whole verse refer to the "wicked." The second line has "of lawlessness all day long." AB (p. 11) makes the second line sarcasm, "O devoted of El." ▣ "boast" This VERB (BDB 237, KB 248, Hiphil IMPERFECT) in the Hiphil stem is often used of self praise (cf. 1 Kgs. 20:11; Ps. 49:6; Prov. 20:14; 27:1; Jer. 49:4). In Jer. 9:23-24 the term has both negative (false boasting) and positive (true grounds for boasting) aspects. ▣ "O mighty man" This is one of three VOCATIVES used to describe wicked people. O mighty man – BDB 150, they are mighty in their boasting about their sin; this is biting sarcasm O worker of deceit – BDB 793 I CONSTRUCT BDB 941 I O deceitful tongue – BDB 546 CONSTRUCT BDB 941; not the same root as #2, but very close (i.e., personified evil speech, cf. Ps. 1:3; see SPECIAL TOPIC: HUMAN SPEECH) ▣ "lovingkindness" This is the special covenant NOUN used to describe YHWH's loyalty to His promises. See SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed). ▣ "all day long" This denotes an extended period of time (i.e., forever; this concept must be related to context, see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ['olam]). The concept of "forever" is repeated several times in this Psalm. God's judgment – Ps. 52:5a the righteous' trust in God's lovingkindness – Ps. 52:8b the righteous' thanksgiving to God – Ps. 52:9a 52:2 We need to remember that words matter. They can bless or curse (cf. James 3:1-12). There is power in words (cf. Ps. 52:4). We will give an account to God for our words (cf. Matt. 12:34-37). Speech reveals the heart. 52:3 These are shocking parallel lines of poetry. Just think how far humans made in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen. 1:26-27) have fallen (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANAKIND)! They have become polar opposites of what they were intended to be! The word "love" (BDB 12) is used twice in shocking ways. they love evil more than good, Ps. 52:3 they love all words that devour, Ps. 52:4 ▣ "than speaking what is right" NKJV, Peshitta "than speaking righteousness" "than speaking the truth" "than truth" "to unrightness" "to speaking truthfully" "than truthful speech" "than speakiing justice" The reason there is such variety in the translations is because this is an unusual use of "righteousness" (BDB 841). It is often used in the sense of "right" (cf. Ps. 23:3) but here in the sense of "true" (cf. Ps. 58:1). Remember, context, context, context determines word meaning. SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS ▣ "Selah" See Introduction to the Psalms, VII. B. #1. 52:4 "devour" This NOUN (BDB 118 I, KB 135 I) basically means to swallow and is used as an image for destruction. KB 135 supposes that the same root might mean "confuse," which the NET Bible suggests fits this context best.
Salmos 52:5-7
52:5-7 This strophe contrasts what God will do with the wicked and the response of the righteous. God's actions toward the wicked result in their death. He will break (lit. "pull down") them down forever – BDB 683, KB 736, Qal IMPERFECT He will snatch up – BDB 367, KB 363, Qal IMPERFECT; this is a rare word only here in the Psalms, but note its other three occurrences refer to "fire taken to oneself," cf. Prov. 6:27; 25:22; Isa. 30:14 He will tear you away from your tent – BDB 650, KB 702, Qal IMPERFECT He will uproot them from the land of the living — BDB 1057, KB 1658, Piel PERFECT with waw (opposite of the faithful follower in Ps. 1:3) The reaction of the righteous to God's acts of judgment: will see – BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal IMPERFECT will fear (i.e., repent in awe; see SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR [OT]) – BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IMPERFECT will laugh at their judgment – BDB 965, KB 1315, Qal IMPERFECT (1) God laughs in Ps. 2:40; 37:13 (2) personified wisdom laughs in Prov. 1:26 (3) here the righteous laugh when the judgment of God falls on those who have rejected Him and persecuted them. They "laugh" in the sense of they reap what they sowed" (cf. full lists of texts online in Gal. 6:7-16). Justice defeats injustice! 52:5 This imagery of "tear you away from your tent" is an idiom related to the days of Israel's past (Patriarchs nomadic and later the Exodus). This same imagery can be seen in Saul – 1 Sam.13:2 (i.e., to your homes) Sheba – 2 Sam. 20:1 (i.e., to your homes) Jeroboam I – 1 Kgs. 12:16; 2 Chr. 10:16 (i.e., to our own country) Paul – 2 Cor. 5:1-10 (tent as metaphor for the human body) ▣ "forever" The concept of "forever" is mentioned in the Psalm's three lines. God's judgment is "forever," Ps. 52:5 (BDB 664, cf. Job 4:20; 14:20; 20:7; 23:7; Ps. 9:7) God's blessing is "forever and ever," 52:8 forever – BDB 761 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER) ever – BDB 723 I (compound of them both in Ps. 9:5; 10:16; 21:4; 45:6,17; 48:14; 104:5; 119:44; 145:1,2,21) faithful followers' thanksgiving is "forever," Ps. 52:9 – BDB 761 ▣ "the land of the living" This CONSTRUCT (BDB 75, BDB 313) is an idiom for life (cf. Job 28:13; Ps. 27:13; 116:9; 142:5; Isa. 38:11; Jer. 11:19). It is in contrast to "the land of the dead," which would be Sheol or the Pit (see SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD?). ▣ "Selah" See note at Psalm 3:2 and Intro. to Psalms, VII. B. #1. 52:7 Psalm 52:7 is a description of the person referred to in Ps. 52:1-4. he would not make God his refuge (see SPECIAL TOPIC: REFUGE) he trusted in the abundance of his riches, cf. Job 31:24-28; Ps. 49:6-9; Prov. 11:28; see SPECIAL TOPIC: WEALTH he was strong in his evil desire (NASB) ▣ "evil desire" "wickedness" "made himself strong by crime" "his wealth" "powerful by his vanity" "boasted in his possessions" "his mischief" The UBS Text Project, p. 255, says this root means "the riches acquired to the damage of others." It also notes that the same root appears in v. 2a, where it is translated "destructive plans" or "plots." This connotation fits the NASB translation.
Salmos 52:8-9
52:8-9 As Ps 52:5 characterized the wicked person (i.e., uprooted), Ps. 52:8 characterizes the righteous person (i.e., planted, cf. Ps. 1:3). He is like a green olive tree in the house of God, cf. Ps. 1:3; 92:12-14; 128:3; Jer. 11:16; 17:5-8. He trusts in God's lovingkindness forever, cf. Ps. 13:5 YHWH's lovingkindness is forever, cf. Ps. 52:8 the wicked "trust" in their own riches He gives thanks to God forever – BDB 392. KB 389, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense. He will wait on His name – BDB 875, KB 1082, Piel IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense. 52:8 "forever and ever" The MT has "forever and ever" (BDB 761 and BDB 723 I). The LXX has "forever, even forever and ever." This is a way to denote "permanency." SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam) 52:9 "Your name" It is characterized as "it is good" (BDB 373 II). See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH. The Hebrew root, "good," "pleasant," "agreeable," has a wide semantic field. Here, it is used of God's character which issues in "lovingkindness." His creation was pronounced "good" in Gen. 1:31 because God Himself is good (cf. 1 Chr. 16:34; Ezra 3:11; Ps. 25:8; 27:13; 31:19; 33:5; 34:8; 100:4-5; 107:8-9; 119:68; 145:5-7; Nahum 1:7; Mark 10:18). ▣ "Your godly ones" NKJV, NRSV, NJB, Peshitta "Your saints" "your loyal servants" "Your faithful one" "Your people" This could refer to angels heavenly council Cherubim over the Ark faithful followers at the temple (cf. Ps. 52:8, "house of God") ▣ NASB, LXX, NKJV "wait" NRSV, Peshitta, TEV "proclaim" "declare" "glorify" "trust" The MT has "I will wait for" (BDB 875, KB 1082, Piel in a COHORTATIVE sense). However, the connotation of "proclaim" fits the parallelism best (JPSOA).