When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

PSALMS 50:18KJV
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Psalms 50:18 (KJV)

What does Psalms 50:18 mean?

Psalms 50:18 describes people who approve of wrongdoing and associate themselves with those who commit it. God addresses people who speak about his commands, yet their response to a thief and their association with adulterers reveal a gap between their words and their conduct.

The verse moves from what a person sees to the response that follows: approval of the thief. “Partaker with adulterers” pictures shared involvement with people who break their marriage promises.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 50:18

  • “consentedst” — רָצָה (ratsah): This word can carry the sense of being pleased with or approving someone. Here, the response to the thief is more than simply noticing him.
  • “partaker” — חָלַק (chalaq): This word can mean to share or have a portion. The phrase presents a connection with adulterers in terms of sharing with them.

Why Psalms 50:18 matters

  • The verse points to conduct alongside speech. In verse 16, God addresses a person who speaks of his commands; verse 18 brings that person’s associations into view.
  • The accusation continues beyond the examples in verse 18. Verse 19 turns to harmful speech, adding another kind of conduct to the picture.

Where else these words appear

“thief” Hebrew H1590 · used in 17 verses

  • Exodus 22:2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
  • Job 30:5 They were driven forth from among men,(they cried after them as after a thief;)
  • Jeremiah 48:27 For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.

“adulterers” Hebrew H5003 · used in 26 verses

  • Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
  • Jeremiah 3:9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
  • Ezekiel 16:38 And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.

“consentedst” Hebrew H7521 · used in 55 verses

  • Genesis 33:10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
  • Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

“partaker” Hebrew H2506 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 14:24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
  • Joshua 22:27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.
  • Ecclesiastes 2:21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.