Psalms 50:20 (KJV)

What does Psalms 50:20 mean?

Psalms 50:20 describes someone who sits and speaks against their own brother, even slandering their own mother's son. The verse points out the wrongdoing of speaking ill or falsely about close family members, highlighting this as a serious moral failure.

In the context of Psalms 50, God is addressing His people, calling out their hypocrisy. The speaker is God, confronting people who claim to worship Him but act unjustly toward others, especially their own relatives. The verse uses the example of slandering a brother to show how far people can stray from true righteousness, even while appearing religious.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 50:20

• "sittest" (יָשַׁב, yashav): This word often means to dwell or remain, but here it emphasizes a settled, ongoing attitude—someone who is comfortable or habitual in their wrongdoing, not just acting in a moment of anger.
• "slanderest" (דָּבַב, davav): This word carries the sense of spreading harmful or false stories. The focus is on intentional harm done through words, not just casual gossip.
• "brother" (אָח, ach) and "mother's son" (בֵּן, ben): These terms stress that the wrongdoing is against someone very close, not a distant stranger. The verse highlights the betrayal involved when family bonds are broken by slander.

Why Psalms 50:20 matters

• Psalms 50:20 clears up the idea that religious rituals alone are enough; God cares deeply about how people treat each other, especially within families.
• The verse emphasizes that slander and harmful speech are not minor faults but serious offenses, even more so when directed at one's own kin.
• This verse connects to the larger theme of Psalms 50, where God challenges empty religious practice and calls for genuine righteousness in everyday relationships.