Psalms 58:7 (KJV)

What does Psalms 58:7 mean?

Psalms 58:7 is a prayer asking that the wicked become powerless and ineffective, like water that drains away or arrows that break before they can do harm. The verse uses vivid images to express a desire that those who do evil will lose their strength and ability to cause trouble.

In this psalm, David is speaking to God about corrupt leaders and judges who are acting unjustly. He uses strong language and pictures to show his frustration and longing for justice. The verse fits into a larger passage where David is asking God to intervene and stop those who use their power for evil.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 58:7

• "away" (מָאַס, ma'as) is often used for something being rejected or discarded, which highlights the wish that the wicked would simply vanish or be rendered useless.
• "waters" (מַיִם, mayim) refers to water, and here the image is of water that runs off and disappears, underlining the hope that the wicked’s influence will be fleeting.
• "continually" (הָלַךְ, halakh) means to go or walk, and in this context, it adds the sense of water flowing away without stopping, emphasizing the complete removal of the wicked.
• "bendeth" (דָּרַךְ, darakh) means to tread or bend, often used for stringing a bow, which sets up the image of preparing to shoot an arrow.
• "arrows" (חֵץ, chetz) are weapons, and the prayer is that these arrows (the plans or attacks of the wicked) will be broken or ineffective.
• "pieces" (פָּתַל, pathal) means to cut or split, so the request is that the arrows will be cut apart before they can do any harm.

Why Psalms 58:7 matters

• This verse clears up that David is not asking for personal revenge but for God to make the wicked powerless, using strong images to show how completely he wants their harmful influence to end.
• The verse’s language connects to the rest of the psalm, which is a cry for justice in the face of corrupt leadership, making it clear that the focus is on stopping injustice rather than punishing individuals out of spite.
• Understanding the original Hebrew words helps show how the images of water and arrows are about weakness and failure, not just destruction, which deepens the sense of what David is asking God to do.