Psalms 112:10

Authorized King James Version

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The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Original Language Analysis

רְשָׁעִ֣ים The wicked H7563
רְשָׁעִ֣ים The wicked
Strong's: H7563
Word #: 1 of 9
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
יִרְאֶ֨ה׀ shall see H7200
יִרְאֶ֨ה׀ shall see
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 2 of 9
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
וְכָעָ֗ס it and be grieved H3707
וְכָעָ֗ס it and be grieved
Strong's: H3707
Word #: 3 of 9
to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant
שִׁנָּ֣יו with his teeth H8127
שִׁנָּ֣יו with his teeth
Strong's: H8127
Word #: 4 of 9
a tooth (as sharp); specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff
יַחֲרֹ֣ק he shall gnash H2786
יַחֲרֹ֣ק he shall gnash
Strong's: H2786
Word #: 5 of 9
to grate the teeth
וְנָמָ֑ס and melt away H4549
וְנָמָ֑ס and melt away
Strong's: H4549
Word #: 6 of 9
to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)
תַּאֲוַ֖ת the desire H8378
תַּאֲוַ֖ת the desire
Strong's: H8378
Word #: 7 of 9
a longing; by implication, a delight (subjectively, satisfaction, objectively, a charm)
רְשָׁעִ֣ים The wicked H7563
רְשָׁעִ֣ים The wicked
Strong's: H7563
Word #: 8 of 9
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
תֹּאבֵֽד׃ shall perish H6
תֹּאבֵֽד׃ shall perish
Strong's: H6
Word #: 9 of 9
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

Analysis & Commentary

The wicked shall see it, and be grieved (רָשָׁע יִרְאֶה וְכָעָס, rasha yir'eh ve-kha'as)—Ka'as means be angry, grieved, vexed. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away (שִׁנָּיו יַחֲרֹק וְנָמָס, shinnav yacharok ve-names)—Charaq means gnash, grind teeth in rage; masas means melt, dissolve, waste away. The desire of the wicked shall perish (תַּאֲוַת רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד, ta'avat resha'im toved)—Ta'avah means desire, longing; abad means perish, be destroyed.

Psalm 112 describes the blessed life of those who fear the LORD. The wicked witness this blessing and respond with impotent rage—gnashing teeth signals furious frustration. While the righteous flourish (vv. 1-9), the wicked waste away watching. Their desires perish because they're built on sand. This contrasts Psalm 1: the righteous are like fruitful trees; the wicked like chaff blown away.

Historical Context

This psalm is an acrostic (like Psalm 111), following the Hebrew alphabet for teaching purposes. It reverses the problem of Psalm 37—there the righteous were troubled by wicked prosperity; here the wicked are troubled by righteous prosperity. Both affirm that God's moral order prevails ultimately.

Questions for Reflection