Psalms 14:4
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
הֲלֹ֥א
H3808
הֲלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָדְעוּ֮
no knowledge
H3045
יָדְעוּ֮
no knowledge
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
2 of 12
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
3 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
פֹּ֪עֲלֵ֫י
Have all the workers
H6466
פֹּ֪עֲלֵ֫י
Have all the workers
Strong's:
H6466
Word #:
4 of 12
to do or make (systematically and habitually), especially to practise
אָ֥וֶן
of iniquity
H205
אָ֥וֶן
of iniquity
Strong's:
H205
Word #:
5 of 12
strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
עַ֭מִּי
my people
H5971
עַ֭מִּי
my people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
7 of 12
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
לֶ֑חֶם
bread
H3899
לֶ֑חֶם
bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
9 of 12
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
יְ֝הוָ֗ה
not upon the LORD
H3068
יְ֝הוָ֗ה
not upon the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
10 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Psalms 79:6Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.Jeremiah 10:25Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.Isaiah 64:7And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.Psalms 82:5They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.Romans 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;Psalms 27:2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.Amos 8:4Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
Historical Context
Written during a time when Israel's leaders and wealthy exploited the poor, treating them as mere resources to be consumed rather than people made in God's image.
Questions for Reflection
- How does prayerlessness lead to treating people as objects?
- In what ways do you thoughtlessly consume or exploit others?
Analysis & Commentary
This rhetorical question exposes the wicked's moral insensitivity—they 'eat up' God's people like bread (thoughtlessly, habitually) and do not call upon God. The Hebrew 'akal' (eat/devour) suggests consuming the poor as casually as one eats food. The parallel between devouring people and not calling on God reveals that prayerlessness and oppression are connected—those who ignore God inevitably harm people.