Psalms 50:17
Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
Original Language Analysis
מוּסָ֑ר
instruction
H4148
מוּסָ֑ר
instruction
Strong's:
H4148
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint
וַתַּשְׁלֵ֖ךְ
and castest
H7993
וַתַּשְׁלֵ֖ךְ
and castest
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
4 of 6
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Nehemiah 9:26Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.Proverbs 12:1Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.Proverbs 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.Jeremiah 8:9The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?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;Proverbs 8:36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.Jeremiah 18:12And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.John 3:20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.1 Kings 14:9But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
Historical Context
Israel's history included periods of external religious observance while internally rejecting God's authority. The book of the law could be forgotten even while the temple functioned (2 Kings 22).
Questions for Reflection
- How can we 'hate instruction' while knowing Scripture?
- What does casting God's words 'behind thee' look like practically?
Analysis & Commentary
The root problem: 'Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.' Despite reciting statutes, the wicked person hates the instruction those statutes contain. Casting words 'behind thee' means treating them as irrelevant, passed over, ignored. Scripture quoted is Scripture ignored.