The Meaning of Psalms 50:21 Explained

Psalms 50:21

KJV: These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

YLT: These thou didst, and I kept silent, Thou hast thought that I am like thee, I reprove thee, and set in array before thine eyes.

Darby: These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

ASV: These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: But I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

These [things] hast thou done,  and I kept silence;  thou thoughtest  that I was altogether  [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove  thee, and set [them] in order  before thine eyes. 

What does Psalms 50:21 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The people evidently concluded that because God did not judge them for their sinful ways, their sins did not matter to Him. Such was not the case. Their sins did not matter to them. Judgment was coming. They would have to account for their actions.

Context Summary

Psalms 50:16-23 - God's Warning To The Wicked
These searching words are for us all. We have no right to declare God's statutes, if our hearts hide wickedness in their secret chambers. We must not share ill-gotten money. Impurity, deceit, slander must be far from us, if we would have fellowship with God in prayer or service. God's silence must not be taken as indifference, for He is carefully watching each word and act; and if we persist, He will arise and set out all these unforgiven sins in order before the quickened vision of the soul.
Notice the two final conditions of a blessed life, Psalms 50:23. First, we must offer the sacrifice of praise, for we are priests and must not be slack in presenting the fruit of our lips. See Hebrews 13:15. But in addition we must order our behavior, or way, aright. It is a solemn thing to be entrusted with the great opportunity of living. Every passing moment should have something committed to it to keep in store. We dare not live by haphazard or chance. We must order our ways with prayerful deliberation. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 50

1  The majesty of God in the church
5  His order to gather his saints
7  The pleasure of God is not in ceremonies
14  but in sincerity of obedience

What do the individual words in Psalms 50:21 mean?

These [things] you have done and I kept silent You thought that I was that I was altogether like you [But] I will rebuke you and set [them] in order before your eyes
אֵ֤לֶּה עָשִׂ֨יתָ ׀ וְֽהֶחֱרַ֗שְׁתִּי דִּמִּ֗יתָ הֱֽיוֹת־ אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה כָמ֑וֹךָ אוֹכִיחֲךָ֖ וְאֶֽעֶרְכָ֣ה לְעֵינֶֽיךָ

אֵ֤לֶּה  These  [things] 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
עָשִׂ֨יתָ ׀  you  have  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
וְֽהֶחֱרַ֗שְׁתִּי  and  I  kept  silent 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָרַשׁ 
Sense: to cut in, plough, engrave, devise.
דִּמִּ֗יתָ  You  thought 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּמָה  
Sense: to be like, resemble.
הֱֽיוֹת־  that  I  was 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה  that  I  was  altogether 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כָמ֑וֹךָ  like  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.
אוֹכִיחֲךָ֖  [But]  I  will  rebuke  you 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: יָכַח  
Sense: to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right.
וְאֶֽעֶרְכָ֣ה  and  set  [them]  in  order 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: עָרַךְ  
Sense: to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct, compare.
לְעֵינֶֽיךָ  before  your  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, cdc, second person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.