The Meaning of Psalms 94:8 Explained

Psalms 94:8

KJV: Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

YLT: Consider, ye brutish among the people, And ye foolish, when do ye act wisely?

Darby: Understand, ye brutish among the people; and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

ASV: Consider, ye brutish among the people; And ye fools, when will ye be wise?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Understand,  ye brutish  among the people:  and [ye] fools,  when will ye be wise? 

What does Psalms 94:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 94:6-23 - The Lord Our Defense Against Evil-Doers
Let us ponder all the great things that God will do for them that trust Him. He planted the ear, and will detect the sigh, sob, or broken utterance of His child, Psalms 94:9. He formed the eye, and He knows our sorrows. He watches the sparrow's fall, and His child is of more value than many sparrows. He corrects us; shall we not be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live, Psalms 94:10? He knows our thoughts; let us ask Him to purify and restrain them, Psalms 94:11. He teaches out of His Law; let us be diligent students of the Scriptures, Psalms 94:12. He will neither cast us off nor forsake us, Psalms 94:14.
The Lord is our help, and the soul that trusts Him shall not be silenced, Psalms 94:17. He holds us up when our foot slips, Psalms 94:18. Whatever thoughts may startle or affright us, God has a comfort suited to counteract each of them. His comforts delight the soul. They bring joy and hope with them, Psalms 94:19. He defends us against the charges laid at our door, and is a rock on which we may stand steadily, amid the seething waters, Psalms 94:22. If God be for us, who can be against us, or who can separate us from His love? Romans 8:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 94

1  The prophet, calling for justice, complains of tyranny and impiety
8  He teaches God's providence
12  He shows the blessedness of affliction
16  God is the defender of the afflicted

What do the individual words in Psalms 94:8 mean?

Understand you senseless among the people and [you] fools when will you be wise
בִּ֭ינוּ בֹּעֲרִ֣ים בָּעָ֑ם וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים מָתַ֥י ؟ תַּשְׂכִּֽילוּ

בִּ֭ינוּ  Understand 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
בֹּעֲרִ֣ים  you  senseless 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: בָּעַר 
Sense: to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled.
בָּעָ֑ם  among  the  people 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים  and  [you]  fools 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּסִיל  
Sense: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.
؟ תַּשְׂכִּֽילוּ  will  you  be  wise 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.