Psalms 73:6

My Notes

What Does Psalms 73:6 Mean?

"Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment." Asaph describes the wicked in Psalm 73 — the psalm of nearly-lost faith. The wicked wear their sins as CLOTHING: PRIDE is their CHAIN (necklace/ornament) and VIOLENCE is their GARMENT. The sins aren't hidden. They're DISPLAYED — worn publicly, proudly, as accessories. The pride is jewelry. The violence is fashion.

The phrase "pride compasseth them about as a chain" (anaqatmo ga'avah — pride necklaces them / pride is their necklace) makes PRIDE their ORNAMENT: the chain (anaq — necklace, ornamental chain) is jewelry — something you wear to be SEEN, to display wealth, to attract attention. The wicked wear their PRIDE the way others wear gold. The arrogance is their ACCESSORY. The pride isn't a hidden flaw. It's a displayed ORNAMENT.

The phrase "violence covereth them as a garment" (ya'atoph shit chamas — violence wraps/covers them as a garment) makes VIOLENCE their CLOTHING: the garment (shit — a covering, a wrap) is what covers the body. Violence is what COVERS the wicked — their visible exterior, their public presentation, their social appearance. The violence isn't occasional behavior. It's their OUTFIT — what they're seen in, what covers them, what defines their public image.

Asaph's OBSERVATION is that the wicked are SUCCESSFUL wearing these: Psalm 73:3 — 'I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.' The pride-necklace and the violence-garment don't produce poverty. They produce PROSPERITY. The wicked are well-dressed in their sins — and thriving. This is what nearly destroys Asaph's faith.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What pride-as-jewelry and violence-as-fashion do you see prospering — and what does it do to your faith?
• 2.What does the wicked WEARING their sins (not hiding them) teach about how some people display what should bring shame?
• 3.How does Asaph nearly losing faith at the wicked's prosperity describe the crisis of observed injustice?
• 4.What protects your faith when you see the prideful and violent THRIVING while you struggle?

Devotional

Pride as a NECKLACE. Violence as a GARMENT. The wicked don't hide their sins. They WEAR them — publicly, proudly, as fashion. The arrogance is their jewelry. The brutality is their outfit. The sins that should bring shame are displayed as ACCESSORIES.

The NECKLACE of pride is an ORNAMENT: jewelry is worn to be SEEN. The wicked don't suppress their pride. They DISPLAY it — like a gold chain around the neck, visible to everyone, announced with every step. The pride is intentional, public, decorative. The arrogance is the look. The superiority is the style.

The GARMENT of violence is the COVERING: clothing is what defines your public appearance. Violence is what COVERS the wicked — their visible exterior, what people see first, what defines their social presentation. The violence isn't a private vice. It's a PUBLIC outfit. The brutality is how they're DRESSED. The aggression is their LOOK.

Asaph's crisis is that this WORKS: the pride-jewelry and violence-clothing produce PROSPERITY (verse 3-12). The wicked are SUCCESSFUL in their sinful wardrobe. They thrive. They increase in riches. They suffer no pain. And Asaph — watching this — nearly loses his faith (verse 2 — 'my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped'). The prosperity of the proudly violent nearly destroys the faith of the honestly devout.

What 'pride as jewelry, violence as fashion' do you see prospering around you — and what does it do to your faith?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture