Psalms 37:12
Psalms 37:12 in Multiple Translations
The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The sinner has evil designs against the upright, lifting up the voice of wrath against him.
The wicked plot evil against those who do good, gnashing their teeth at them.
The wicked practiseth against the iust, and gnasheth his teeth against him.
The wicked is devising against the righteous, And gnashing against him his teeth.
The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against me. And they that were near me stood afar off:
Wicked people plan to harm righteous/godly people; they snarl at them [MET] like wild animals.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 37:12
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 37:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
זֹמֵ֣ם
רָ֭שָׁע
לַ/צַּדִּ֑יק
וְ/חֹרֵ֖ק
עָלָ֣י/ו
שִׁנָּֽי/ו
זֹמֵ֣ם
zâmam
H2161
to plan
V-Qal
רָ֭שָׁע
râshâʻ
H7563
wicked
Adj
לַ/צַּדִּ֑יק
tsaddîyq
H6662
righteous
Prep | Adj
וְ/חֹרֵ֖ק
châraq
H2786
to grind
Conj | V-Qal
עָלָ֣י/ו
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
שִׁנָּֽי/ו
shên
H8127
tooth
N-cd | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 37:12
זֹמֵ֣ם
zâmam
H2161
"to plan"
V-Qal
This Hebrew word means to plan, often with bad intentions, like plotting or scheming. It appears in the Bible when someone is thinking of doing something evil. In the KJV, it's translated as 'consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think evil'.
Definition: 1) to have a thought, devise, plan, consider, purpose 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to consider, fix thought upon 1a2) to purpose, devise 1a3) to plot (of evil intent)
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think (evil). See also: Genesis 11:6; Proverbs 31:16; Psalms 17:3.
רָ֭שָׁע
râshâʻ
H7563
"wicked"
Adj
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) wicked, criminal 1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst) 1b) wicked (hostile to God) 1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Usage: Occurs in 248 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong. See also: Genesis 18:23; Psalms 101:8; Psalms 1:1.
לַ/צַּדִּ֑יק
tsaddîyq
H6662
"righteous"
Prep | Adj
Means being just or righteous, as seen in government, personal conduct, or character, often describing someone made right with God. It appears in descriptions of King David and other biblical leaders. The concept is central to the Bible's teachings on morality and ethics.
Definition: 1) just, lawful, righteous 1a) just, righteous (in government) 1b) just, right (in one's cause) 1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character) 1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God) 1e) right, correct, lawful
Usage: Occurs in 197 OT verses. KJV: just, lawful, righteous (man). See also: Genesis 6:9; Proverbs 10:31; Psalms 1:5.
וְ/חֹרֵ֖ק
châraq
H2786
"to grind"
Conj | V-Qal
To grind or gnash means to rub teeth together, often in anger or frustration. In the Bible, this word is used to describe the action of grinding teeth in pain or anger, like in Job 16:9.
Definition: (Qal) to gnash, grind (the teeth)
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: gnash. See also: Job 16:9; Psalms 37:12; Psalms 35:16.
עָלָ֣י/ו
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
שִׁנָּֽי/ו
shên
H8127
"tooth"
N-cd | Suff
The Hebrew word for tooth can also mean ivory or a sharp cliff. It is used in the Bible to describe the teeth of humans and animals, as well as sharp rocks, and is often translated as tooth or ivory.
Definition: : tooth 1) tooth, ivory 1a) tooth 1a1) of man, lex talionis, beast 1b) tooth, tine (of fork) 1c) ivory 1c1) as material 1c2) of commerce 1d) sharp pointed rock
Usage: Occurs in 48 OT verses. KJV: crag, [idiom] forefront, ivory, [idiom] sharp, tooth. See also: Genesis 49:12; Psalms 57:5; Psalms 3:8.
Study Notes — Psalms 37:12
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 37:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 37:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 37:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 37:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 37:12
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 37:12
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 37:12
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 37:12
- Sermons on Psalms 37:12
Context — Delight Yourself in the LORD
10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
11But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
12The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
13but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming. 14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Micah 2:1 | Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. |
| 2 | Psalms 35:16 | Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me. |
| 3 | Psalms 31:13 | For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life. |
| 4 | Daniel 8:12 | And in the rebellion, the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn, and it flung truth to the ground and prospered in whatever it did. |
| 5 | Matthew 26:16 | So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus. |
| 6 | Psalms 37:32 | Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them, |
| 7 | Matthew 26:4 | and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. |
| 8 | 2 Samuel 15:10–12 | Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’” Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter. While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing. |
| 9 | Esther 3:6 | And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes. |
| 10 | 1 Samuel 23:7–9 | When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men. When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” |
Psalms 37:12 Summary
This verse is saying that people who are opposed to God are often angry and resentful towards those who follow Him, and they may even plot against them. But as Christians, we can trust that God is in control and that He will protect us, as promised in Psalms 91:4 and Jeremiah 29:11. We don't have to be afraid of what others might do to us, because God is our shield and our defender. By trusting in God and living out our faith with courage and integrity, we can show the world what it means to truly follow Jesus, as seen in Matthew 5:10-12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the wicked to scheme against the righteous?
This means that those who are opposed to God and His ways are planning and plotting against those who follow Him, as seen in Psalms 37:12, and is also warned about in Proverbs 24:15, where it says to not lay in wait like an outlaw or ambusher at the home of the righteous.
Why do the wicked gnash their teeth at the righteous?
The wicked gnash their teeth in anger and frustration towards the righteous because they are envious of their relationship with God and the blessings that come with it, as also seen in Acts 7:54 where the crowd was furious with Stephen.
Is this verse saying that all non-Christians are actively plotting against Christians?
No, not all non-Christians are actively plotting against Christians, but rather this verse is highlighting the spiritual reality that there is a fundamental opposition between those who follow God and those who do not, as explained in John 15:18-19 and Ephesians 2:3.
How should Christians respond to the schemes of the wicked?
Christians should respond to the schemes of the wicked by trusting in God's sovereignty and protection, as seen in Psalms 37:12 and also in Romans 8:28, and by living out their faith with courage and integrity, as taught in 2 Timothy 1:7-8 and 1 Peter 3:13-17.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have seen the wicked scheme against the righteous in my own life or in the world around me?
- How can I trust in God's sovereignty and protection when faced with opposition or persecution?
- What are some ways that I can live out my faith with courage and integrity in a world that often opposes God's ways?
- How can I balance standing firm in my faith with showing love and compassion to those who may be opposed to God?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 37:12
The wicked plotteth against the just,.... Forms schemes to make him uneasy, uncomfortable, and unhappy: and gnasheth upon him with his teeth: which expresses his malice and hatred, as David's enemies
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 37:12
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 37:12
Out of malice and rage. See Poole "".
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 37:12
Psalms 37:12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.Ver. 12. The wicked plotteth against the just] Plotteth and practiseth, being set on by that old manslayer, who lendeth the wicked man his seven heads to plot, and his ten horns to push. And gnasheth upon him with his teeth] Saying unto him, when he hath laid hold on him, Nunc inveni te, as Kimchi paraphraseth, Now I have found you, and shall be even with you. Art thou come, thou villain? said Stephen Gardiner to Doctor Taylor, martyr, when he first appeared before him. How darest thou look me in the face for shame? Knowest thou not who I am? (Acts and Mon.) Thus that proud prelate, gnashing his teeth, and boasting great matters with his tongue; and he was bravely answered, as hath been before related.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 37:12
12–20. Disappointment and destruction are the destiny of the wicked.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 37:12
The wicked plotteth against the just - Margin, “practiceth.” The Hebrew word means to plot; to lie in wait; to plan; to purpose; to devise. See Psalms 31:13.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 37:12
12. Gnasheth upon him—In imitation of wild beasts. See on Psalms 35:16
Sermons on Psalms 37:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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From the Death of Alexander and Aristobulus to the Banishment of Archelaus by Flavius Josephus | Flavius Josephus recounts the tumultuous final days of King Herod, who, afflicted with a severe and painful illness as a divine judgment for his sins, becomes increasingly tyrannic |
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The Context of the Coming Kingdom by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing God as the revelation of Jesus as king and the beauty of the kingdom. He criticizes the superficiality of worship a |
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Covenant Interest in God, and a View of What Is in Him by John Gill | John Gill emphasizes the significance of having a covenant interest in God, using David's experience in 1 Samuel 30:6 as a backdrop. Despite facing immense distress and betrayal, D |
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More on David Confessing the Lord as His God by Bob Hoekstra | Bob Hoekstra preaches on the importance of confessing the Lord as our God in every circumstance, just like David did in the Psalms. David turned to the Lord in times of personal si |
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Overcoming the Dragon by Robert B. Thompson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the interpretation of Revelation 12:4, which mentions stars being flung to the earth. He challenges the common belief that these stars repres |
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God Doesn't Give Up on Children Who Fall by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher addresses the bondage and fear that many people experience due to past traumas and sins. He emphasizes that God's hand is a hand of love and deliveranc |