Bible Strands
Psalms 112:10
The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the assembly to contrast the ultimate fate of the righteous with that of the wicked. This declaration immediately follows the description of the righteous person's generous giving and enduring honor in Psalm 112:9.
The words — The Hebrew רָ֘שָׁ֤ע (ra.Sha') identifies the subject as a wicked person, while יַחֲרֹ֣ק (ya.cha.Rok) describes the physical act of gnashing teeth. These terms establish the visceral, bodily reaction of the wicked to the visible triumph of righteousness.
The thread — The text states that the desires of the wicked will perish, a theme that runs through Proverbs 10:28 and Job 8:13. The accompanying imagery of vanishing power and blunted weapons parallels the description in Psalms 58:7.
Why it lands — The text reports that the wicked will see the righteous prosper, become grieved, and experience the collapse of their own ambitions. It requires the reader to accept that moral decay and lost hope are the fixed outcomes of wickedness, demanding a deliberate choice to pursue enduring righteousness.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Cross-references
- Psalms 58:7 May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.
- Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish.
- Job 8:13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
- Psalms 37:12 The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
- Psalms 86:17 Show me a sign of Your goodness, that my enemies may see and be ashamed; for You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
- Proverbs 11:7 When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
- Luke 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.
- Matthew 22:13 Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- Luke 16:23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
- Revelation 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish