Bible Strands
Psalms 53:5
There they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to fear. For God has scattered the bones of those who besieged you. You put them to shame, for God has despised them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the besieged community, describing the sudden panic of their attackers after witnessing divine intervention. The speaker observes the enemies' terror at a place where they previously felt secure.
The words — The Hebrew term פָּחֲדוּ (pa.cha.du) translates to "they feared," paired with פַחַד (pachad) meaning "fear" or "dread." The construction לֹא הָיָה פַחַד (lo' hayah pachad) literally renders "there was no fear," highlighting the contrast between their previous confidence and their current terror.
The thread — This motif of unprovoked terror and shame appears in Proverbs 28:1 and Leviticus 26:36, where the wicked flee without pursuit and experience faintness in enemy lands. The theme of divine shaming of adversaries also runs through Psalm 83:16.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human confidence collapses when confronted with God's direct action. It requires the reader to acknowledge that divine intervention, not human strategy, dictates the outcome of conflict.
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
There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
- Leviticus 26:36 As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them.
- Psalms 83:16 Cover their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD.
- Psalms 141:7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
- Jeremiah 6:30 They are called rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.”
- Ezekiel 6:5 I will lay the corpses of the Israelites before their idols and scatter your bones around your altars.
- Leviticus 26:17 And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.
- 1 Samuel 14:15 Then panic struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked, and panic spread from God.
- Jeremiah 8:1 “At that time,” declares the LORD, “the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of the officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves.
- Deuteronomy 28:65 Among those nations you will find no repose, not even a resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despairing soul.