Bible Strands
Psalms 73:6
Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist observes the visible state of the wicked, noting their apparent exemption from ordinary human hardship.
The words — עֲנָקַתְמוֹ ('ana.Kat.mov) literally means a necklace for them, and חָמָס (cha.Mas) means violence, presenting arrogance and oppression as their chosen adornments.
The thread — The metaphor of clothing as moral disposition runs through Psalms 109:18, where cursing is worn like a coat, and 1 Peter 5:5, which explicitly commands believers to clothe themselves with humility.
Why it lands — It requires readers to judge outward prosperity by its hidden moral cost, recognizing that visible success often conceals a life built on arrogance and oppression.
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
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Cross-references
- Psalms 109:18 The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.
- 1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Judges 8:26 The weight of the gold earrings he had requested was 1,700 shekels, in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple garments of the kings of Midian, and the chains from the necks of their camels.
- Proverbs 1:9 For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
- Proverbs 3:31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
- Daniel 4:30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”
- Genesis 41:42 Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.
- Deuteronomy 8:13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied,
- Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.
- Esther 3:1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.