The Meaning of Psalms 58:2 Explained

Psalms 58:2

KJV: Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

YLT: Even in heart ye work iniquities, In the land the violence of your hands ye ponder.

Darby: Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

ASV: Nay, in heart ye work wickedness; Ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yea, in heart  ye work  wickedness;  ye weigh  the violence  of your hands  in the earth. 

What does Psalms 58:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 58:1-11 - "there Is A God That Judgeth"
This psalm is launched against wicked rulers. It may have been occasioned by the attitude of Abner and others of Saul's party, who accounted David as a rebel and outlaw and urged vindictive measures against him.
Their sin, Psalms 58:1-6
Poison is literally "burning heat." Such is the effect of venomous words, into which the malice of the great serpent is infused. Evil men, capable of such speech, resemble the snake tribe, which will respond only to the shrillest notes. Hot speech to man and deaf ears to God go together.
Their doom, Psalms 58:6-9
For let them read they shall, Psalms 58:7. The imperative and predictive future are in Hebrew expressed by similar words. Note the remarkable comparisons-the lion's broken jaw-tooth, the ebbing tide, the snail scorched by intense heat, the untimely birth, the quickly-expiring fire, the cyclone! Sin inevitably brings penalty, and herein is God's moral government vindicated.
The contrast, Psalms 58:10-11
As the weary traveler is refreshed when his feet are washed, so the saints are glad to see God's vindication of the righteous. There is a wide difference between the gratification of personal vengeance, and a consuming zeal to uphold God's character. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 58

1  David reproves wicked judges
3  describes the nature of the wicked
6  devotes them to God's judgments
10  whereat the righteous shall rejoice

What do the individual words in Psalms 58:2 mean?

No in heart wickedness you work in the earth The violence of your hands You weigh out
אַף־ בְּלֵב֮ עוֹלֹ֪ת תִּפְעָ֫ל֥וּן בָּאָ֡רֶץ חֲמַ֥ס יְ֝דֵיכֶ֗ם תְּפַלֵּֽסֽוּן

אַף־  No 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אַף  
Sense: also, yea, though, so much the more adv.
בְּלֵב֮  in  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
עוֹלֹ֪ת  wickedness 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: עָוֶל 
Sense: injustice, unrighteousness, wrong.
תִּפְעָ֫ל֥וּן  you  work 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: פָּעַל  
Sense: to do, make.
בָּאָ֡רֶץ  in  the  earth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
חֲמַ֥ס  The  violence 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חָמָס  
Sense: violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice.
יְ֝דֵיכֶ֗ם  of  your  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, second person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
תְּפַלֵּֽסֽוּן  You  weigh  out 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: פָּלַס 
Sense: (Piel) to weigh, make level, balance.