The Meaning of Psalms 10:13 Explained

Psalms 10:13

KJV: Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

YLT: Wherefore hath the wicked despised God? He hath said in his heart, 'It is not required.'

Darby: Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

ASV: Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, And say in his heart, Thou wilt not require it ?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wherefore doth the wicked  contemn  God?  he hath said  in his heart,  Thou wilt not require  [it]. 

What does Psalms 10:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 10:1-18 - God Will Not Forget The Lowly
The malice of our foes, and especially of Satan, is powerfully described, Psalms 10:1-11. Now it is the venom beneath the serpent's tongue, Psalms 10:7; now the bandit in ambush, Psalms 10:8; now the lion in his den, and again the hunter snaring his unsuspecting prey, Psalms 10:9. And all the while God is so quiet that it seems as if He has abdicated His throne.
Then the oppressed begin to pray, committing themselves to Him, Psalms 10:12-15. May we not rise above the spirit of the Old Covenant and ask that the venomous evil which is in the heart of our foes may be exterminated, so that it leave no vestiges? And such prayer must be answered. Compare Psalms 9:19 with Psalms 10:16-17. True prayer begins with God and returns to Him. When He prepares the heart, Psalms 9:17, He prepares the answer, which exceeds all, 1 Corinthians 2:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 10

1  David complains of the wicked
12  He prays for remedy
16  He professes his confidence

What do the individual words in Psalms 10:13 mean?

Why how long do renounce the wicked God He has said in his heart not You will require [an account]
עַל־ מֶ֤ה ׀ נִאֵ֖ץ רָשָׁ֥ע ׀ ؟ אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָמַ֥ר בְּ֝לִבּ֗וֹ לֹ֣א תִּדְרֹֽשׁ

עַל־  Why 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: 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.
מֶ֤ה ׀  how  long 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
נִאֵ֖ץ  do  renounce 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָאַץ  
Sense: to spurn, contemn, despise, abhor.
רָשָׁ֥ע ׀  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
؟ אֱלֹהִ֑ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אָמַ֥ר  He  has  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בְּ֝לִבּ֗וֹ  in  his  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
תִּדְרֹֽשׁ  You  will  require  [an  account] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דַּרְיׄושׁ 
Sense: to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require.