The Meaning of Psalms 52:1 Explained

Psalms 52:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.} Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

YLT: To the Overseer. -- An instruction, by David, in the coming in of Doeg the Edomite, and he declareth to Saul, and saith to him, 'David came in unto the house of Ahimelech.' What, boasteth thou in evil, O mighty one? The kindness of God is all the day.

Darby: {To the chief Musician: an instruction. Of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David came to the house of Ahimelech.} Why boastest thou thyself in evil, thou mighty man? The loving-kindness of God abideth continually.

ASV: Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endureth continually.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  Maschil,  [A Psalm] of David,  when Doeg  the Edomite  came  and told  Saul,  and said  unto him, David  is come  to the house  of Ahimelech.  }} Why boastest  thou thyself in mischief,  O mighty  man? the goodness  of God  [endureth] continually. 

What does Psalms 52:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David addressed the wicked man directly. He marveled that he would really boast about his evil since the Lord is so consistently loving. It is inconsistent to return evil to a God who loves loyally, and it is even worse to brag about one"s wickedness.

Context Summary

Psalms 52:1-9 - The Boaster And The Truster
The inscription of this psalm describes its origin. The contrast which it presents is full of instruction. The ungodly is often a mighty man in the estimation of the world. He boasts mischief; his tongue resembles the razor, which inflicts sharp and deep wounds; his words devour reputations, family-peace, and souls.
What a contrast is presented by the humble believer who trusts, not in wealth which vanishes, but in God's mercy which abides forever! Psalms 52:1-8. As the olives grew around the humble forest sanctuary at Nob, where the tragedy which called forth this psalm took place, and were hallowed by the shrine they encompassed, so the believer grows and is safe in loving fellowship with his Almighty Friend. Let us be among God's evergreens, drawing our nutriment from Him, as the roots struck into the rich mold. The psalmist is so certain of vindication and so assured of the overthrow of wickedness that he celebrates God's interposition before it takes place, and accounts it as being already accomplished. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 52

1  David, condemning the spitefulness of Doeg, prophesies his destruction
6  The righteous shall rejoice at it
8  David, upon his confidence in God's mercy, gives thanks

What do the individual words in Psalms 52:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician a Contemplation of David when went Doeg the Edomite and told Saul and said to him has gone David to the house of Ahimelech Why do you boast in evil mighty man the goodness of God - [endures] continually
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד בְּב֤וֹא ׀ דּוֹאֵ֣ג הָאֲדֹמִי֮ וַיַּגֵּ֪ד לְשָׁ֫א֥וּל וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֑וֹ בָּ֥א דָ֝וִ֗ד אֶל־ בֵּ֥ית אֲחִימֶֽלֶךְ מַה־ תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל בְּ֭רָעָה ؟ הַגִּבּ֑וֹר חֶ֥סֶד אֵ֝֗ל כָּל־ הַיּֽוֹם

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
מַשְׂכִּ֥יל  a  Contemplation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַשְׂכִּיל  
Sense: (Hiphil) poem, song or poem of contemplation.
לְדָוִֽד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בְּב֤וֹא ׀  when  went 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
דּוֹאֵ֣ג  Doeg 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֹּאֵג 
Sense: an Edomite, chief of Saul’s herdsmen, who slew all the priests.
הָאֲדֹמִי֮  the  Edomite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹומִי  
Sense: Edomite.
וַיַּגֵּ֪ד  and  told 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לְשָׁ֫א֥וּל  Saul 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ל֑וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
בָּ֥א  has  gone 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
דָ֝וִ֗ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בֵּ֥ית  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֲחִימֶֽלֶךְ  of  Ahimelech 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲחִימֶלֶךְ  
Sense: a priest murdered by Doeg at Saul’s command, for supposedly assisting David.
מַה־  Why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל  do  you  boast 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
בְּ֭רָעָה  in  evil 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
؟ הַגִּבּ֑וֹר  mighty  man 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
חֶ֥סֶד  the  goodness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
אֵ֝֗ל  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
כָּל־  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַיּֽוֹם  [endures]  continually 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.