Psalm 52 Study Notes

Ps 52 title On Maskil, see note at Ps 32 title. The historical setting specified in this psalm is when Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul’s chief herdsmen, informed Saul that David had gone to Ahimelech’s house (1Sm 22:9). He had also informed Saul of the help David received from the priests of Nob (1Sm 21:7), so David acknowledged responsibility for the slaughter of eighty-five priests accused of treason against King Saul (1Sm 22:11-23). As in other psalms with a specific setting (such as Ps 18), the language is general enough to be applied in other contexts.

52:1 To boast about evil is a much stronger denunciation than most passages dealing with boasting. People apart from God commonly boast about their abilities (Jr 9:23) or their wealth (Ps 49:6), but this person was boasting about his sins (10:3). Those who are faithful to the Lord boast only in the fact that they know him (see note at 34:1-3).

52:2 Razor symbolizes sharpness that could be used as a weapon of destruction. In other contexts, a sharpened tongue is a common image for destructive speech (57:4; 64:3; 140:3). Human speech, symbolized by the tongue, has the power of death (Pr 18:21).

52:3 Deceit is an essential characteristic of evil.

52:4 The word for destroy is literally “swallow” (Hb bl‘ ), picturing destructive speech as devouring others (see note at 14:4).

52:5 Bring . . . down is commonly used for judgment on the wicked (147:6; 2Sm 22:48). Uproot is the most common description of a wicked person being removed from the Lord’s land (Dt 29:28; 2Ch 7:20; Pr 2:22).

52:6 This verse does not refer to the same malicious mocking since that is forbidden (Pr 24:17); it is part of a request for divine retribution (Dt 32:35; see note at Ps 28:3-5).

52:7 On dependence on riches, see note at 49:10-12.

52:8 The righteous are often pictured as a flourishing . . . tree (see note at 1:3).