Lexical Summary zulluth: Contempt, Worthlessness Original Word: זֻלּוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance vilest From zalal; properly, a shaking, i.e. Perhaps a tempest -- vilest. see HEBREW zalal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom zalal Definition worthlessness NASB Translation vileness (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs זֻלֻּת noun feminine worthlessness, only כְּרֻם זֻלֻּת לִבְנֵי אָדָם [van d. H. זֻלּוּת] Psalm 12:9 compare De & Checritical note. זלעף (quadriliteral √ of following; see references below) Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence The word appears once, in Psalms 12:8, where the psalmist laments, “The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men” (Berean Standard Bible). Literary and Contextual Analysis Psalms 12 sets a stark contrast between human speech and divine speech. While verses 1–4 highlight deception, flattery, and oppression, verses 5–6 counter with the purity of the words of the LORD. The closing verse (12:8) completes the lament: when God’s voice is ignored, what is base becomes celebrated. The term underscores the moral inversion that occurs in a society where the righteous are marginalized and the wicked set the cultural agenda. Semantic Range and Synonyms Though unique in form, the concept of “vileness” resonates with other Hebrew terms for moral corruption (for example, rā‘ — evil; tô‘ēbah — abomination) and with Greek expressions in the Septuagint and New Testament (for example, phaulos in John 5:29; Romans 9:11). Each term carries nuances, yet all converge on the idea of worthlessness before a holy God. Theological Themes 1. Inverted values: Psalms 12:8 illustrates Isaiah’s warning, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). When God’s standards are dismissed, society recalibrates its moral compass to celebrate the reprehensible. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern literature often praises heroic or noble deeds; the psalmist’s complaint that “vileness is exalted” suggests a societal crisis in which normal honor–shame values are reversed. The setting could reflect periods under corrupt leadership, such as the later reign of Saul or various apostate kings, though the psalm’s liturgical use allowed it to speak to successive generations facing similar moral collapse. Canonical Trajectory and New Testament Continuities The New Testament portrays a comparable environment: Psalms 12:8 therefore foreshadows these later revelations, grounding them in Israel’s worship and giving voice to believers who witness growing depravity. Implications for Worship and Discipleship • Lament as worship: Congregational lament acknowledges cultural decay while affirming divine sovereignty. Applications for Church Leadership and Ethics 1. Preaching and teaching should expose moral inversions and reassert biblical standards without apology (2 Timothy 4:2–5). Pastoral Reflection Psalms 12:8 reminds every generation that moral freefall is neither novel nor irreversible. While vileness may occupy the public square for a season, the purity of God’s word endures forever, and His people are kept safe within His covenant faithfulness. Forms and Transliterations זֻ֝לּ֗וּת זלות zul·lūṯ zulLut zullūṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 12:8 HEB: יִתְהַלָּכ֑וּן כְּרֻ֥ם זֻ֝לּ֗וּת לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ NAS: about on every side When vileness is exalted KJV: on every side, when the vilest men INT: strut is exalted vileness the sons of men 1 Occurrence |
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