What is the meaning of Psalm 73:6? Therefore - The psalmist, Asaph, has just observed that the wicked seem carefree and strong (Psalm 73:4–5). “Therefore” signals a conclusion: because they experience apparent ease, they draw certain attitudes and behaviors from it. - Similar reasoning appears in Job 21:7–14, where prosperity leads the ungodly to false confidence, and in Ecclesiastes 8:11, where delayed judgment emboldens sin. - The line reminds us that circumstances, when misread apart from God’s truth, can feed distorted character. Pride is Their Necklace - Pride, overtly displayed “like a necklace,” is not hidden but flaunted. It is their chosen ornament, announcing self-sufficiency instead of humble dependence on God (Proverbs 16:18; James 4:6). - By wearing pride, the wicked broadcast a worldview that says, “We answer to no one” (Psalm 10:2–4). Their external success becomes a platform for internal arrogance. - For believers, the contrast is striking: we are called to “clothe yourselves with humility” (1 Peter 5:5), exchanging the necklace of pride for the adornment of grace (Titus 2:10). A Garment of Violence Covers Them - Whereas pride is jewelry, violence is outerwear—comprehensive, enveloping, habitual. Their actions toward others are aggressive, exploitative, and unjust (Micah 2:1–2; Habakkuk 1:4). - The imagery echoes Genesis 6:11, where “the earth was filled with violence” before the flood; violence is not occasional but part of their daily attire. - Isaiah 59:6–7 portrays similar clothing metaphors: evil deeds weave “spider webs” and “run to evil.” The garment picture warns that sin, once embraced, saturates the whole life. summary Psalm 73:6 paints a vivid portrait of the ungodly: prosperity breeds pride, pride is openly showcased, and that inner arrogance overflows into violent, oppressive behavior that wraps their entire existence. The verse cautions believers not to envy such people; their seeming success masks hearts draped in sin, while God’s ultimate justice remains sure (Psalm 73:17–20). |
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