Psalms 14:4 Meaning and Explanation
“Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist questions whether evildoers are so senseless as not to fear God, even as they exploit the vulnerable.
The Context of Psalms 14:4
The psalmist questions the senselessness of evildoers who exploit others without fearing God.
What Does Psalms 14:4 Mean?
The rhetorical question 'Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?' expresses shock at their willful blindness. These workers of iniquity act as though there are no consequences for their actions—no divine judgment, no accountability. Their cruelty toward 'my people' (the vulnerable within God's covenant community) is casual and routine, 'as they eat bread,' suggesting exploitation has become habitual.
The closing phrase 'call not upon the LORD' completes the picture: they neither fear God nor seek His favor. Their callousness stems from practical atheism—operating as though God does not exist or does not matter. The verse indicts both their oppression and the spiritual blindness that enables it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 14:4
What does Psalms 14:4 mean?
The psalmist questions whether evildoers are so senseless as not to fear God, even as they exploit the vulnerable.
What is the context of Psalms 14:4?
The psalmist questions the senselessness of evildoers who exploit others without fearing God.