Psalms 50:21 Meaning and Explanation
“These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God's silence while these sins were committed led the wicked to misinterpret God's nature, assuming He was indifferent like them.
The Context of Psalms 50:21
God's patience was misread as indifference; now judgment comes.
What Does Psalms 50:21 Mean?
God reveals why He did not immediately strike down the wicked person: He kept silence—allowed them space to continue without immediate judgment. This forbearance was misinterpreted. The wicked person thought God was altogether such an one as thyself—meaning that God was like them, permissive of sin, uncaring about righteousness. They read God's patience as approval or apathy.
Now God makes clear: His silence ends. He will reprove—bring charges and correction—and set the sins in order before the wicked person's eyes. The sins will be laid out plainly so that the person cannot deny or ignore them. This is not a sudden judgment but the final stage of long-standing patience wearing through.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 50:21
What does Psalms 50:21 mean?
God's silence while these sins were committed led the wicked to misinterpret God's nature, assuming He was indifferent like them.
What is the context of Psalms 50:21?
God's patience was misread as indifference; now judgment comes.