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Psalm 58:10
The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
8Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away, like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun.
9Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike.
10The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
11so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”
Notice
Feet washed in the wicked’s blood make this a violent picture of vengeance, where the righteous rejoice at the downfall of those who do evil.
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What troubles you about the righteous rejoicing at vengeance in this verse?
Write on thisHow does the next verse’s claim that God judges the earth shape your reading of the bloodshed?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Revelation 19:13He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.”Blood marks both pictures, on feet in the psalm and on the garment of the one named The Word of God in Revelation.
Psalm 68:23that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”Both passages use the graphic image of feet in blood to portray the defeat of enemies or the wicked.
Proverbs 29:16When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall.Both passages describe the righteous witnessing the downfall of the wicked.
Job 22:19The righteous see it, and are glad. The innocent ridicule them,Both depict the righteous seeing and rejoicing, though Job’s supplied line leaves the event unnamed.
Psalm 91:8You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.Seeing the wicked receive recompense links these passages; Psalm 58 also describes rejoicing and bloodshed.
Psalm 5:11But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.Rejoicing links these passages: Psalm 58 celebrates vengeance, while Psalm 5 celebrates God’s defense of those who take refuge.
Proverbs 11:10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.Both passages connect the downfall of the wicked with a response of joy.
Revelation 11:17–18saying: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and reigned.Both passages celebrate God’s authority; the psalm’s closing context names judgment, while Revelation’s supplied verse names his reign.
Exodus 14:30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.Both describe a visible, deadly defeat: the righteous see vengeance, and Israel sees the Egyptians dead after the LORD saves them.
Psalm 64:10The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!Both describe gladness among the righteous, with Psalm 58 naming vengeance and Psalm 64 naming the LORD as their refuge.
Deuteronomy 32:43Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants. He will take vengeance on his adversaries, and will make atonement for his …Both connect rejoicing with vengeance, and Deuteronomy names God as the one who avenges his servants’ blood.
Revelation 18:20“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has judged your judgment on her.”Both connect rejoicing with judgment, and Revelation names God as the one who has judged.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
This violent poem confronts cruel rule and looks to God for judgment. It gives you no command to shed blood; the earth has a Judge.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).