Psalms 34 · Verse 21

Psalms 34:21

Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
Psalms 34:21, King James Version

Psalms 34:21 in other translations

BSBEvil will slay the wicked, and the haters of the righteous will be condemned.
WEBEvil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
ASVEvil shall slay the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be condemned.
YLTEvil doth put to death the wicked, And those hating the righteous are desolate.
DARBYEvil shall destroy the wicked; and they that hate the righteous shall bear their guilt.
BBEEvil will put an end to the sinner, and those who are haters of righteousness will come to destruction.
WebsterEvil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

What does Psalms 34:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 34:21-22
21-22. Contrast in the destiny of righteous and wicked; the former shall be delivered and never come into condemnation (Joh 5:24; Ro 8:1); the latter are left under condemnation and desolate.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Evil shall slay the wicked - The very thing in which they delight shall become their bane and their ruin. They that hate the righteous - All persecutors of God's people shall be followed by the chilling blast of God's displeasure in this world; and if they repent not, shall perish everlastingly.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 34:11-22

Let young persons set out in life with learning the fear of the Lord, if they desire true comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter. Those will be most happy who begin the soonest to serve so good a Master. All aim to be happy. Surely this must look further than the present world; for man's life on earth consists but of few days, and those full of trouble. What man is he that would see the good of that where all…

Read the full comment on Psalms 34:11-22 →

Psalms 34:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

תְּמוֹתֵ֣תte.mo.Tetit will killH4191
רָשָׁ֣עra.Sha'[the] wickedH7563
רָעָ֑הra.'AhevilH7451
וְשֹׂנְאֵ֖יve.so.ne.'Eiand [those who] hateH8130
צַדִּ֣יקtza.Dik<of> [the] righteousH6662
יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ\׃ye'.Sha.muthey will be held guiltyH816

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 34:21

  • Psalms 94:23

    And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.

  • Isaiah 3:11

    Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

  • Proverbs 24:16

    For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

  • Psalms 37:12-15

    The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

  • Psalms 89:23

    And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:9

    Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

  • Luke 19:14

    But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

  • Psalms 37:30-40

    The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. …

  • Psalms 40:15

    Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

  • Luke 19:27

    But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:6

    Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

  • 1 Samuel 19:4-5

    And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Evil.
37:30-40; 94:23; Isa 3:11
they.
37:12-15; 40:15; 89:23; 1Sa 19:4,5; 31:4; 1Ki 22:8,37; Lu 19:14,27
Lu 19:41-44; Joh 7:7; 15:18-23; 1Th 2:15,16; 2Th 1:6,9
desolate. or, guilty.
Ex 20:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 34:20

    He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

  • Psalms 34:21

    Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

  • Psalms 34:22

    The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Read all of Psalms 34

Psalms 34:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Matará al malo la maldad; y los que aborrecen al justo serán asolados.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Il garde tous ses os, pas un d’eux n’est cassé.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Den Gesetzlosen wird das Böse töten; und die den Gerechten hassen, werden büßen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et dilataverunt super me os suum; dixerunt: Euge, euge! viderunt oculi nostri.