The big picture
Psalms 50 opens in verse 1 with “The mighty God, even the LORD , hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.”, and closes in verse 23 with “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright…” Repeated or prominent terms include call, covenant, declare, deliver, earth. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 23Psalms 50:1-8
1–8: The mighty God, even the LORD , hath spoken, and called the earth from…
Psalms 50:1–8 opens with “The mighty God, even the LORD , hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun…” and reaches “I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by earth, heavens, judge.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The mighty God, even the LORD , hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Psalms 50:1-8
King James Version1The mighty God, even the LORD , hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
Psalms 50:9-16
9–16: I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
Psalms 50:9–16 opens with “I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.” and reaches “But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by goats, beast, beasts.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bullock, folds, goats. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 50:9-16
King James Version9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
Psalms 50:17-23
17–23: Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
Psalms 50:17–23 opens with “Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.” and reaches “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by adulterers, altogether, aright.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.” Naming Seeing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.” The line’s distinctive content terms include adulterers, consentedst, partaker. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 50:17-23
King James Version17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.
21These 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.
22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 50:1 begins with “The mighty God, even the LORD , hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 50:13 forms a natural hinge: “Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?”
The final note
Psalms 50:23 leaves the reader with “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words call, covenant, declare, deliver, earth, goats help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What makes Joseph's forgiveness concrete?
He refuses retaliation, names the wrong honestly, reassures the brothers and provides for their children.
How does the final coffin lead into Exodus?
Joseph expects divine visitation and departure from Egypt; his burial remains tied to that promised future.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.