The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
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Psalm 50 (49):21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

These things hast thou done, and I was silent. Thou thoughtest unjustly that I should be like to thee: but I will reprove thee, and set before thy face.

Douay-Rheims · Hebrew numbering, Septuagint numbering in brackets.

אֵ֤לֶּה עָשִׂ֨יתָ ׀ וְֽהֶחֱרַ֗שְׁתִּי דִּמִּ֗יתָ הֱֽיוֹת־אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה כָמ֑וֹךָ אוֹכִיחֲךָ֖ וְאֶֽעֶרְכָ֣ה לְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

10 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 13 commentaries

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

Can you perceive the depths of human suffering? Can you recognize the supreme goodness? Can you understand the boundless wealth of patience? In this instance, the prophet refers to patience through his silence. He states, you have committed numerous sins, yet I have refrained from punishing you. Instead, I have borne them and endured, granting you a chance to repent. However, rather than taking this opportunity to improve, you surrendered even more to immorality. You not only failed to change, you showed no shame or self-condemnation for your actions.

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Moreover, you began to believe that my endurance, my waiting, my silence, and my willingness to withstand so much were not acts of patience and mercy, but rather evidence that I did not intend to correct your wrongdoing and that I was unaffected by such conduct.

Athanasius the Great

4th centuryChurch Father

You called out for wrongdoing so that I might be like you. He notes that previously, He was patient, but now He will act differently. In response to your admonition, I will reveal your transgressions, which you thought would remain hidden or forgotten. However, as God, I will illuminate them, and they will be presented to you. I will not conceal them as you do, nor will I emulate your actions. Instead, I will uncover them on Wednesday, so that by revealing them, I may envelop you in shame. I will confront you and bring your sins to your awareness.

Jerome of Stridon

4th centuryChurch Father

Refrain from speaking ill of others. Be cautious, for your words and the things you hear may stir discontent; do not engage in slander nor entertain those who disparage your neighbor. Scripture reminds us, "Sitting down, you have slandered your brother, and laid a temptation for your mother's son. You did this, and I was silent; you thought iniquity, as if I would be like you. I will rebuke thee and bring thee before thy face." Protect yourself from gossip, be mindful of your words, and understand that you will bear responsibility for the judgments you render about others; you will be accountable for the criticisms you have directed at them.

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If you believe, "When others shared negative comments about my neighbor, I could not have wronged them by ignoring the matter," know that this justification is flawed. An attentive listener rarely hears such things. A dart cannot penetrate a stone; instead, it may rebound and harm the archer. The one who gossips, upon noticing your reluctance to hear him out, should recognize that sarcasm is not easily accepted.

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

You have acted in these ways, remaining silent and quietly engaging in wrongdoing, attempting to lead me into your ways. I observe the audacity of your actions, and, in my patience, I look for your change of heart. Yet, you have transformed my patience into a justification for your evil, believing that by indulging in your sins, there would be no consequences for you. Therefore, I will confront you and lay bare your transgressions. Since my gentle methods have failed to heal you, I will employ more severe measures, marking you with the brand of condemnation.

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This aligns with the apostolic teaching: You who do not recognize that the kindness of God should guide you toward repentance, due to your stubbornness and unrepentant nature, will accumulate your own condemnation on the day of judgment and the revelation of God's righteous justice, who will render to each individual according to their actions (Rom. 2:4-6). Thus, following the warning of retribution, humanity is once again urged toward repentance.

Euthymios Zigabenos

11th centuryCommentator

You have proclaimed injustice. He emphasizes that not only have you failed to act justly, but you have also harbored wicked thoughts within your heart. You seem to believe that I would resemble you so closely that I would condone the actions of the sinful, just as you do. I will correct you, and I will present your transgressions before you, that is, on the day of divine judgment.

Clement of Rome

1st centuryChurch Father

The Path to Redemption Let us strive to be among those who place their trust in Him, so that we may inherit the promised blessings. How can we achieve this, dear ones? By anchoring our faith in God; by pursuing what is pleasing and acceptable to Him; by acting in accordance with His sacred will, and by walking in the path of truth while forsaking all forms of unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, conflict, malice, deceit, slander, and backbiting, as well as pride, vanity, and lack of hospitality. Those who engage in these behaviors are detested by God—not only those who commit such acts but also those who endorse them. The Scriptures declare: But God said to the sinner, “Why do you proclaim My statutes and hold My covenant with your lips?

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For you have rejected instruction and have turned away from My words. If you encountered a thief, you rushed to join him, and with an adulterer you shared your lot. Your mouth has multiplied wickedness, and your tongue has crafted deceit. You have sat in judgment against your brother, and against your mother’s son you have laid a snare. You have done all this, and I have remained silent; you have thought that I was just like you. I will confront you and bring it to light. Understand this, then, you who forget God, lest He become angry, and there be none to rescue. A sacrifice of praise will honor Me; and this is the manner in which I will reveal My salvation to him.

Cyrill of Jerusalem

4th centuryChurch Father

The arrival of the Judge The Savior does not return to face judgment again; instead, He returns to pass judgment on those who have condemned Him. He, who remained silent during His previous trial, recalls the wrongdoers who acted with defiance at the Cross and declares: You were responsible, and I remained silent. Initially, He came according to the commandments of the household, teaching and guiding people with gentleness; now He arrives with authority to rule over them, regardless of their consent.

Tichon of Zadonsk

18th centuryChurch Father

In the Psalms, it is proclaimed: “These things hast thou done, and hast not done” (Psalm 49:21). Who speaks these words? God. To whom are they addressed? To the sinner, as indicated earlier in the same psalm (Psalm 49:16). What is meant by “these things hast thou done?” It refers to the previous declarations: “But thou, O sinner, hast hated the chastening, and hast turned away my words. Thou hast seen this man, thou hast interacted with him, and with the adulterer thou hast broken your bonds: thy mouth hath increased wickedness, and thy tongue hath crafted flattery: thou hast slandered thy brother, and malignantly spoken of thy mother's son” (Psalm 49:17-20).

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This phrase from God to the sinner signifies: “Thou hast done these things.” In other words, you, sinner, have disregarded My words, given to you for your correction. Those very words which you ought to hold dear, to revere and love as if they were My own, serving as a guide to adjust your conduct, you have completely spurned. Thus, you lead an unrighteous life; you steal, commit adultery, harbor malice, engage in flattery, and slander your brother while enticing others, among other things. “These things thou hast done.” What follows from God’s message to the sinner? “And I was silent.” What does “And I was silent” imply? It signifies that you, sinner, have committed these acts of wrongdoing, and I have observed them; I have seen your deeds, yet have remained silent, hoping for your transformation, repentance, and correction—but you continue to be sinful as you once were, you do the wickedness you have always done, you remain lawless, you reject my words, and you scorn them just as before. You steal, commit adultery, harbor malice, flatter, slander, and entice others, just as you did prior; and you persist in your evil ways. What else does God declare to the sinner? “Hear, thou hast cried out iniquity, for I will be like thee: I will reprove thee, and bring thy sins before thy face” (Psalm 49:21). Do you believe that the transgression of My law against you will go unpunished? No, you are mistaken! It will not occur as you naively imagine. Do you claim in your heart that these will not be exacted of you (Psalm 9:34)? Absolutely not! All of your sins and transgressions are tallied with me and documented, and everything you have done in secrecy shall be unveiled before you; all your actions, words, and thoughts will be presented. “I will rebuke thee, and I will bring thy sins before thy face.” Furthermore, the holy apostle states, “The Lord will bring to light the hidden things in darkness and will reveal the intentions of the heart” (1 Cor. 4:5). What dreadful reproach follows? The apostle warns the unrighteous: “Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Again, “The works of the flesh are evident; they are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, wrath, contention, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. I forewarn you, as I have warned you previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). What fate awaits those who do not inherit the kingdom of God? Christ the Lord explains: “But to the fearful, the faithless, the wicked, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). The Forerunner of the saint also declared: “Already the axe lies at the root of the trees; every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt. 3:10; Luke 3:9). This is the fate awaiting those who disregard the Word of God and His holy law: judgment and condemnation to everlasting fire (Matt. 25:41).

Those who serve with deceit and malice often pursue their desires in secrecy, believing their master remains unaware of their actions. Likewise, numerous unprincipled believers act in violation of their conscience and disregard God’s law, as though Christ is distant and oblivious to their deeds, claiming, "Christ is in heaven, far removed from us, and does not witness our actions." Such thoughts may be common among many. Yet, the Psalmist proclaims for all to hear, "The Lord looked down from heaven, He saw all the sons of men. From His prepared dwelling He has looked upon all who dwell on the earth, He who made their hearts, and sees into all their works" (Psalm 32:13-15).

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The prophet Jeremiah affirms to the Lord, "Thy eyes, O Lord, are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to reward every man according to his ways, and according to the fruits of his labours" (Jeremiah 32:19). Saint David admonishes them, "Be wise, O you foolish ones among the people; when will you understand? He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see? The One who instructs the nations, will He not judge? The One who teaches humanity understanding?" (Psalm 93:8-10). Furthermore, the Lord directly addresses the sinner: "I will rebuke thee, and bring thy sins before thy face" (Psalm 49:21).

The individual called to account in a court is subject to the evaluations of those in authority; he faces accusations from witnesses and admonishments from judges about his actions and violations of the law. Similarly, the sinner who has not achieved purification through repentance, when brought before the Divine Court, will encounter God's judgment. His misdeeds will be laid bare, and he will hear from the Just Judge the words of admonition: "Thou hast hated instruction and turned back My words. If thou sawest a thief, thou hast hastened with him, and with an adulterer thou hast partaken. Thy mouth hath multiplied backbiting, and thy tongue hath woven guile... And for thy mother's son thou hast laid a stumbling block" (Psalm 49:17-20).

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Moreover, the scripture reminds us, "I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not receive me; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit me" (Matthew 25:42-43). Thus, the warning from Holy Scripture will resonate, "I will rebuke thee, and bring thy sins before thy face" (Psalm 49:21).

One facing rebuke at judgment is engulfed in shame and dread. Likewise, sinners will be overtaken by humiliation, apprehension, and deep terror during this reckoning. They will be confronted directly by God, whom they failed to honor, and chastised for their ingratitude, standing before the entirety of creation. A lawbreaker denounced in court is cast out from the community of respectable citizens, regarded as a rogue rather than a true member of society. In a parallel manner, Christians who violate the law without seeking repentance will find themselves alienated from the faithful, separated like goats from sheep, branded as unfaithful and false followers of Christ. The transgressor faces condemnation to death or other severe penalties as prescribed by law. Likewise, at the final judgment, the unrepentant will be destined for eternal punishment: "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

A criminal sentenced to execution experiences separation from family and friends, lamenting his fate as he approaches his end. In the same way, sinners facing eternal punishment will be distanced from God, from His holy angels, and from His chosen ones, forever separated, enduring inconsolable weeping and dread as they descend into eternal torment: "And these shall go into everlasting torment" (Matthew 25:46).

O afflicted soul! Repent and seek to cleanse your sins with heartfelt sorrow and tears, so that you may avoid such a fate. Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on Your creation! "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy bounties, cleanse my iniquity. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and cleanse all my iniquities" (Psalm 50:3, 11). "But if thou callest iniquity, O Lord, O Lord, who will stand?" (Psalm 129:3). Turn away Thy Face, O Lord, from my sins, and direct Thy gaze upon Christ, my Lord, Jesus Christ, Your only begotten Son, who for me, an unworthy and humble sinner, suffered and died, offering Himself as a sacrifice pleasing to You, O heavenly Father and Creator. By His grace and human compassion, pour out Your mercy upon me and wash away all my sins with His blood, shed for my sake. Amen.

A blind individual is accompanied by someone who can see, yet the blind person is unaware of this presence. Similarly, every person has God with them as the Ever-Present One; however, the individual lacking faith, not able to perceive Him, is oblivious to the fact that their Lord and Judge is invisibly by their side. Often, a blind person, not recognizing the companion in their midst, may engage in shameful and immoral actions, believing that, since they see no one, no one can see them either. In the same manner, a sinner, like the blind individual, perceiving no one around them, imagines they are unseen while daring to commit unlawful acts. But they are gravely mistaken, for God, who is always present, witnesses all their actions and thoughts.

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He records everything in His book and will address their wrongdoing on the Day of Judgment. To the sinner, God declares, “I will reprove thee, and will bring thy sins before thy face” (Psalm 49:21). “You believed that no one observed you during your lawless acts, but I did see, I witnessed your transgressions against My law, and I will reveal your sins before you. Though you acted in secret, I will expose you before all, angels and humanity alike. In that moment, you will realize, sinner, that I have seen all—every action, every intention of the heart. You may hide from others, but you cannot escape My sight.” Such an individual embodies every fornicator, adulterer, impure person, thief, embezzler, robber, and those who accept bribes. They include every slanderer, deceiver, and hypocrite who engages in flattering or cunning behavior. These individuals are blind, not in a physical sense, but in their mental understanding. They may attempt to conceal their misdeeds from others, yet they cannot hide from God, who sees all. Even if they think they’ve evaded human observation, God's sight encompasses all, for He is greater than the entirety of humanity. “Be wise, you who are foolish among people; awaken to understanding. Does not He who created the ear hear, and He who formed the eye see?” (Psalm 93:8-9). “From heaven, the Lord observes; He sees all the children of men. From His holy dwelling, He scrutinizes all who dwell on the earth, He who fashioned their hearts and discerns all their actions” (Psalm 32:13-15). “Your eyes, O Lord, are open to all the paths of the children of men, rewarding each according to their deeds and the fruits of their actions” (Jer. 32:19). “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, there You are. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your right hand will hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me,’ the night will shine like the day; darkness is as light to You” (Psalm 138:7-12). Understand, person, that although no one else may be with you, God the Judge is always present. Even if no human sees you, God is aware of your actions, and it is Him whom you should fear and be more ashamed of than anyone else, for in His presence, all creation pales in comparison. Repent and be mindful of your conduct in the sight of God, lest you feel His retribution upon you.

Irenaeus (Klementjewsky)

18th centuryCommentator

When those who are wicked, completely disregarding the reverence due to God, commit sins, they mistakenly believe that their actions do not oppose Him. However, at the final judgement, they will realize the truth of the opposite. God observes all, as He always does, yet He does not immediately punish everyone, allowing space for repentance. Thus, He perceives and remains silent, as if He has not noticed their sins. But when the day of reckoning arrives, which certainly will occur, the Lord will speak, as noted previously.

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For this reason, the Prophet appropriately proclaims here in God's name, saying, "Thou hast done these things, and hast kept silence; thou hast cried out iniquity, for I shall be like unto thee." It is as if the Lord communicates, ‘You believe, O wicked one, that I am just as much a partner and ally to sinners as you, but that is far from the truth. I will reprove you on the day of my judgement, and I will lay your sins before you. I will make you acknowledge the gravity of your transgressions, and you will not be able to claim that the judgement rendered against you is unjust.’

Psalter with Commentaries (Cave Monastery in Kiew)

19th centuryCommentator

This psalm was inspired by the Holy Spirit through David and entrusted to Asaph, the leader of his choristers, for performance. The prophet prophesies about the return of Christ, which will be both awe-inspiring and overwhelming. A river of fire emanates from His presence, as contemplated by the prophet Daniel in his vision; His throne is described as a blaze of fire, with wheels that blaze like fire (Dan. 7:9-10). Here, he highlights the profound humiliation that calls both celestial and earthly beings to assemble in multitudes to denounce both overt and concealed iniquity.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.