Psalms 58:10
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
Main message
Psalm 58:10 says the righteous rejoice at the defeat of evil and uses the shocking image of washing feet in blood, an ancient victory metaphor that must not be literalized.
Meaning in context
Psalm 58:10–11 · Justice publicly affirmed — The closing moves from the defeat of violent evil to a communal confession that moral accountability under God is real.
The verse celebrates the end of violent oppression in battle imagery. Modern readers must not use it to glorify cruelty, revenge, killing, or the suffering of opponents.
Further teachings
Rejoicing concerns the end of oppression
The moral center is justice defeating violence, not pleasure in cruelty for its own sake.
Cross References: Psalm 58:10 within Psalm 58:10–11.
Applications in daily life
- 1
When an abusive or violent system finally loses power
Give thanks for protection and accountability without humiliating, torturing, or dehumanizing defeated people.
The blood image does not authorize killing, revenge fantasies, vigilantism, political violence, or celebration of human suffering.
Related Bible passages and resources
Common misreadings
The verse celebrates literal bloodshed and gives righteous people permission to enjoy killing enemies.
The battle image celebrates the defeat of oppressive evil; it must not be converted into approval of cruelty or human vengeance.
How to Apply Psalms 58:10
Meditate on Psalms 58:10 by reading it aloud each morning this week. Ask yourself how its message from Scripture applies to a current challenge you are facing. Write one specific step you will take today in response to its truth — and revisit that commitment at the end of the week.
Sources & Method
Biblical text
Psalm 58 commentary anchored in the public-domain text used by the site (en).
- Author:
- The Lord Will Editorial Team
- Reviewed by:
- Ugo Candido
- Last updated:
- Reviewed on: