Pride brazenly parades itself, fueling destructive deeds.
Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. (v.6) This statement comes from a psalm attributed to Asaph, a Levite worship leader who served around the time of King David (circa 1000 BC). In Psalm 73, Asaph candidly wrestles with the apparent prosperity of the wicked, observing how arrogance appears to drape them as conspicuously as a necklace. This “pride” is not hidden; it is displayed openly. Moreover, “the garment of violence” conveys an outward manifestation of their unjust ways, suggesting that the clothing they figuratively wear is woven with acts that harm others—an outflow of hearts consumed by self-exaltation.
When the psalmist says, pride is their necklace, he depicts boastfulness as an ornament of choice, something people flaunt in public to highlight their self-importance. In a similar vein, the garment of violence signifies behaviors that intimidate and coerce. This phenomenon of pride fostering oppression appears throughout Scripture, linking inflated egos with destructive acts (James 4:6). The very Hebrew expression for “garment of violence” ties the concept of wrongdoing (often translated “hamas”) to societal injustice—an underlying principle that where pride flourishes, an environment of strife and exploitation tends to follow.
Set to dark mode
Psalms 73:6 meaning
Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. (v.6) This statement comes from a psalm attributed to Asaph, a Levite worship leader who served around the time of King David (circa 1000 BC). In Psalm 73, Asaph candidly wrestles with the apparent prosperity of the wicked, observing how arrogance appears to drape them as conspicuously as a necklace. This “pride” is not hidden; it is displayed openly. Moreover, “the garment of violence” conveys an outward manifestation of their unjust ways, suggesting that the clothing they figuratively wear is woven with acts that harm others—an outflow of hearts consumed by self-exaltation.
When the psalmist says, pride is their necklace, he depicts boastfulness as an ornament of choice, something people flaunt in public to highlight their self-importance. In a similar vein, the garment of violence signifies behaviors that intimidate and coerce. This phenomenon of pride fostering oppression appears throughout Scripture, linking inflated egos with destructive acts (James 4:6). The very Hebrew expression for “garment of violence” ties the concept of wrongdoing (often translated “hamas”) to societal injustice—an underlying principle that where pride flourishes, an environment of strife and exploitation tends to follow.