“Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.”
The description of the wicked as sitting and speaking against their brother and slandering their mother's son establishes betrayal and division within the community. The reference to sitting and speaking suggests deliberate and calculated speech; the wicked sit in judgment on relatives. The mention of speaking against a brother emphasizes the violation of familial obligation and kinship loyalty; betrayal of family constitutes a primary transgression. The reference to slandering emphasizes the malicious and false character of the speech; the wicked do not merely disagree but actively defame. This verse identifies family betrayal and slander as particularly egregious violations that corrupt the social fabric.
Church Fathers on Psalms 50:20
1. How much avails the Word of God to us for the correction of our life, both regarding His rewards to be expected, and His punishments to be feared, let each one measure in himself; and let him put his conscience without deceit before His eyes, and not flatter himself in a danger so great: for you see that even our Lord God Himself does flatter no one: though He comforts us by promising His blessings, and by strengthening our hope; yet them that live ill and despise His word…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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