Brutish! #3

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

“For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others” (Psalm 49:10 KJV).

The Authorized Version mentions “brutish” individuals some 13 times—who and what are they?

Having surveyed the relevant verses to pick out context clues, we realize “brutish” means “stupid, dull, unreasonable, thoughtless, irrational.” How exactly does one wind up in such a pathetic condition? Again, a few of those verses supply hints.

Read Jeremiah 10:6-8,14,15,21: “Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities…. Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish…. For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.” Also see Jeremiah 51:17: “Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.”

This context is pagan idolatry in Israel. Images of wood, stone, and metal distract the Jewish people from the LORD God. Such empty belief systems, worthless lies, and futile conduct resulted from a failure to walk in the light of the one true God’s words to them. That evil world system of Jeremiah’s day will originate the future “natural brute beasts” (animalistic or beastly people) of 2 Peter 2:12 and Jude 10. Such spiritual animals are created, such spiritual insanity is generated, because of a deliberate rejection of God’s knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Brethren, if we refuse the Lord’s words to us through our Apostle Paul, Romans to Philemon, we are just as “brutish” (1 Corinthians 14:37,38)!