Psalm 1:4 kjv

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Psalm 1:4 nkjv

The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

Psalm 1:4 niv

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

Psalm 1:4 esv

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Psalm 1:4 nlt

But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

Psalm 1 verses

Psalm 1 4 Meaning

This verse declares a fundamental contrast to the righteous person described previously, asserting that the wicked are utterly different in nature and destiny. Unlike the stable and flourishing righteous, the ungodly are inherently unsubstantial and without firm foundation. They are likened to the lightweight, worthless chaff which is effortlessly swept away and dispersed by the wind, symbolizing their ultimate instability, destruction, and inability to withstand divine judgment. Their end is one of removal and dissipation, reflecting their lack of true substance or lasting worth in God's eyes.

Psalm 1 4 Context

Psalm chapter 1 serves as the prologue to the entire Book of Psalms, establishing the foundational moral and spiritual dichotomy that permeates biblical wisdom literature. It sets the stage by sharply contrasting the blessed (happy, flourishing) path of the righteous with the cursed (doomed, unstable) path of the wicked. Verse 1 describes the righteous person as avoiding sinful counsel and companions. Verse 2 elaborates on their delight in and meditation on God's law. Verse 3 likens this person to a well-planted, fruit-bearing tree, symbolizing stability, nourishment, prosperity, and longevity. Psalm 1:4 then presents a stark and immediate counter-image, shifting abruptly from the verdant stability of the righteous to the unstable transience of the wicked.

Culturally and historically, the metaphor of chaff (מֹץ, mots) refers to the lightweight, worthless husks separated from the valuable grain during the threshing process. After harvesting, grain was threshed to separate it from the stalks. The mixture of grain and chaff was then typically taken to a threshing floor—an open, elevated area. There, it would be thrown into the air, allowing the wind (רוּחַ, ruach) to carry away the lighter chaff, leaving the heavier grain (the precious yield) to fall back down. This vivid, commonplace agricultural image would have immediately resonated with the original audience, symbolizing total worthlessness, vulnerability, and eventual dispersion or destruction at the hands of powerful forces beyond one's control, particularly the wind, which in biblical imagery often represents an agent of divine action or judgment. Implicitly, it asserts that ultimate destiny is not determined by human power or transient earthly alliances, but by divine justice.

Psalm 1 4 Word Analysis

• The ungodly (רְשָׁעִים - r'sha'im): This Hebrew term denotes the wicked, the guilty, or the unrighteous. It contrasts directly with the "blessed man" ('ashrei) in Ps 1:1, emphasizing their spiritual bankruptcy and moral opposition to God's ways. They are those who deviate from divine law, whether by active rebellion or pervasive negligence.

• are not so (לֹא־כֵן - lo-khen): A terse and powerful negative assertion. Literally meaning "not thus" or "not in this manner," it emphatically negates the positive attributes described for the righteous in Ps 1:3 – their rootedness, fruitfulness, permanence, and prosperity. It signals a complete antithesis between the two paths, stressing that everything true of the righteous is emphatically untrue of the ungodly.

• but are like the chaff (מֹץ - mots): "Chaff" is the lightweight, dry, worthless husk separated from grain during winnowing. The simile conveys:

  • Worthlessness: Chaff has no inherent value; it is agricultural waste.
  • Lack of Substance: It lacks weight and density, symbolizing a life devoid of spiritual solidity or foundational truth.
  • Instability: Easily moved and carried away, signifying a life without a firm moral or spiritual foundation, easily influenced and prone to collapse under pressure.

• which the wind (רוּחַ - ruach): "Ruach" means wind, spirit, or breath. Here, it is explicitly "wind," signifying an irresistible, sweeping force. In biblical thought, wind often serves as a metaphor for divine judgment, trial, or overwhelming circumstances that reveal the true nature and stability of things. This wind is not random but acts as an agent in God's sovereign processes.

• driveth away (נִדָּף - niddāf): This is a Niphal (passive) participle, meaning "is driven away" or "is scattered." It highlights the utter helplessness of the chaff; it does not move itself but is completely subject to the power of the wind. This signifies that the wicked have no control over their ultimate fate; they are passively swept away by the forces of judgment or truth, demonstrating their vulnerability and inevitable dispersion.

• The ungodly... chaff which the wind driveth away: This word group presents a complete, damning image. It depicts the ungodly as unsubstantial, valuable to no one, lacking inherent rootedness, and completely at the mercy of forces greater than themselves. This portrays their ultimate fate: dissolution and removal, with no standing or lasting place.

Psalm 1 4 Bonus Section

• No Middle Ground: The abrupt and absolute contrast in Psalm 1:4 underscores that there is no spiritual "middle ground." One is either rooted and flourishing like the tree, or ephemeral and unstable like the chaff. This calls for a clear choice in one's allegiance and way of life.
• Active Choice, Passive Fate: While the blessed man chooses to delight in the law (Ps 1:1-2), leading to a chosen rootedness, the wicked are passively "driven away." Their dispersal is a consequence imposed upon them by divine order, rather than a self-determined action, highlighting their utter powerlessness in their end.
• God as the Discerner: The "wind" scattering the chaff implicitly points to God as the ultimate discerner and purger. Just as the wind physically separates the valuable from the worthless on a threshing floor, so God, by His sovereign decree, will differentiate between those who possess true spiritual substance and those who are spiritually hollow.

Psalm 1 4 Commentary

Psalm 1:4 provides a vivid and essential contrast, underscoring the spiritual nature and destiny of those who reject God's way. While the righteous are depicted as deeply rooted, ever-fruitful, and truly prosperous (Ps 1:3), the ungodly possess none of these qualities. Their lives are unstable, lacking any true spiritual substance or fruit. The striking metaphor of chaff, utterly useless and effortlessly swept away by the wind, powerfully illustrates their ultimate fate: they are light, insignificant, and dispersed by the powerful forces of divine justice and inevitable judgment. This imagery communicates their utter lack of true value, permanence, or capacity to endure God's scrutiny. Just as a farmer easily separates the useless chaff from valuable grain during threshing, God will ultimately separate the wicked from the righteous, and the former will be found worthless, with no standing or enduring place. This verse is not merely a description of future punishment but also a reflection of their present reality—their pursuits and seeming earthly gains are ultimately ephemeral and devoid of lasting meaning, heading towards dissolution rather than enduring strength.