Psalm 5 6

Psalm 5:6 kjv

Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Psalm 5:6 nkjv

You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

Psalm 5:6 niv

you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, LORD, detest.

Psalm 5:6 esv

You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

Psalm 5:6 nlt

You will destroy those who tell lies.
The LORD detests murderers and deceivers.

Psalm 5 verses

Psalm 5 6 Meaning

Psalm 5:6 reveals a core aspect of God's holy and righteous character: His active opposition and judgment against those who engage in specific forms of wickedness. It declares that God destroys those who intentionally spread falsehoods and utterly detests individuals characterized by violence and treachery. This verse highlights divine justice, asserting that God's very nature cannot tolerate such evil, leading to their certain ruin and His deep revulsion towards them.

Psalm 5 6 Context

Psalm 5 is a morning prayer of lament and petition, often attributed to King David, seeking God's divine presence and intervention. The Psalm opens with David's earnest cry for God to hear his words and consider his groaning (Ps 5:1-3). He states his commitment to worship and approaching God in righteousness (Ps 5:7-8). Amidst this, David contrasts his reliance on God with the character of his enemies. Before verse 6, the Psalm emphasizes God's purity, stating He is not a God who delights in wickedness (Ps 5:4) and evil cannot dwell with Him (Ps 5:4-5). Verse 6 directly builds upon this, explaining why evil cannot dwell with God: because He actively destroys and abhors it. Historically, David faced many adversaries who were deceitful and violent, often using slander and treachery against him, making this verse a direct reflection of his personal experience and a plea for divine justice against such real threats.

Psalm 5 6 Word analysis

• You destroy (תְּאַבֵּד - tĕ’abbēḏ): From the root אָבַד ('avad), meaning "to perish, to be lost, to be ruined, to destroy." This is an active and complete destruction, not merely a passing away or weakening. It indicates a total cessation or bringing to nothing. The divine subject implies an intentional and sovereign act of God. This action signifies God's unwavering resolve against wickedness.

• those who speak lies (דֹבְרֵי כָזָב - dōvrēy kāzāḇ): Literally "speakers of falsehood." This refers to individuals who consistently and intentionally utter untruths, slander, perjury, or deceitful statements. It’s not just an occasional misstatement but a characteristic trait of deliberate deception. In the Ancient Near East, where spoken words held great power (oaths, curses, blessings), false speech was a grave offence, directly undermining justice and trust within society. This stands in direct opposition to God's nature, who is Himself truth.

• the LORD abhors (יְהוָה מְתָאֵב - YHWH mĕṯā’ēḇ): YHWH is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and personal relationship with His people, but also His unchangeable character. The verb מְתָאֵב (mĕṯa'ev) from the root תָּעַב (ta’av) means "to be abhorrent, to make detestable, to loathe." It is a strong term indicating intense disgust and complete rejection, often used for things ritually unclean or morally repugnant to God (e.g., idolatry, perverse sexual acts). This shows God's profound emotional and moral revulsion to the following characteristics, demonstrating that His holiness fundamentally recoils from such evil.

• the bloodthirsty (אִישׁ דָּמִים - ’îsh dāmîm): Literally "man of bloods." This refers to someone characterized by bloodshed, violence, or murderous intent. It encompasses not just committing murder, but having a violent disposition, delighting in causing harm, or shedding innocent blood. Such individuals defy the sanctity of life which God bestows and upholds.

• and deceitful man (וּמִרְמָה - u-mirmāh): Literally "and deceit" or "and treachery." This term describes someone who practices fraud, trickery, cunning, or insidious betrayal. While "speaking lies" might focus on verbal falsehoods, "deceitful" (referring to the man of deceit) broadens the scope to encompass a whole character of dishonesty and underhanded dealings. It implies a deeper, more systemic lack of integrity.

• You destroy those who speak lies: This phrase reveals God's active hand in judgment. Lies are not tolerated but lead to destruction because they undermine truth and justice, attributes fundamental to God's kingdom.

• the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man: This signifies a profound, inherent antagonism. God's rejection is not merely a policy, but a deep, passionate revulsion for violence and treachery, defining traits of those alienated from Him.

Psalm 5 6 Bonus section

The active and intense language of "destroy" and "abhors" highlights that God's character is not merely one of tolerance or detached observation regarding sin. He has a holy wrath and revulsion toward unrighteousness. This polemical stance is significant; in many ancient pagan cultures, deities were often depicted as manipulative, deceitful, or even bloodthirsty themselves. This verse asserts Yahweh's stark difference: He is pure, truthful, and fundamentally against these corrupting forces. This also sets the stage for a covenant God who demands truth and justice from His people, because these virtues reflect His own nature. The judgment on liars connects to the broader biblical theme that the devil is the "father of lies," establishing a spiritual lineage for those who practice deceit. This verse also finds echoes in the New Testament, where Christ Himself casts out those who practice lawlessness, reinforcing the consistent character of God's justice across both testaments.

Psalm 5 6 Commentary

Psalm 5:6 serves as a powerful theological statement about the character of God and the ultimate fate of the wicked. It builds upon the preceding verses (Ps 5:4-5) which established that wickedness and evil cannot coexist with God. Here, it is revealed that God not only finds these qualities repulsive but actively intervenes to ensure their demise. "You destroy those who speak lies" asserts divine judgment on the root of much human corruption – intentional falsehood and slander, which is depicted throughout Scripture as being contrary to God's very nature of truth. The phrase "the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man" uses extremely strong language to describe God's absolute detestation. His revulsion for the "man of bloods" signifies His valuing of life and His opposition to all violence, while His loathing for the "deceitful man" encapsulates His rejection of all treachery, cunning, and betrayal. This is not merely human disapproval but a holy repugnance by the perfect, righteous God against character traits that fundamentally contradict His being. This verse assures the righteous of God's justice, giving hope that evil will not prevail and that those who persecute with lies, violence, and deceit will face divine consequences. It teaches that God is neither passive nor indifferent to human depravity; He is actively and passionately against it, working towards its eradication.