¶ The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
The ungodly {H7563} are not so: but are like the chaff {H4671} which the wind {H7307} driveth away {H5086}.
Not so the wicked, who are like chaff driven by the wind.
Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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Job 21:18
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. -
Matthew 3:12
Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. -
Psalms 35:5
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them]. -
Isaiah 17:13
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but [God] shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. -
Hosea 13:3
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff [that] is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. -
Isaiah 29:5
Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones [shall be] as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
Psalms 1:4 (KJV) provides a stark contrast to the blessed, righteous man described in the preceding verses, painting a vivid picture of the transient and ultimately futile existence of the ungodly. This verse declares, "The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away." It serves as a powerful warning and a clear statement about divine justice.
Context
Psalm 1 opens by defining the "blessed man" (Psalms 1:1), who delights in God's law and is compared to a tree planted by the rivers of water, yielding fruit and prospering. Verse 4 immediately pivots to describe the opposite: the "ungodly." This juxtaposition is crucial, as the entire psalm functions as an introduction to the book of Psalms, setting forth the two fundamental paths of life—the way of righteousness and the way of wickedness—and their divergent destinies.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The key Hebrew word here is mots (מוֹץ), translated as "chaff." This term specifically refers to the husks or outer coverings of grain, which are light and worthless byproducts of the threshing process. In ancient agricultural practices, grain was winnowed by tossing it into the air; the heavier grain would fall, while the light chaff would be blown away by the wind. This imagery vividly conveys the idea of something easily dispersed, without substance, and ultimately discarded. It highlights the ungodly's lack of spiritual weight or enduring purpose, especially when compared to the deep roots and fruitfulness of the righteous man.
Practical Application
Psalms 1:4 serves as a potent reminder of the consequences of our choices. It challenges us to examine our own lives: are we building on a solid, spiritual foundation, or are we living superficially, like chaff, easily swayed and ultimately without substance? The verse encourages believers to live lives of purpose and integrity, knowing that genuine spiritual stability comes from aligning with God's will. For those who are not yet walking in God's ways, it's a call to consider the ultimate futility of a life lived apart from Him. The imagery of the wind scattering the chaff also points to the certainty of divine judgment and separation, urging all to seek the path of righteousness that leads to lasting blessing, as described in the way of the righteous in Psalms 1:6.