Psalms 1:4

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

The ungodly {H7563} are not so: but are like the chaff {H4671} which the wind {H7307} driveth away {H5086}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Not so the wicked, who are like chaff driven by the wind.

Berean Standard Bible

Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.

American Standard Version

The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 1:4 presents a stark and sobering contrast to the blessed, flourishing life of the righteous man described in the preceding verses. It declares that "The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away," painting a vivid picture of the transient, insubstantial, and ultimately futile existence of those who reject God's ways. This verse serves as a powerful warning, emphasizing the inherent instability and ultimate destruction awaiting those who choose a path apart from divine wisdom, setting the stage for the psalm's concluding declaration about divine justice and the two distinct destinies.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 1:4 is strategically positioned as a direct antithesis to the description of the righteous man in [Psalms 1:1-3](/psalms/1-1 "Psalms 1:1-3 - The Blessed Man"). While the first three verses describe the blessed man as deeply rooted, flourishing, and prosperous, verse 4 immediately pivots to define the "ungodly" in terms of their complete opposite—lack of stability, fruitlessness, and eventual dispersal. This sharp juxtaposition is central to Psalm 1's overarching purpose as an introductory psalm, setting the theological framework for the entire Psalter by presenting two fundamental paths of life—the way of righteousness and the way of wickedness—and their divergent, inevitable destinies. The imagery of the chaff also foreshadows the judgment described in [Psalms 1:5-6](/psalms/1-5 "Psalms 1:5-6 - The Judgment of the Ungodly").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of "chaff which the wind driveth away" draws directly from ancient Israelite agricultural practices, specifically the process of winnowing. After grain was threshed (often by oxen treading on it or by flails), the mixture of grain and husks (chaff) would be tossed into the air on a threshing floor, usually on a windy day. The heavier grain would fall back down, while the lighter, worthless chaff would be carried away by the wind. This was a common, everyday sight for the original audience, making the metaphor powerfully immediate and understandable. It depicted a process of separation and disposal, where the valuable (grain) was kept and the worthless (chaff) was discarded, often burned. This practice served as a potent visual for divine judgment and the separation of the righteous from the wicked.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Psalm 1 and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent is **The Contrast of Destinies**, highlighting the dramatic difference between the stable, flourishing life of the righteous and the unstable, perishing state of the ungodly. While the righteous are compared to a [tree planted by streams of water](/psalms/1-3 "Psalms 1:3 - The Flourishing Tree of the Righteous"), the ungodly are depicted as **Transience and Worthlessness**, like chaff, emphasizing their lightness, emptiness, and lack of spiritual substance or enduring value. This imagery also strongly conveys the theme of **Divine Judgment and Separation**, with the wind acting as an agent of God's inevitable scrutiny, dispersing the wicked who cannot stand in the assembly of the righteous (as further elaborated in [Psalms 1:5](/psalms/1-5 "Psalms 1:5 - The Ungodly Cannot Stand in Judgment")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ungodly (Hebrew, _rasha'_):** This term refers not merely to those who commit occasional sins, but to individuals whose entire life orientation is characterized by active rebellion against God's law or a consistent disregard for divine authority. It denotes a state of being guilty, wicked, and fundamentally hostile to the ways of righteousness. Unlike the "sinner" who may stumble, the _rasha'_ is one whose path is inherently perverse and opposed to God's will, leading to inevitable ruin.
* **Chaff (Hebrew, _mots'_):** This specific agricultural term denotes the light, dry husks or outer coverings of grain that are separated during the threshing process. It is the worthless byproduct, devoid of nutritional value or substance. As a metaphor, _mots'_ vividly conveys emptiness, insubstantiality, and a complete lack of inherent worth or stability. It is something easily moved, scattered, and ultimately discarded.
* **Driveth away (Hebrew, _nadaph'_):** This verb means to scatter, disperse, or drive off, often by a strong force like wind. In this context, it implies a forceful, decisive, and irreversible action. It is not a gentle scattering but a complete removal, signifying the ungodly's inability to withstand the force of divine judgment or the trials of life without a firm foundation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The ungodly [are] not so:"** This opening clause serves as a direct and emphatic negation of the blessed state described for the righteous in the preceding verses. It immediately establishes a stark contrast, asserting that the ungodly do not share the characteristics of stability, spiritual vitality, fruitfulness, or enduring prosperity that define the righteous man. Their nature and destiny are fundamentally different.
* **"but [are] like the chaff":** This introduces the central, vivid simile that defines the ungodly. By comparing them to "chaff," the psalmist powerfully communicates their intrinsic lack of spiritual substance, their emptiness, and their ultimate worthlessness in the eyes of God. Unlike the deeply rooted tree, the ungodly have no firm foundation, no inner strength, and no lasting value.
* **"which the wind driveth away."** This concluding phrase completes the metaphor, illustrating the inevitable fate of the ungodly. The "wind" here is often understood as an agent of divine judgment or the irresistible force of God's will. Just as the wind effortlessly disperses the light, worthless chaff, so too will the ungodly be scattered, removed, and unable to stand in the face of God's righteous scrutiny and final separation.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 1:4 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Simile**, explicitly stating that the ungodly "are like the chaff." This direct comparison creates a powerful and easily understood image for the reader. The entire verse functions through **Contrast** and **Juxtaposition**, setting the ephemeral and worthless nature of the ungodly against the deeply rooted and flourishing life of the righteous man described previously. This sharp opposition underscores the psalm's central theme of two distinct paths. Furthermore, the verse is rich in **Imagery**, drawing on the familiar agricultural process of winnowing. The visual of light chaff being blown away by the wind vividly communicates instability, lack of substance, and ultimate dispersal. Finally, there is potent **Symbolism**: the "chaff" symbolizes the spiritual emptiness, futility, and inherent worthlessness of those who reject God's ways, while the "wind" often symbolizes the irresistible force of divine judgment or the trials of life that reveal true substance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 1:4 is deeply interwoven with the broader biblical themes of divine judgment, the nature of wickedness, and God's sovereignty over the destinies of humanity. It underscores the principle that human choices have eternal consequences, and that a life lived apart from God's law is inherently unstable and ultimately unsustainable. The imagery of the chaff speaks to the transient nature of worldly power, human pride, and any foundation built apart from God, contrasting sharply with the enduring nature of God's kingdom and those who align themselves with His will. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God, in His perfect justice, will ultimately separate the valuable from the worthless, the enduring from the ephemeral, ensuring that only what is rooted in Him will stand.

* [Job 21:18](/job/21-18 "Job 21:18 - The Wicked Are Like Stubble Before the Wind")
* [Isaiah 17:13](/isaiah/17-13 "Isaiah 17:13 - Nations Scattered Like Chaff")
* [Matthew 3:12](/matthew/3-12 "Matthew 3:12 - John the Baptist's Prophecy of Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 1:4 serves as a potent mirror, challenging us to honestly examine the foundation upon which we are building our lives. Are our choices, priorities, and affections rooted in the enduring truth of God's Word, or are they superficial and easily swayed by the shifting winds of culture, personal desires, or fleeting circumstances? The imagery of the chaff calls us to consider what truly holds substance and eternal value. A life lived without God as its anchor is depicted as inherently unstable, lacking the spiritual weight to withstand the inevitable storms of life or the ultimate scrutiny of divine judgment. This verse encourages believers to cultivate deep spiritual roots through consistent meditation on God's law and a life of obedience, ensuring that we are not found to be mere chaff when the refining winds blow. For those who may be living apart from God, it is a sobering call to consider the ultimate futility of such a path and to turn towards the way of righteousness, which alone leads to lasting blessing and stability.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Am I building my life on a solid, spiritual foundation, or am I living superficially, like chaff, easily swayed by external pressures?**
* **What "chaff"—whether it be fleeting desires, worldly pursuits, or ungodly habits—in my life needs to be surrendered to God's refining process?**
* **How does the certainty of divine judgment, as symbolized by the wind driving away the chaff, inform and shape my daily choices and long-term priorities?**
* **In what practical ways can I cultivate a life of deep spiritual roots, like the tree in [Psalms 1:3](/psalms/1-3 "Psalms 1:3 - The Flourishing Tree of the Righteous"), so that I may bear fruit and not be scattered?**

### FAQ

**What does "ungodly" mean in this context, and how is it different from just being a "sinner"?**

Answer: In Psalms 1:4, "ungodly" (Hebrew: _rasha'_) refers to more than just someone who occasionally commits sins. It describes an individual whose entire life orientation, character, and path are fundamentally opposed to God's law and righteous ways. While everyone sins, the _rasha'_ is characterized by active wickedness, a consistent disregard for divine authority, and a deliberate choice to walk a path without God. Their ungodliness is not merely a series of actions but a state of being, leading to a life without divine foundation or spiritual substance, in stark contrast to the "blessed man" who delights in God's law (as described in [Psalms 1:1-2](/psalms/1-1 "Psalms 1:1-2 - The Blessed Man's Delight in God's Law")).

**Why is "chaff" such a powerful metaphor for the ungodly?**

Answer: The metaphor of "chaff" is powerful because it draws on a common agricultural practice of winnowing, where the light, worthless husks are separated from the valuable grain and blown away by the wind. This imagery vividly illustrates several key characteristics of the ungodly: their **lack of substance** or spiritual weight, their **emptiness** and futility, and their **ultimate worthlessness** in the face of divine scrutiny. Unlike the deeply rooted, fruit-bearing tree of the righteous (as seen in [Psalms 1:3](/psalms/1-3 "Psalms 1:3 - The Flourishing Tree")), the ungodly are unstable, easily dispersed, and possess nothing of lasting value. It underscores their inability to stand firm in judgment or to endure eternally.

**Does this verse imply that the ungodly have no hope of repentance?**

Answer: While Psalms 1:4 starkly describes the ultimate destiny of those who persist in their ungodly ways, the psalm itself functions as a warning and an invitation to choose the path of righteousness. It highlights the inevitable outcome of a life lived apart from God, serving as a powerful deterrent. The broader biblical narrative consistently presents opportunities for repentance and turning to God, emphasizing His mercy and willingness to forgive (e.g., [Isaiah 55:7](/isaiah/55-7 "Isaiah 55:7 - Let the Wicked Return to the Lord") or [Acts 3:19](/acts/3-19 "Acts 3:19 - Repent and Be Converted")). Therefore, this verse should be understood as a declaration of the consequences for an *unrepentant* life, rather than a denial of God's gracious offer of salvation to all who turn to Him.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 1:4, with its vivid imagery of the ungodly being scattered like chaff, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "wind" that drives away the chaff is a powerful symbol of divine judgment, and the New Testament unequivocally reveals Jesus as the one to whom all judgment has been committed by the Father ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Has Given All Judgment to the Son")). John the Baptist prophetically declared Christ's role as the ultimate separator, stating, "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" ([Matthew 3:12](/matthew/3-12 "Matthew 3:12 - John the Baptist's Prophecy of Judgment")). This directly links the Old Testament winnowing imagery to Christ's eschatological work. Those who are "in Christ" are the "wheat," rooted in Him, bearing fruit through His Spirit, and assured of eternal life ([John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Jesus, the True Vine")). Conversely, those who reject Him, remaining ungodly and unrepentant, are the "chaff," lacking true spiritual substance and destined for separation and destruction at His coming ([2 Thessalonians 1:7-9](/2_thessalonians/1-7 "2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 - The Lord Jesus Revealed from Heaven")). Thus, the warning of Psalms 1:4 becomes a gospel imperative: to avoid the fate of the chaff, one must turn from the way of the ungodly and find refuge, substance, and eternal life in Christ, the righteous King and ultimate Judge.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.