Psalms 139:22

KJV

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

KJV (with Strong's)

I hate {H8130} them with perfect {H8503} hatred {H8135}: I count them mine enemies {H341}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I hate them with unlimited hatred! They have become my enemies too.

Berean Standard Bible

I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them as my enemies.

American Standard Version

I hate them with perfect hatred: They are become mine enemies.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 139:22 presents a challenging yet profound declaration from the psalmist, expressing an intense and absolute opposition to those who are God's enemies. Far from advocating personal animosity, this "perfect hatred" signifies a complete alignment with God's righteous indignation against evil, rebellion, and all that stands in defiance of His holy character and truth, ultimately leading into a prayer for personal purification and divine scrutiny.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 139 opens with a magnificent ode to God's omniscience and omnipresence, where David marvels at the Lord's intimate knowledge of his thoughts and ways, acknowledging that [God knows his every move and thought](/psalms/139-1-6 "Psalms 139:1-6 - God's Omniscience and Intimate Knowledge"). This is followed by a reflection on the inescapable nature of God's presence, even in the most remote corners of creation or the depths of Sheol, emphasizing that [there is no escaping His Spirit or presence](/psalms/139-7-12 "Psalms 139:7-12 - God's Omnipresence and Inescapable Presence"). The psalm then transitions to a celebration of God as the intricate Creator of human life, forming David in his mother's womb with marvelous precision, highlighting [His marvelous work in forming him](/psalms/139-13-18 "Psalms 139:13-18 - God as Creator and Sustainer of Life"). The tone shifts dramatically in verse 19, moving from adoration to imprecation, as the psalmist expresses a fervent desire for God to act against the wicked and violent. Verse 22, with its declaration of "perfect hatred," is embedded within this imprecatory section, serving as a stark statement of the psalmist's identification with God's righteous opposition to evil, before culminating in a powerful plea for God to search and know his own heart, ensuring his loyalty and purity, as he asks [God to search him and know his heart](/psalms/139-23-24 "Psalms 139:23-24 - David's Prayer for Self-Examination and Guidance"). This shift underscores the psalmist's zeal for God's honor and his desire for personal integrity in the face of pervasive wickedness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the concept of "enemies" often extended beyond personal adversaries to those who opposed God, His covenant, and His people. Kings, like David, were seen as representatives of God, and their battles were often understood as God's battles against the forces of chaos and unrighteousness. The "hatred" expressed here is not merely a private emotion but a theological stance, reflecting a zealous commitment to God's justice and the purity of His kingdom. It aligns with the ancient Near Eastern understanding of covenant loyalty, where allegiance to one's sovereign (in this case, Yahweh) demanded absolute opposition to His enemies. This context helps differentiate the psalmist's declaration from a simple call for personal vengeance, framing it instead as a desire for divine justice to prevail over active rebellion against the divine order. This perspective is crucial for understanding the imprecatory psalms, which often reflect a deep longing for the vindication of God's righteousness in a world rife with injustice.
* **Key Themes:** The verse significantly contributes to several key themes within [Psalms 139](/psalms/139 "Psalms 139 - God's Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence") and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it highlights **Righteous Indignation**, demonstrating the psalmist's deep grief and anger over the active rebellion against God, reflecting a zeal for God's glory and justice, as seen in other passages like [Psalm 97:10, which calls to love the Lord and hate evil](/psalms/97-10 "Psalm 97:10 - Love the Lord, Hate Evil"). Secondly, it underscores **Identification with God's Cause**, where the psalmist's enemies are explicitly defined as God's enemies, indicating a profound alignment of his will and affections with the divine will. This is not a personal vendetta but a shared opposition to unrighteousness, echoing the sentiment that [those who hate God are indeed His adversaries](/psalms/83-2 "Psalm 83:2 - God's Enemies Lift Up Their Heads"). Lastly, the verse reinforces the theme of **Moral Purity and Separation**, as the psalmist declares his complete dissociation from those who defy God, emphasizing his unwavering loyalty and commitment to God's holy ways. This declaration sets the stage for the subsequent prayer for God to search his own heart, ensuring his internal alignment with divine standards, as seen in his plea for [God to lead him in the way everlasting](/psalms/139-24 "Psalms 139:24 - David's Prayer for Guidance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **hate (Hebrew, _sânêʼ'_):** From H8130, a primitive root meaning "to hate (personally); enemy, foe, (be) hate(-ful, -r), odious, [idiom] utterly." In this context, it signifies a strong, intense emotional and volitional opposition. While it can imply personal animosity, here it is directed not at individuals for personal grievances, but at those who are adversaries of God, indicating a profound theological and moral rejection of their ways and their active rebellion against the divine.
* **perfect (Hebrew, _taklîyth'_):** From H8503, meaning "completion; by implication, an extremity; end, perfect(-ion)." When combined with "hatred," it denotes an utter, complete, and unreserved hatred. This is not a partial or wavering emotion but an absolute and principled stance. It implies a hatred that is fully developed and without any reservation or compromise, signifying a hatred that is total in its scope and consistent in its application.
* **hatred (Hebrew, _sinʼâh'_):** From H8135, derived from _sânêʼ_, meaning "hate; [phrase] exceedingly, hate(-ful, -red)." This noun form reinforces the intensity and nature of the emotion described by the verb. It is a deep-seated and pervasive antagonism, here directed against those who embody active opposition to God. The repetition of the root word (sânêʼ and sinʼâh) emphasizes the depth and totality of this aversion.
* **enemies (Hebrew, _ʼôyêb'_):** From H341, an active participle meaning "hating; an adversary; enemy, foe." This term identifies the objects of the psalmist's hatred as those who are actively hostile and adversarial, not merely passive opponents. They are characterized by their active enmity towards God and His righteous ways, making them legitimate objects of righteous indignation for one who is aligned with God's purposes.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I hate them with perfect hatred":** The psalmist declares an absolute and unqualified opposition to "them." This hatred is not casual or superficial but "perfect," meaning complete, thorough, and unwavering. It is a profound rejection of all that the "them" represent in their active defiance of God. This is an expression of the psalmist's moral and spiritual alignment with God's own righteous judgment against wickedness, signifying a volitional and principled stand against evil itself.
* **"I count them mine enemies":** This clause reiterates and reinforces the first, stating the psalmist's deliberate and conscious identification of these individuals as his adversaries. By "counting" them as enemies, he is not merely experiencing an emotion but making a definitive judgment and taking a firm stance. This confirms that their enmity towards God translates directly into enmity towards His faithful servant, solidifying the psalmist's position as a champion of God's cause and demonstrating his unreserved commitment to the divine agenda.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful **literary devices**. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous or synthetic parallelism, where the second clause ("I count them mine enemies") echoes and intensifies the meaning of the first ("I hate them with perfect hatred"). This repetition emphasizes the psalmist's unwavering stance and the totality of his opposition. The phrase "perfect hatred" itself is an example of **Intensification** or **Hyperbole**, using strong language to convey the absolute nature of the psalmist's theological opposition, rather than a literal call for personal vengeance. It vividly communicates the depth of his commitment to God's righteousness and his complete abhorrence of evil, elevating the emotion from mere personal dislike to a principled theological position. Furthermore, the verse functions as part of a broader **Imprecatory** section (Psalms 139:19-22), where the psalmist calls upon God to act against the wicked, reflecting a desire for divine justice to be meted out and for God's honor to be vindicated in the face of active rebellion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 139:22 presents a profound theological statement about the nature of righteous indignation. It is crucial to understand that this "perfect hatred" is not a license for personal vindictiveness or a contradiction of the New Testament command to love one's enemies. Instead, it represents a zealous alignment with God's own holy character, which is utterly opposed to sin, rebellion, and injustice. The psalmist hates what God hates—not the person as a created being, but the active defiance of divine truth and righteousness. This hatred is a reflection of a pure heart that grieves over evil and longs for the triumph of God's justice. It is a theological hatred of the principles and actions that stand against God, rather than a personal animosity towards individuals, demonstrating a commitment to moral purity and divine standards.

* [Proverbs 8:13](/proverbs/8-13 "Proverbs 8:13 - The Fear of the Lord is to Hate Evil")
* [Psalm 97:10](/psalms/97-10 "Psalm 97:10 - Love the Lord, Hate Evil")
* [Romans 12:9](/romans/12-9 "Romans 12:9 - Abhor What Is Evil")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For the modern believer, Psalms 139:22 serves as a challenging but vital call to moral clarity and spiritual alignment. While we are called to love all people, even our enemies, and to seek their redemption, this verse reminds us that there must be an absolute and "perfect hatred" for sin, injustice, and anything that actively defies God's holy character and truth. This means grieving over what grieves God, standing against evil in all its forms, and refusing to compromise with unrighteousness. It is a call to examine our own hearts, as the psalmist does in the subsequent verses, to ensure that our affections are rightly ordered: loving what God loves and hating what God hates. This "hatred" for evil should fuel our prayers for justice, our pursuit of holiness, and our compassionate outreach to those ensnared by sin, always remembering that ultimate judgment belongs to God. It encourages us to cultivate a zealous devotion to God's glory that is intolerant of anything that would defile His name or His creation, prompting us to be agents of righteousness in a fallen world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I reconcile the psalmist's "perfect hatred" with Christ's command to love enemies, and what is the crucial distinction?**
* **What in my life or in the world truly grieves God, and do I share that grief with a "perfect hatred" for evil and a longing for His justice?**
* **In what ways can I demonstrate a "perfect hatred" for sin while extending grace and compassion to sinners, seeking their redemption?**
* **How does this verse prompt me to examine my own heart for alignment with God's righteous character and His opposition to unrighteousness, leading to a deeper pursuit of holiness?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse contradict Jesus' command to love enemies?**

Answer: No, it does not. The "perfect hatred" expressed by the psalmist in [Psalms 139:22](/psalms/139-22 "Psalms 139:22 - Perfect Hatred") is best understood as a righteous indignation against active rebellion and defiance of God, rather than a personal, vindictive hatred of individuals. The psalmist is identifying with God's own holy opposition to evil. In the Old Testament context, "enemies" often referred to those who were actively hostile to God and His covenant people. This is a theological hatred of sin, injustice, and spiritual rebellion, not a call for personal vengeance against individuals. The New Testament command to love enemies, as taught by Jesus in [Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies"), speaks to our personal relationships and our call to extend grace and seek the redemption of others, even those who oppose us. The psalmist's hatred is for the *principles* and *actions* of wickedness, not the *person* in a way that would negate compassion or forgiveness, aligning with God's character who hates sin but loves the sinner.

**Who are "them" in this verse?**

Answer: "Them" refers to those who are actively hostile to God and His ways, as described in the preceding verses of [Psalms 139](/psalms/139 "Psalms 139 - God's Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence"). Specifically, [Psalms 139:19](/psalms/139-19 "Psalms 139:19 - Imprecation Against the Wicked") speaks of "bloody men" and those who "speak against you [God] with malicious intent" and "take your name in vain." These are not merely personal adversaries of the psalmist but are fundamentally "God's enemies" – those who defy His truth, oppose His righteousness, and actively work against His divine order. The psalmist's declaration of "perfect hatred" is therefore a statement of his unwavering loyalty to God and his absolute rejection of all that stands in opposition to divine holiness and justice, demonstrating his alignment with God's own righteous judgment against wickedness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 139:22 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who perfectly embodied both a "perfect hatred" for sin and an unparalleled love for sinners. Jesus consistently displayed an absolute and uncompromising opposition to evil, hypocrisy, and spiritual rebellion, as seen in His scathing denunciation of the Pharisees in [Matthew 23](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees") and His zealous cleansing of the temple, declaring it a "den of robbers" in [John 2:13-17](/john/2-13-17 "John 2:13-17 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple"). His entire ministry was a direct confrontation with the forces of darkness and the spiritual powers that held humanity captive, culminating in His triumph over sin and death on the cross, where He [disarmed the principalities and powers, triumphing over them](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers"). Yet, this perfect hatred for sin was inextricably linked with His perfect love for humanity. He came not to condemn the world, but to save it, as declared in [John 3:17](/john/3-17 "John 3:17 - God Sent His Son to Save the World"), demonstrating His profound love for us while we were still sinners, by dying for us, as articulated in [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love"). Thus, Christ perfectly models the balance: an absolute, "perfect hatred" for all that opposes God's holiness and truth, coupled with a redemptive love that seeks to transform those who were once His enemies into His beloved children. His future return will bring the final and complete judgment against all evil, fulfilling the righteous indignation expressed by the psalmist, as He comes to [judge and make war in righteousness](/revelation/19-11-16 "Revelation 19:11-16 - The Rider on the White Horse").

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

Psalms 101:3

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me.

Psalms 101:8

I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.

Luke 14:26

If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.