Psalms 18:26

With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

With the pure {H1305} thou wilt shew thyself pure {H1305}; and with the froward {H6141} thou wilt shew thyself froward {H6617}.

with the pure, you are pure; but with the crooked you are cunning.

to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.

With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward.

Psalm 18:26 presents a profound principle of divine justice and interaction: God responds to individuals in a manner that mirrors their own moral disposition. This verse, part of King David's psalm of thanksgiving and deliverance, highlights God's righteous character and His consistent dealings with humanity.

Context

Psalm 18 is a powerful song of triumph and deliverance, penned by David after the Lord had rescued him from all his enemies and from the hand of Saul (Psalm 18:1). Within this extended hymn, David recounts God's mighty acts on his behalf, asserting his own integrity before God (verses 20-24). Verse 26 builds upon the preceding statements, such as "With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright," establishing a pattern where God's response is congruent with human conduct. It speaks to God's perfect justice and His personal engagement with each individual's heart condition.

Key Themes

  • Divine Reciprocity and Justice: The verse emphasizes that God's actions toward humanity are not arbitrary but are a just reflection of their own moral and spiritual stance. He does not change His nature, but His engagement with people reveals different facets of that nature based on their alignment with Him.
  • God's Purity and Alignment with the Pure: For those who are "pure" (morally clean, sincere, and upright in heart), God reveals Himself as pure. He aligns with, blesses, and supports their righteous endeavors, mirroring their integrity with His own unblemished character. This resonates with the promise that the pure in heart shall see God.
  • God's Opposition to the Froward: Conversely, to those who are "froward" (perverse, twisted, stubborn, or rebellious), God shows Himself "froward." This does not imply God *becomes* perverse, but rather that His dealings with such individuals will expose, resist, and ultimately counter their perversity. His justice will stand in opposition to their crooked paths, leading to consequences that reflect their chosen way. This principle is echoed in verses like Proverbs 3:32, "For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous."

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "pure" is barar (בָּרַר), which means to clarify, purify, select, or shine. It conveys the idea of being clean, unblemished, and upright in heart and conduct.
  • The term "froward" comes from the Hebrew 'iqesh (עִקֵּשׁ), meaning twisted, crooked, perverse, or deceitful. It describes a stubborn, rebellious, or morally distorted disposition that actively resists God's ways.
  • The phrase "shew thyself" for "pure" is tithbarar (תִּתְבָּרַר), a reflexive form suggesting God demonstrates His purity. For "froward," it's tithpattal (תִּתְפַּתָּל), which means to wrestle, struggle, or show oneself to be twisted or subtle. When applied to God dealing with the froward, it signifies that He will counter their crookedness with His own unyielding justice, often leading to entanglement or exposure for them.

Practical Application

Psalm 18:26 serves as both an encouragement and a sober warning. It assures those who strive for purity and integrity that God will meet them with His own holiness and grace, affirming their path. For those who persist in stubbornness, rebellion, or deceit, it warns that God's justice will stand against them, leading to inevitable opposition and consequences. This verse calls believers to a profound self-examination: what kind of heart do we present to God? Our desire to walk in purity and uprightness directly impacts the nature of our experience with the Almighty. It reminds us that God is perfectly just and consistent in all His ways, always responding to our actions with divine integrity.

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.

  • Proverbs 3:34

    Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

  • Leviticus 26:23

    And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;

  • Leviticus 26:24

    Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.

  • Leviticus 26:27

    And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;

  • Leviticus 26:28

    Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

  • Psalms 109:17

    As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

  • Psalms 109:19

    Let it be unto him as the garment [which] covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
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