Psalms 5:4

KJV

For thou [art] not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

For thou art not a God {H410} that hath pleasure {H2655} in wickedness {H7562}: neither shall evil {H7451} dwell {H1481} with thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; evil cannot remain with you.

Berean Standard Bible

For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil can dwell with You.

American Standard Version

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Evil shall not sojourn with thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 5:4 profoundly declares the immutable character of God, establishing Him as utterly distinct from and diametrically opposed to all forms of wickedness and evil. This foundational truth underscores that the Holy One of Israel finds no delight or affinity in sin, nor can any form of moral corruption or unrighteousness reside or find acceptance in His pure and perfect presence. This declaration serves as the bedrock for David's plea for justice and provides assurance that God, by His very nature, will act righteously against those who perpetuate evil, offering both comfort to the righteous and a stark warning to the wicked.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 5 is a fervent morning prayer of lament and petition from David, likely offered before sunrise, as indicated by his commitment to "direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" ([Psalms 5:3](/psalms/5-3 "Psalms 5:3 - David's Morning Prayer")). David is facing adversaries and seeks divine intervention and justice. The psalm opens with an urgent cry for God to hear his words and consider his meditation ([Psalms 5:1](/psalms/5-1 "Psalms 5:1 - David's Plea")). Immediately preceding verse 4, David emphasizes his devotion and expectation of God's response, setting the stage for a theological assertion about God's character. Verse 4 then provides the theological basis for David's subsequent appeals for God to destroy the wicked and lead him in righteousness ([Psalms 5:8](/psalms/5-8 "Psalms 5:8 - Prayer for Guidance")), as it is precisely because God is holy and hates evil that David can confidently pray for the downfall of his enemies. The psalm flows from personal distress to a confident declaration of God's nature, culminating in a plea for divine judgment and a promise of blessing for the righteous.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** David, as king of Israel, frequently faced opposition, whether from internal rebellions (e.g., Absalom) or external enemies (e.g., Philistines, Ammonites). In the ancient Near East, kings often appealed to their gods for victory and justice, but David's appeals were rooted in the unique covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel. Unlike the capricious deities of surrounding nations, Israel's God was understood to be inherently righteous, just, and morally pure. This context highlights David's understanding that God's actions are not arbitrary but flow from His unchanging moral character. The concept of "dwelling" with God carried significant weight, implying intimacy, acceptance, and shared space, which this verse emphatically denies to evil, reinforcing God's utter transcendence and moral perfection in contrast to the pervasive idolatry and moral depravity of the surrounding cultures.

* **Key Themes:** This verse is foundational to several key themes within the Psalms and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it powerfully asserts **God's Absolute Holiness and Purity**, declaring that His nature is entirely separate from and untainted by sin. This divine attribute is not merely a passive absence of evil but an active opposition to it. Secondly, it emphasizes **God's Active Displeasure with Wickedness**, showing that He does not merely tolerate evil but actively abhors it, making His moral character a crucial aspect of His being. This theme resonates throughout the Old Testament, where God's wrath is often directed at unrighteousness ([Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Against Ungodliness")). Thirdly, the verse highlights the **Incompatibility of God and Evil**, underscoring that light cannot coexist with darkness, and God's holy presence inherently expels all forms of wickedness. This truth is echoed in the New Testament, stating that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all ([1 John 1:5](/1_john/1-5 "1 John 1:5 - God is Light")). Finally, Psalms 5:4 provides the theological grounding for **Divine Justice**, explaining that because God is inherently holy and cannot tolerate evil, His righteous judgment against wickedness is not merely possible but inevitable, serving as the basis for David's confidence in God's intervention against his foes.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wickedness (Hebrew, _resha'_):** This term refers to moral evil, unrighteousness, and guilt, often implying a deliberate deviation from what is right and just. It encompasses actions that are contrary to God's law and character, leading to oppression and injustice. The verse states that God has no "pleasure" (חָפֵץ - _chaphets'_), meaning no delight, desire, or affinity for such moral corruption. This emphasizes God's active and inherent opposition to all forms of unrighteousness, demonstrating that His nature is antithetical to sin.
* **Dwell (Hebrew, _yagur'_):** This verb means to sojourn, reside, or abide, implying a temporary or permanent lodging. The emphatic negative "neither shall evil dwell with thee" signifies that evil cannot find *any* place, acceptance, or hospitality in God's presence. It cannot even temporarily lodge or find a home with Him. This highlights God's complete and utter separation from all forms of sin and rebellion, reinforcing His absolute purity and the impossibility of any compromise with evil.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For thou [art] not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:"** This clause asserts God's moral character as fundamentally opposed to evil. The phrase "hath pleasure in" (חָפֵץ - _chaphets'_) denotes delight or approval. By stating God does *not* have pleasure in wickedness, the psalmist declares that God finds no joy, satisfaction, or agreement in unrighteousness, injustice, or moral corruption. This is a direct statement about God's inherent nature, which is pure and holy, making Him incapable of condoning or delighting in anything that contradicts His perfect being. This forms the basis for David's confidence that God will act against the wicked.
* **"neither shall evil dwell with thee."** This second clause reinforces and expands upon the first, using a different nuance. "Evil" (רָע - _ra'_) can refer to moral evil, calamity, or harm. The verb "dwell" (יָגוּר - _yagur'_) implies a settled presence or cohabitation. This statement means that evil, in any form, cannot reside, coexist, or find acceptance in God's immediate presence. There is no common ground, no shared space, and no compatibility between God's holiness and evil. This highlights God's absolute purity and His active expulsion of all that is unholy from His presence, ensuring that His throne is a place of unblemished righteousness.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Psalms 5:4 is **Antithetical Parallelism**. The two clauses of the verse express contrasting ideas that reinforce the same core truth about God's character. "Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness" sets up the first negative assertion, which is then mirrored and deepened by "neither shall evil dwell with thee." While the first clause emphasizes God's *disposition* towards evil (He does not delight in it), the second emphasizes evil's *inability to exist* in His presence. This parallel structure creates a powerful and emphatic declaration of God's absolute holiness and His inherent separation from all forms of sin. Additionally, there is a subtle use of **Anthropomorphism (negative)**, attributing human-like concepts of "pleasure" and "dwelling" to God, but in the negative, to clearly articulate His moral attributes in terms understandable to human experience, thereby making His purity more accessible and impactful.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 5:4 is a cornerstone verse for understanding the very nature of God, asserting His absolute holiness and moral purity as fundamental attributes. This truth is not merely an abstract theological concept but has profound implications for how we relate to God, approach prayer, and comprehend divine justice. Because God is inherently pure and finds no pleasure in wickedness, He is the ultimate standard of righteousness and the righteous judge of all the earth. This verse establishes that God's actions, particularly His judgment against sin, flow directly from His unchanging character, providing a firm foundation for the believer's hope in divine intervention and justice. It also underscores the necessity of holiness for those who seek to draw near to Him, as His presence is incompatible with unrighteousness.

* [Habakkuk 1:13](/habakkuk/1-13 "Habakkuk 1:13 - God's Purity")
* [1 John 1:5](/1_john/1-5 "1 John 1:5 - God is Light")
* [Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Purity of New Jerusalem")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 5:4 offers both profound comfort and a challenging call to action for the believer. Understanding that God is fundamentally opposed to wickedness and cannot tolerate evil in His presence provides immense assurance when we face injustice or oppression. It means that our prayers for righteousness and deliverance are aligned with God's very nature, giving us confidence that He hears and will ultimately act. This truth also underscores the seriousness of sin; if God finds no pleasure in wickedness and evil cannot dwell with Him, then we, as His image-bearers and followers, are called to reflect that same moral purity. It compels us to examine our own lives, repent of sin, and strive for holiness, knowing that our pursuit of righteousness brings us into closer alignment with the character of the God we worship. This verse reminds us that God is not indifferent to the moral state of the world but is actively engaged in upholding justice and righteousness, ultimately bringing about the triumph of good over evil.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's absolute holiness, as declared in Psalms 5:4, impact your confidence when you pray for justice or deliverance from evil?**
* **In what specific areas of your life are you called to reflect God's displeasure with wickedness and actively pursue purity?**
* **Considering that "evil cannot dwell" with God, what implications does this have for how seriously you take sin in your own life and in the world around you?**

### FAQ

**Why is God's character so central to David's prayer in Psalm 5?**

Answer: God's character is absolutely central to David's prayer because it forms the very foundation and assurance for his petitions. David is not appealing to a capricious or indifferent deity, but to a God whose nature is inherently righteous and just. The declaration that God has "no pleasure in wickedness" and that "evil shall not dwell with thee" ([Psalms 5:4](/psalms/5-4 "Psalms 5:4 - God's Purity")) provides David with the theological certainty that God will indeed act against his wicked adversaries. His confidence in God's intervention and ultimate justice stems directly from God's unblemished holiness and His active opposition to all that is evil. Without this foundational understanding of God's character, David's pleas for judgment against the wicked would lack a firm basis.

**Does "neither shall evil dwell with thee" imply that God is unaware of evil or simply ignores it?**

Answer: No, quite the opposite. The phrase "neither shall evil dwell with thee" ([Psalms 5:4](/psalms/5-4 "Psalms 5:4 - God's Purity")) does not mean God is unaware of evil or ignores it. Instead, it emphatically declares that God does not condone, tolerate, or allow evil to have any place or acceptance in His holy presence. He is intimately aware of all evil, as His eyes see everything ([Proverbs 15:3](/proverbs/15-3 "Proverbs 15:3 - God Sees All")). However, His perfect purity means that evil cannot coexist with Him in harmony or find any welcome. This active separation from evil is precisely why God is compelled to judge it. His holiness necessitates His opposition to sin, making Him the righteous Judge who will ultimately deal with all unrighteousness, rather than ignoring it or being unaffected by it.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 5:4, with its profound declaration of God's absolute holiness and His utter incompatibility with evil, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the perfect embodiment of God's pure and righteous character, the one in whom "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" ([Colossians 2:9](/colossians/2-9 "Colossians 2:9 - Fullness of God in Christ")). He is the sinless Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Lamb of God")), who knew no sin ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Knew No Sin")), and in whom there was no darkness whatsoever. While God has no pleasure in wickedness, He, in His infinite love, made a way for sinful humanity to be reconciled to Himself through Christ. Jesus, though untouched by sin's defilement, bore the full weight of the world's wickedness on the cross, becoming sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Our Righteousness in Christ")). Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ perfectly satisfied God's righteous wrath against sin and conquered the power of evil ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")), thereby making it possible for those who believe in Him to stand holy and blameless in the presence of a God who cannot tolerate evil ([Ephesians 1:4](/ephesians/1-4 "Ephesians 1:4 - Holy and Blameless Before God")). He is the bridge across the chasm that Psalms 5:4 describes, making fellowship with the Holy God possible for those who were once alienated by their wickedness.

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 11:5

The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Hebrews 12:14

Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Psalms 50:21

These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes.

Malachi 2:17

Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied [him]? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil [is] good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where [is] the God of judgment?

Psalms 140:13

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Revelation 21:27

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Psalms 92:15

To shew that the LORD [is] upright: [he is] my rock, and [there is] no unrighteousness in him.