The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

PSALMS 145:20KJV
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Psalms 145:20 (KJV)

What does Psalms 145:20 mean?

Psalms 145:20 says that the LORD watches over and keeps safe everyone who loves Him, but He will bring destruction to all who are wicked. The verse draws a clear line between those who are devoted to God and those who oppose Him, showing both His care and His justice.

King David is speaking in this psalm, praising God’s character and actions. Here, David highlights God’s personal attention to people: God actively protects those who love Him and deals decisively with those who do evil. This verse fits into a larger song about God’s greatness, kindness, and fairness toward all people.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 145:20

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing God’s covenant relationship and faithfulness to His people.
  • preserveth (שָׁמַר, shamar): This word means to keep, guard, or watch over. It suggests not just passive protection, but active, ongoing care and attention.
  • love (אָהַב, ahav): This word means to love deeply or have affection for. It points to a relationship of genuine devotion, not just outward obedience.
  • wicked (רָשָׁע, rasha): This word refers to those who are morally wrong or act in opposition to God’s ways. It is a strong term for people who choose evil.
  • destroy (שָׁמַד, shamad): This word means to ruin, wipe out, or bring to an end. It carries the sense of complete and final judgment.

Why Psalms 145:20 matters

  • This verse makes clear that God’s care is personal and ongoing for those who truly love Him, not just for people in general.
  • The verse balances God’s kindness with His justice, showing that He is not indifferent to evil.
  • In the context of Psalm 145, this line helps sum up the psalm’s message: God’s greatness is seen in both His mercy to those who love Him and His justice toward those who do wrong.

Where else these words appear

“destroy” Hebrew H8045 · used in 86 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 31:3 The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.
  • Esther 4:8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.