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

PSALMS 5:4KJV
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Psalms 5:4 (KJV)

What does Psalms 5:4 mean?

Psalms 5:4 says that God does not take pleasure in wickedness and that evil cannot live with Him. This verse highlights that God’s character is completely opposed to wrongdoing and that evil has no place in His presence.

King David is speaking to God in prayer, expressing confidence that God is righteous and cannot tolerate evil. The verse comes in a psalm where David is seeking God’s help against those who do wrong, and he is reminding himself that God’s nature is pure and just.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 5:4

  • God (אֵל, ’el): This word emphasizes God’s power and might, not just a generic term for deity. David is appealing to the all-powerful God who rules justly.
  • Pleasure (יָחֵפֵץ, yaḥēphets): This word means to delight in or take pleasure in. The verse stresses that God does not find any enjoyment or approval in wickedness.
  • Wickedness (רֶשַׁע, resha‘): This refers to active wrongdoing or moral evil. The focus is on behavior that is unjust or corrupt.
  • Evil (רַע, ra‘): This is a broad word for badness or harm, covering both moral evil and things that are destructive. The verse uses it to underline that nothing evil can remain in God’s presence.
  • Dwell (גּוּר, gur): This word means to sojourn or stay as a guest. The verse’s language paints a picture of evil not even being able to visit or take up temporary residence with God.

Why Psalms 5:4 matters

  • Psalms 5:4 makes clear that God’s holiness is absolute—He does not just dislike evil, but cannot have it near Him at all.
  • The verse reassures readers that God is not indifferent to injustice or wrongdoing, which is important in the context of prayers for help against evil people.
  • Understanding the specific Hebrew words shows that the verse is not only about God’s attitude, but also about the impossibility of evil having any place with Him, even temporarily.

Where else these words appear

“pleasure” Hebrew H2655 · used in 10 verses

  • 1 Kings 13:33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.
  • Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
  • Psalms 40:14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

“wickedness” Hebrew H7562 · used in 29 verses

  • Deuteronomy 9:27 Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:
  • Psalms 141:4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
  • Isaiah 58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

“dwell” Hebrew H1481 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 12:10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
  • Numbers 22:3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
  • Psalms 61:4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.