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.